**Audrey's POV**

Blake leaned back, satisfaction written all over his face. That smug smile made my heart race, but not in a good way.

I took a breath and lifted my chin. "Mr. Parker, do I need to remind you again? I am Evelyn Knox, not Audrey Sinclair."

I turned slightly toward Adrian. "And I haven't been following your life.I heard about your suicide attempt from my husband."

"Did you know Mr. Parker's ex-wife looked like me?" I asked Adrian with a forced smile. "Is that why you mentioned that joke before?"

Adrian hesitated briefly before catching on. "Of course."

He walked over and rested his hand on my shoulder. "I was shocked when I first saw the news about Parker's suicide attempt. I thought it was because of that Hollywood actress he was engaged to - Laurel Rose."

"Later I learned he had an ex-wife," Adrian continued. "I got curious about what kind of woman would drive him to suicide, so I looked into Audrey Sinclair."

Without warning, Adrian pinched my nose playfully. I fought the urge to pull away.

"Surprisingly, she looks just like you," he said. "When I told you about it.I almost showed you her picture, but with your health issues, seeing your doppelgünger had dlied might've upset you."

I swallowed my disgust for Adrian's action and forced a smile. "So that's how it was. You never share gossip, so I thought he was your friend."

I shot Blake a look of contempt.′′Iwas confused why you'd be friends with someone so awful. Having an affair while his wife was dying, then acting devastated after her death..." I turned away. "I can't stand men like that."

Rachel cleared her throat.′′Mr.and Mrs. Knox, a lot of what's online about Blake isn't true. You'll get to know the real him through working together."

"What happened with Audrey was complicated. When she died before they could fix things, it hit him hard. That's why seeing someone who looks like her affected him so much."

She looked at his knee. "Can you walk? Let's go back so I can treat. that."

Blake laughed coldly. "I already agreed not to report her daughter for stabbing me, and in return, she'd treat my wound." His eyes locked onto mine. "Bringing your fiancée won't get you out of our deal, Mrs. Knox.Or should I report your four-year-old for assault?"

I bit my lip, meeting his stare. Though he was sitting and I standing, I felt small under his gaze.

′′Isyour daughter brave, Mrs. Knox?" he asked casually. "Police stations aren't kid-friendly. She'd probably cry the whole time."

My fists clenched at my sides. The thought of Emma terrified because of this man's pettiness made my blood boil. I'd do anything to protect her.even though she wasn't biologically mine.

Same old Blake -using his power to control others, to control me.

Rachel touched his arm. "Blake, don't." She whispered something in his ear.

His expression hardened immediately. He stood up, cold fury radiating from him.

"I have things to do, so I'll let this go for now." His voice was ice. "But don't think your acting is that good. Sooner or later, you'll admit you're Audrey Sinclair."

Adrian stepped between us.

Blake looked at him with contempt. "Adrian. You'll regret this." His eyes found mine again. "I don't know what happened to the real Evelyn Knox,but you can't turn Audrey into her. It won't work."

He turned and walked out. Rachel mumbled a quick goodbye and hurried after him.

The door slammed shut. I collapsed onto the sofa, exhausted. I didn't want to talk or think. I just wanted peace.

Adrian sat beside me and poured some tea. "Don't let him getto you.I should never have agreed to bring you here."

"Are you not ready to face him?"

I shook my head. "Timing doesn't matter. It would've been the same whenever we met."

The truth was, after loving Blake for years, I couldn't face him like a stranger. And he was too perceptive - as long as I had this face,he'd suspect. Even with more preparation, nothing would have changed.

Adrian sighed. "You and Evelyn... your personalities are completely different."

I perked up, surprised he'd mentioned her willingly. "What kind of person was my sister?" It was a question I'd wanted to ask for months, but he always changed the subject.

Adrian's expression softened, a mixture of tenderness and pain crossing his face.

"She was nothing like you," he said quietly. "Her parents spoiled her from childhood. Delicate,couldn't handle any hardship. She'd cry over the smallest things."

He shook his head, smiling sadly. "She'd call me in tears about being hurt,and I'd rush over to find just a tiny scratch. But she'd still lie in my arms sobbing, saying how much it hurt..."

"She must have suffered terribly with heart failure," I said softly.

Adrian's smile vanished, his eyes suddenly dark.

"She wasn't in pain," he said flatly. "When she was sick. I was the one who suffered."

**Blake's POV*

"Blake! Wait!"

Rachel's voice faded behind me as I pushed through the hotel doors.I didn't slow down.

When I finally stopped at the curb to check my watch, Rachel stumbled up beside me,out of breath.

"Jesus. Blake," she panted.

I didn't look at her. She leaned against a railing, still catching her breath."Where are you going?"

"Back to the hotel. Clarke's party isn't until tonight."

My car pulled up. I got in without waiting.

Rachel slipped in before the door closed.

The AC hit us as the car pulled away. Rachel's breathing finally slowed.She watched me check my emails, the silence between us growing thicker by the second.

"Look," she finally said. "I know I pissed you off back there."

I kept scrolling.

"But you listened to me. You left. That means something,right?"

"So are we good?" she asked.

I put my phone down. "Im not mad."

Her suggestion in the hotel room kept replaying in my head:

"If that really is Audrey, you're just giving her more reasons to stay away."

Simple but true.

I'd been threatening a child to get what I wanted. Using fear and intimidation. My usual tactics.

For three years, that's how I'd dealt with Audrey. I'd bullied her.dismissed her.made her feel small.

If Knox's wife really was her, why would seeing the same behavior make her come back? I'd just confirmed her worst memories of me.

Rachel blinked at me, her surprise obvious. "Wait, seriously? You're not mad?"

She studied my face. "Blake, you..."

"Rachel." I leaned forward. "You still talk to Thalia, right?"

Her face dropped. "Yeah."

"And Olivia too," she added. "I know that bugs you, but since we're both out here, and your grandfather needs - "

"I need you to do something," I said, cutting her off. "When we get back,tell them I gave Snow away."

"What? Why would I-"

I passed her my phone. "Make sure Thalia hears about it before tonight."

Rachel took the phone, frowning at the event listing on screen. It showed tonight's charity gala with a list of attendees.

Three names caught her attention: Astrid1 Wilson, Thalia Parker, and Olivia Cavendish.

She glanced up, getting it. "You want Astrid to find out about the cat?"