**Audrey's POV*

Lying on the hospital bed, I couldn't move, but my mind stayed sharp enough to catch voices beyond the emergency room.

"I don't care what it takes! Get those jewelry prototypes here now!" James shouted, his usual composure completely gone.

"Nothing is impossible! This is life or death!"

Through the haze of pain, I caught Ethan's steady murmurs, probably comforting Astrid.

"My friendis dying," James's voice cracked. "Her last wish is to see her designs come to life. Get them here today!"

Breathing became a battle even with the ventilator helping. After surgery.they wheeled me back, my face drained of color. The doctor stepped through the doors toward my waiting friends.

"Doctor, how is she?!" They spoke together, their voices a desperate chorus.

He sighed, shoulders slumping. "Her body was already compromised by her illness. This nail wound didn't damage her brain, but she's lost too much blood."

A pause. "We've done everything possible, but with the delayed treatment...11

Another heavy sigh. "Go see her. The machines can only keep her stable for about fifteen minutes."

They approached slowly. Astrid grabbed my hand, her eyes red and swollen.

"Audrey..." She choked out my name. "Who pushed you onto that nail?"

"Please tell me?" she begged.

The ventilator made talking hard, but I forced the words out. "Astrid, don't ask."

I tried to smile but couldn't make my face work right.

Each word cost me. "My body was already failing... even without this nail,I'd have died soon."

"But not now! Not yet!" Tears splashed onto our joined hands.

"We have so much left to do. Rachel just woke up! Your jewelry line isn't even launched!" Her voice cracked.

"I need more time with you. How can you just... leave?"

What good would telling her do? No cameras, no witnesses. If Astrid went after Blake, she'd only destroy herself. I'd already brought enough trouble to my friends.

I reached for her face with the last of my strength. Astrid moved closer.pressing my hand to her wet cheek.

"Astrid." My voice was fading. "In the next life... I won't fall for any man.I'll stay with you and Rachel."

I fought for breath.

"The three of us... sisters forever."

"Yes!" She nodded, tears still flowing.

"Remember, this is my own doing... my choices."

Each word was harder than the last.

"Nothing to do with Blake... William... or any Parker. Don't fight them...don't seek revenge. Live your life."

My grip tightened slightly.

"Don't tell Blake anything... we're done. No Parkers at my funeral... not even William. He'll be upset."

"I'll do exactly what you want," Astrid promised.

I turned to Ethan standing at the foot of my bed. "Snow's been with me over two years. I worry about him most. Astrid's careless... James is always busy..."

"Could you take Snow? Cats only live fifteen years... please."

Ethan ducked his head, hiding tears. "Don't worry... I'll take good care of him."

I sighed and looked at James. "About what I asked before..."

He nodded stiffly. "It's handled."

A knock interrupted us. Tiffany burst in, out of breath.

"James, got them!" she announced.

James showed me the samples. "Look! Your designs are real!"

My hands trembled as I touched my creation. Tears filled my eyes as l

held the jewelry in one hand, Snow in my other arm.

"Thank you," I whispered over and over.

"Don't tell Rachel about me yet," I managed. "Might set back her recovery."

"We won't." Astrid promised.

"In my life, I have two regrets... Not seeing Rachel before I died. The other is..." I closed my eyes,too tired to continue.

n my mind, I finished the thought: *That I gave my heart to a man who never cared about me at all.*

Bitterness washed over me as darkness closed in.

"Audrey!" Astrid's voice seemed far away.

**Ethan's POV**

The moment Audrey's eyes shut, the weather turned violent. The sky went black. Thunder crashed and rain hammered the windows like it wanted in.

It seemed that even the heavens were mourning the passing of this young and kind-hearted woman.

The emergency room lights flickered as doctors rushed back, pushing us into the hall. For two hours, we waited with Snow in my arms as the medical team fought to save her.

When the lights finally went dark, the doctor stepped out shaking his head.Astrid led us in a formal bow before we entered the room.

"Should we call her family?" James asked quietly.

"No need." Astrid's voice wvas eerily calm. "Her adoptive parents were cruel.Her birth parents only cared about Victoria."

She gathered Audrey's things methodically. "They never cared if she lived or died. She cut ties with them anyway. She made a will years ago.I handle everything after she's gone."

"Keep it simple, like.she wanted. No Sinclairs. No Parkers."

As I looked at Audrey, who was covered with a white shroud, something seemed off. I frowned, studying her more carefully.

*Wait. Does she look... heavier than before? Not just her face, but her whole body.*

Before I could look closer, we were ushered out.

**Astrid's POV**

Even with the storm raging, I pushed for immediate cremation. Audrey had been clear, and I wouldn't wait.

I filled out forms with cold efficiency. Within hours,everything was set.

As they wheeled Audrey toward the furnace, her phone rang. Blake's name lit up the screen.

I stared at it, a bitter smile twisting my lips. Seven hours since Blake had Michael tell us to get Audrey. He knew what happened. Yet it took him seven hours to call.

This man had Audrey's love for five years. What right did he have to that devotion when it killed her? Was he worth it?

Hell no.

I rejected the call and blocked his number.

*Blake Parker will never see Audrey again. Not even her ashes. He doesn't deserve her.*

**Blake's POV**

Rain slammed against my face as I stared at my phone's screen. Another failed call.

"Still no way we can leave?" I asked the captain.

He gestured at the churning water. "Look at those waves! No boat's going out in this."

I shoved my phone in my pocket and tried Astrid again. Nothing. James.

Straight to voicemail. Ethan. Same thing.

My stomach twisted tighter with each rejection tone.

Laurel had finally cracked. Told me everything.

Audrey was the woman from five years ago.

Every memory hit differently now - Audrey making breakfast at 5 AM before work, Audrey sittingsilently beside my hospital bed for days.Audrey placing a cold towel on my forehead when fever hit.

How the hell did I miss it? Three years with her and I never saw what was right in front of me.

Goddamn it. I wantedI to grab her, tell her I was sorry, that she was it for me-always had been.

But her phone just rang and rang.

Nobody was picking up. Not a single one of her friends.

Stuck on this island for three days, I'd had Michael put together search teams across New York.

Nothing. Like they'd all vanished into thin air.

I'd checked transportation - airports, train stations, bus terminals. No record of them leaving. They were in the city somewhere,hiding.

This cold shoulder routine wasn't new with Audrey, but something felt different this time.

Like I was losing her for good.

When I finally made it back to the city, Michael texted me an address.Astrid's location.

My driver hadn't even stopped the car when I jumped out, sprinting toward her. She stood over a metal barrel, flames flickering as she tossed something inside.

I grabbed her arm."Where is Audrey?"