**Audrey's POV**

Blake Parker...

When I heard that name, something inside me froze.

It took a moment for his face to surface in my mind - those cold,chiseled features I once knew better than my own.

Strange how time changes things. Once, that man had been my entire world.Now,after"dying," I struggled to clearly picture him.

The name felt distant, like someone I'd heard about in a story long ago.

Of course, I'd seen him in those newspapers Adrian had left by my bed when I first woke up. I stilI remembered the headline announcing his engagement to Rachel Hayes.

"Evelyn."

Eleanor's concerned voice broke through my thoughts. "Are you ready for this? If you're having second thoughts, Adrian can tell Dr. Clarke you won't be coming."

I smiled at her, touched by the genuine worry in her kind face.

"If I said I wasn't ready, would Adrian really let me stay behind?" I asked,turning to him.

Adrian poured tea with precise movements, his face expressionless as he handed me a cup.

"You'll face them eventually," he said flatly. No discussion, just fact.

Typical. This man never offered choices - just like when he'd handed me that gun. He wasn't giving options; he was forcing reality.

I accepted the cup with a practiced smile. "Don't worry. I'll remember my role as Emma's mother."

I met his eyes directly. "Blake Parker? Never heard of him."

Adrian studied me, then nodded once, satisfied with what he saw.

"Good." He raised his cup in a cold toast. "I look forward to Mrs. Knox's performance."

I matched his gesture, feeling the weight of the challenge ahead as Eleanor sighed at our strange dynamic.

Three months later, our private jet with "KNOX" emblazoned on the side landed on Long Island.

Adrian carried Emma as he walked through the airport. I followed behind,each breath strong and steady after months of rehabilitation.

This place held memories. Ten months ago, Rachel had been here,gradually waking from her drug-induced state. Back then, I'd been trapped at Lunar Mansion, desperate to find her.

Now I was back, but as someone else entirely.

"Mr. Knox!"

That voice stopped me cold.

I turned toward it and saw them standing by the exit - Blake Parker and

Rachel Hayes.

Blake looked thinner, harder somehow. The newspapers hadn't exaggerated about his suicide attempt after my "death" - the sleeping pills.the months in recovery.

He stood in a black suit, phone pressed to his ear, frowning at whatever he was hearing. He hadn't noticed us yet.

Next to him stood Rachel in a light blue dress. She looked heathier,more vibrant than when I'd last seen her pale and weak. Those four years as a vegetative patient hadn't dimmed her natural sunshine.

"Mrs. Knox," Adrian said quietly, watching my reaction. "Need a moment?"

"I've been preparing for a week<," I replied, walking forward. "I'm fine. You're the one who looks nervous."

I took Emma from his arms. "Maybe you should go collect yourself."

He raised an eyebrow at my attitude, then reached for my hand.

I pulled back instinctively before remembering our audience. Reluctantly,I let him take it.

During my recovery, he'd frequently found excuses to be near me, looking at me with tenderness meant for my sister. At first, I'd shut him down completely, but eventually gave in just enough to make our supposed marriage believable in public.

But that was all. I knew he still carried secrets about mysister that he wouldn't share - I could see it in the guilt that flashed in his eyes whenever she was mentioned.

Without waiting for her response, I carried Emma past her toward the exit.

**Blake's POV**

I ended an irritating business call and glanced over at Rachel.

That's when I saw her.

The face that had haunted me for ten months.

Audrey Sinclair.

Alive.

My world stopped. The woman in the white dress had Audrey's face -exactly her face.

I couldn't move,couldn't breathe.

Was I dreaming again? I'd tried so many times to see her in my dreams,but she'd never appear clearly.

I'd thought she hated me too much to visit even my subconscious.

But now, I wasn't asleep, so why...why was I seeing her?

**Audrey's POV**

"Mommy," Emma tugged at my collar, her voice tiny against my ear."That man keeps looking at us."

She pressed closer, her small body warm against mine. "He's scary."

I followed her gaze.

Blake stood frozen, staring at us like he'd seen a ghost. The naked

emotion in his eyes made my stomach drop.

I turned away quickly."Don't worry,baby."

Holding Emma tighter, I walked faster toward the exit. Adrian was ahead talking to Rachel, leaving just enough space for me to slip past without another interaction.

In the parking lot. I'd just clicked Emma's seatbelt into place when footsteps approached from behind.

I knew those footsteps. The rhythm, the weight of them.

I kept my hands busy, pretending I hadn't heard.

Then strong hands grabbed my shoulders, spinning me around. The car door slammed shut as Blake pulled me against him.

"Audrey."

His voice cracked on my name, his body solid and warm against mine.

"I knew it," he said, his grip almost painful. "I fucking knew you weren't dead."

His chest rose and fell rapidly against me. "They lied. All of them. Astrid,Ethan,all of them."

His wordsvibrated through his chest and into mine. "I told them I wouldn't believe it until I saw your body with my own eyes."

Ten months since I'd felt his arms around me. Ten months since l'd breathed in his scent.

Part of me remembered how safe I once felt here.

But that part was dead.

I shoved hard against his chest and stepped back. My hand moved before I could think, cracking across his face.

The slap echoed through the parking garage. People turned to stare.

Blake touched his reddening cheek, eyes wide with shock.

"Get your hands off me," I said, loud enough forothers to hear. "I don't know who you think I am, but you've got the wrong person."