**Astrid's POV**

I sat on the hard police station chair, scrolling through my social media feeds. Being dragged here in just a bathrobe was beyond humiliating. As a modeling agency executive. I couldn't risk anyone snapping a photo of me like this.

Someone was shouting about vomiting blood somewhere in the building.but I barely paid attention. Police stations always had all sorts of chaos going on.

*Besides,Audrey's too healthy to have anything to do with something like blood vomiting.*

Just as I had that thought, a police siren wailed outside, startling me.A weird feeling of dread crept up my spine. I looked around and realized I couldn't see Audrey or Ethan anywhere.

*How long does a simple phone call take?*

*And where the hell did Ethan go?*

I headed toward the hallway where Audrey had gone. The female officer who'd brought us in looked at me strangely.

"Your friend has an emergency and you're still sitting here?" she asked.

I froze."What emergency?"

She handed me a phone. "Didn't you hear the ambulance? That college boy already carried your friend out. You seriously didn't notice?"

I took the phone - Audrey's temporary one. My brain short-circuited. "The person vomiting blood... was Audrey?"

"Who else?"

All the blood drained from my face. My heart hammered in my throat.

*How? Audrey was fine just minutes ago. How could she suddenly be throwing up blood?*

I sprinted toward the exit, not caring how I looked anymore. As I burst through the doors, I slammed right into someone rushing in - Blake Parker, looking like he was barely keeping it together.

"Astrid. where's Audrey?" he demanded, gripping my shoulders.

Seeing him, everything clicked. Rage flooded through me. "Blake Parker,you're divorced! Why can't you just leave her alone?"

I grabbed his suit collar. "You're the one who reported us tonight, aren't you?"

Blake didn't try to remove my hand. He just stared at me,cold as ice."Where is Audrey?"

His indifference pissed me off even more. "You have the nerve to ask?Audrey was so upset by you that she threw up blood!"

I fought to keep my voice steady. "She used to be so healthy, but since the miscarriage, she's been getting worse. How many times has she vomited blood now?"

I could feel tears coming, but I refused to let them fall. "Blake Parker,what exactly do you want from her? Before the divorce, your family

bullied her constantly."

I roughly wiped my eyes with the back of my hand. "And after the divorce,you and your Miss Rose still won't leave her alone! Tonight we were just playing cards at that hotel, and you had to get us reported for prostitution!

I finally let go of his collar, contempt filling my voice. "Blake Parker. you don't deserve Audrey's five years of love!"

I walked past him toward the parking lot, my shoulders trembling slightly,but I didn't look back.

**Blake's POV**

I stood frozen, Astrid's last words echoing in my head.

*"Blake Parker, you don't deserve Audrey's five years of love!"*

My brow furrowed as I mentally reviewed my history with Audrey.

*Five years? What five years?*

*I first met Audrey three years ago. She was working part-time as grandfather's caretaker. My relationship with Audrey has only been three years...*

*Why would Astrid say Audrey has loved me for five years? Had Audrey somehow developed feelings for me before we even met? That made no sense. She never mentioned anything like that.*

I dismissed the thought and followed Astrid to the parking lot. As she opened her red sports car door. I slid into the back seat.

Astrid's eyes met mine in the rearview mirror, widening with furv. "

Bastard! Get out!"

I fastened my seatbelt. "I need to see Audrey."

**Audrey's POV**

I floated through a vivid dream. I stood in a hospital room that reeked of antiseptic,facing a younger Blake Parker. White bandages covered his eyes after the accident that left him temporarily blind.

Though sightless, he somehow found my hand and took it in his. He smiled, expression serious despite the bandages.

"When my eyes recover, I want you to be the first person I see."

I couldn't speak because of my throat injury. I bit my lip, feeling my face flush hot as my heart pounded.

When I didn't respond, Blake's forehead creased with worry.His grip tightened.

"Will you? Will you stay by my side until I can see again?" His voice faltered. "Or don't you want me to see you?"

I squeezed his hand and shook my head frantically at his last question.

*He was the maost handsome man I'd ever seen.*

*From the moment I pulled him from that beach, I was drawn to him.*

I held his rough, warm hand, my cheeks burning as I imagined him finally seeing me.

The door opened and a young woman carrying a thermal container walked in, smiling. "Oops, am I interrupting?"

Rachel Hayes looked at our joined hands, her smile widening. "You two are adorable. Are you getting married the moment he recovers?"

My face burned hotter. I tried pulling my hand away, but Blake held tight.

Rachel laughed. "Stop being so shy, Audrey. I can't wait to be your bridesmaid!"

She set out containers on the table and handed me a fork. "Nora's special pot roast from the main house. She insisted on sending it over. Feed hlm?"

Face red, I nodded and turned to Blake. Rachel ate quietly across from us.The room felt warm,peaceful.

Suddenly, the dream changed. The cozy room vanished, replaced by a dark street in pouring rain.

I stood soaked, desperately chasing a black car as it drove away. Despite my hoarse throat, I screamed Blake's name, but the rain drowned me out.The car disappeared into the downpour.

Rachel appeared behind me with a red umbrella. Seeing me stumble, she dropped it and caught me.

"Stop chasing him, Audrey."

Her voice mixed sympathy with coldness. "I've seen his type before. They"Il use you when they need help, then toss you aside when they don't."

"It's good he doesn't know your name or face. If he knew you'd seen him blind - a part of his past he'd rather forget - he might even try to hurt you.

Rain dripped down her face as she continued. "I didn't tell him your name

to protect you. I was afraid he might be dangerous."

"Then I wanted to test his feelings for you. If he was just using you, he didn't deserve to know who you were..."

"Looks like I was right."

I looked up, tears mixing with rain. "But Rachel, he knows your name..."

Rachel's lips curved confidently. "It doesn't matter. My mother's husband has connections. He wouldn't dare hurt me..."

I hugged her, sobbing. We clung to each other as the scene blurred.

The dream shifted again. Now Astrid stood before me,face twisted with grief.

She held my hands, her own shaking. "Audrey, something happened to Rachel... She fell from the building. She's a vegetative patient now.Let's see her one last time..."

I couldn't breathe,only cry out:

"Rachel-!"

I jerked awake with that cry, sitting bolt upright. Cold sweat drenched my body. I gasped for air.

"Audrey, you're awake."

Ethan stood quickly from his chair, looking worried. "Bad dream? Who's Rachel?"

I stared at him blankly before recognizing his face. Just a dream. The tension in my body eased slightly as I exhaled.

I wiped the sweat from my forehead and looked around the unfamiliar room. "Where am I?"