**Blake's POV**

"You two enjoy your reunion!"

The kidnapper slammed the van doors shut with a bang, plunging us into darkness broken only by thin slivers of light through tiny gaps in the van's exterior.

The smell was rancid and overwhelming. A seafood truck. The ice blocks meant to keep today's catch fresh had melted into dirty puddles across the metal floor.

My suit was already soaked. I didn't care. Not with Audrey unconscious in my arms.

"Audrey, wake up," I said quietly, brushing my thumb over the angry red handprint on her face.

The engine roared to life, and the van lurched forward. I nearly fell,tightening my grip on her shoulders. Standing carefully, I lifted her completely into my arms and spotted a wooden crate in the corner. I made my way toward it,stepping through the filthy water.

After sitting down, I shifted Audrey and wrapped my jacket around her torn dress. The evening gown was too thin for the damp chill of the van.

"Audrey," I whispered again, my voice breaking. "Please wake up."

I kept talking as we bounced along the road. I told her about Snow, about my grandfather, about the months after her "death." Things I'd never said before came out in that dark,stinking van.

After about thirty minutes, I felt movement in my arms. Then.almost too quiet to hear, she murmured, "Blake...”

My body went rigid. That voice. That exact tone.

It was identical to how she'd say my name in our most intimate moments.No one else said my name that way.

"Audrey." I said, my voice unsteady. "What did you call me?"

She didn't answer. Instead, she grabbed my arm and nuzzled her head Into my palm.

"So hot..." she mumbled, her voice thick.

I frowned. The van was cold from the remaining ice. She shouldn't be feeling hot.

The kidnapper's words echoed in my head:*"When she wakes up. you gonna have yourself a real party."*

Warning bells rang immediately. Whatever drug he'd given her wasn't just to knock her out.

"It's so hot..." Audrey pulled at my jacket. trying to remove it.

Her strapless evening gown slipped down as she tugged.revealing pale skin. Even in the dim light. I could see the curve of her chest, the edge of her bodice threatening to expose her completely.

My blood surged instantly. I swallowed hard.

Since Audrey's "death," my mother hadn't stopped arranging women for me, but all had left empty-handed.

If I hadn't made that arrangement with Rachel, my mother would've continued endlessly.

The truth was, I wasn't without needs. But every time I considered being with someone else, crushing guilt returned. I'd caused the death of the only woman who'd ever truly connected with me. I'd destroyed the heart that had loved me more than anything.

What right did I have to feel pleasure?

I'd been certain I would never feel desire toward anyone again. Yet here I was,struggling for control.

"Audrey, calm down," I said roughly, grabbing her hand to pull her dress back up.

I misjudged the distance, and my hand pressed directly against her chest.She moaned softly, nuzzling my arm like Snow would when seeking attention.

"Continue..." she whispered, pressing my hand firmly against her and guiding it further inside her clothing.

I felt my mind unraveling, my self-control stretched to breaking. Blood rushed to my head as I fought the urge to kiss her, to take what she seemed to be offering.

With enormous effort, I pulled away and fixed her dress, wrapping her tightly in my jacket again, making sure she was fully covered.

I held her against me, probably too tightly given how she struggled. When she couldn't break free, she looked up with such hurt that I nearly broke.

"Mrs. Knox." I said coldly, deliberately not calling her Audrey."Do you

know your current identity? I'm Blake Parker!"

The kidnapper had clearly given her an aphrodisiac. There could be cameras recording us. I wouldn't let anything happen to her here.

The formal address seemed to break through the fog. Something in her eyes cleared momentarily.

"You... why are you here?" she asked, more coherent now.

"I came to rescue you." I said.

Even drugged, when I called her Mrs. Knox, she'd broken free momentarily. Was Adrian Knox's wife really such an important identity to her?

**Felix's POV**

I sat near the front of the ballroom, smiling as I received gifts for my grandfather. When the Knox family approached, I immediately noticed something wrong. Adrian walked up with little Emma, but no Audrey.

My forehead throbbed. Hadn't she returned long ago? She'd said she needed to get back to Emma, worried Adrian couldn't properly care for her alone. Yet I'd been here for hours,and still no her.

As Adrian offered birthday wishes. I leaned forward. "Mr. Knox, where is Audrey?"

Adrian maintained his polite smile while responding quietly, "She went to find you earlier and never came back. Her phone is off. Where have you hidden her?"

His accusation shocked me. "I was going to ask you the same thing.

Audrey said goodbye and returned to you long ago."

The implications suddenly hit me. "Could it be..."

Adrian's gaze immediately darted toward Blake's seat. Instead of Blake,Rachel sat there with Astrid Wilson and Ethan Davies. Michael stood nearby,making phone calls.

"That's Astrid Wilson," I explained. "She's my friend, but has no connection to my grandfather. Looks like she came with Rachel Hayes."

Blake's earlier words clicked. He'd mentioned Rachel was picking up two friends. So was he actually mentioning Astrid and Ethan?

I looked at Adrian anxiously. "They're both Audrey's former best friends.Blake wants to test whether Evelyn is actually Audrey through them."

"He still wvon't give up," Adrian said, eyes narrowing. "He's still trying to prove Evelyn is Audrey."

"What should we do? Astrid and Ethan know Audrey too well. They'll see Evelyn is actually Audrey!"

"It doesn't matter," Adrian cut me off. "If Audrey passes this test, no one will ever doubt her again."

His expression darkened. "However, she has been gone too long, and so has Blake Parker."

"Are you saying Blake took Audrey?"

"Yes." Adrian handed over his gift. "If you can contact Blake, tell him to bring her back immediately. If I can't find her within ten minutes, I'm calling police."

He took Emma's hand and left after brief birthday wishes.

I handed over my duties to security guards and hurried to the second-floor balcony where Blake and I had smoked earlier.

No sign of Blake. As I was leaving, my foot hit something small. I bent down, finding a diamond-encrusted cufflink.

"Mr. Thompson." Michael rushed over. "Have you seen - " His eyes widened at what I was holding. "That's my boss's cufflink!"

"Mr. Parker is in trouble. He'd never carelessly lose something this expensive. Something must have happened."

**Audrey's POV**

The truck had been driving through city streets forever.

Blake hadn't let go of me once. "Just a little longer. The drug will wear off soon."

Through the haze, I focused on his face. The softness in his eyes was obvious.

I'd seen that look before. Many times, actually. But never aimed at me -that gentleness had always been reserved for Laurel.

Now here he was, using that same voice with me, watching me with that same expression.

I laughed. "Must be dreaming."

Blake Parker wouldn't waste such tenderness on me. Five years loving him,and I'd barely earned a smile, let alone this.

Blake's arms tightened around me. "What dreum?

"Audrey.you're not dreaming."