**Audrey's POV*

"I won't accept that," I said, breaking the silence in the car.

Astrid looked surprised as I grabbed her hand.

"Astrid, starting over isn't just abouttaking my sister's place and fulfilling her dreams. It's about becoming someone who isn't afraid anymore - who lives for herself."

"If I avoid you because I'm scared of Blake Parker, how am I different from the old Audrey who tiptoed around him?"

"Let Blake suspect whatever he wants," I said with a smile. "Even if he figures out who I am, so what? I won't give him any chance to hurt me again."

Astrid hugged me hard. "Audrey, you really have changed!"

"When you've died once, you need to change," I laughed. "Otherwise,how could I face everyone who workedto bring me back?"

Adrian rolled down his window, letting inthe night air.

Our car pulled up to the venue where Dr. Clarke's birthday celebration continued despite the late hour.

Felix was with his family when we entered. The moment he spotted us,he set down his glass and rushed over.

"Audrey- I mean, Evelyn! Are youokay?"

"I'm fine," I said. "Sorry for worrying you."

Fellx hung his head. "I should be apologizing. My famlly alrendy talking to the police."

He rubbed his nock. "That kidnapper had a grudge against my grandfather.He planned to take mo. but when he saw us talking earller, he declded to..."He sighed,"I'm just glad you're safe."

"T"'m fine," I said, frowning slightly."Blake Parker's the one who got serlously hurt."

"Rachel told me," Felix nodded.′′T′I visit him at the hospital once things wrap up here."

My mind flashed to Blake's leg caught in that trap - how he'd pushed me away without hesitation. If not for his quick action, it would've been my leg mangled by those metal teeth.

I pushed the thought away. Yes, I owed him for that, but I dldn't need more complications in my life.

Someone called Fellx from across the room. He apologized and left,whlle Adrian guided Astrid and me upstairs.

"Ethan's going to flip when he sees you," Astrid whispered as we stood outside a hotel room.

I knocked gently, thinking about how much I'd missed him.

The door opened almost Immedlately. Ethan stood there, hair slightly dump. When he saw me, his eyes brightened and his mouth curved into a smile.

"Audrey." he sald casually."Long time no see."

I couldn't speak. Astrid looked equally confused.

"Have you two been secretly talking?" she asked.

I shook my head."No,we haven't."

Ethan grinned. "I figured it out."

He stepped back. "Come in."

Inside, we sat on the couch while Ethan made tea. His calm demeanor was jarring - this should have been a shocking reunion.

"About you being Audrey..." Ethan began.′′Ifigured it out after you all left earlier."

He sat across from us. "I wondered why Mr. Knox would leave his four-year-old with me, a total stranger. Wasn't he worried?"

"So I asked Emma," he continued. "She said her daddy told her I was her mommy's friend, not a bad person."

He leaned forward. "What really hit me was how much Emma looks like you.She's practically a mini-you."

"I looked up Information about the Knoxes online while talking to Emma about her mother."

Astrid stared at him, speechless.

"I asked about her mom," Ethan said. "Emma told me her mom was very sick. in ICU for days where she couldn't vislt."

"Awoman identical to Audrey, serlously ill at the same time Audrey supposedly died, whose husband calls me her friend... It wasn't hard to

figure out."

"But Audrey," his expression grew serious, "ten months ago, Astrid and I watched your body go into the crematorium. How...?"

"Because that was my real wife, Emma's real mother," Adrian said quietly.

Silence fell over the room. Adrian stood up. "I'll leave you to talk. I'm going to check on Emma."

After he left, Astrid touched Ethan's arm. "You shouldn't have asked that."

Ethan's confidence vanished. "Did I say something wrong?"

"It's not your fault," I said. "But I'll only explain this once. After tonight,no one brings it up again. This never happened, understood?"

"Got it," Ethan nodded quickly.

With Adrian gone, I turned to my friends. "When I woke up in Australia,I saw news about scandals involving both of you. You seem fine now.Who helped?"

Ethan and Astrid exchanged uncomfortable glances.

"Blake Parker did." Ethan admitted.

"What?" I couldn't hide my surprise.

"After you died," Astrid explained, "Blake camped at your grave for days.When I finally told him to get lost, he took sleeping pills instead."

"The cemetery caretaker found him in time. The Parkers saved him, but he was in a coma for over a month. With no one to stop her, Laurel kept attacking us."

"I thought my career was over before it started1." Ethan added.

"When Blake woke up," Astrid continued, "he had Laurel jailed, shipped Thalia and Olivia abroad, and buried all our scandals."

"Don't feel obligated because of it," Ethan said quickly. "He said himself he was just making amends."

"Exactly," Astrid nodded. "This is your second shot. Audrey. Don't get mixed up with him again. He's with Rachel now - let those two have each other."

"Don't worry," I assured them. "After dying once, I'm done with relationships. When I finish my business here, I'll go back to Australia to care for my sister's parents and Emma."

I glanced toward where Adrian had gone. "I'll manage Q·elegant and repay him for the surgery. When Emma's older, how about we travel the world together,Astrid?"

Her eyes lit up. "Yes! I've wanted to do that forever!"

"Hey, what about me?" Ethan pouted.

"You just graduated," Astrid punched his arm. "Find a jobfirst! Besides.this is a girls' trip. Why are you crashing it?"

As they bickered, I smiled, enjoying a warmth I hadn't felt in months. But my thoughts kept drifting to Blake -how he'd thrown himself between me and danger, his leg caught in that trap meant for me.

*If not for him, that trap might have shattered my leg. He's so sensitive to pain, yet he didn't make a sound...*

I caught myself. *What am I thinking? He's the one who caused my death.He's just paying his debts. I shouldn't waste emotions on him.*

As the night deepened, I finally stood to find Adrian and head back to our hotel.

"Wait!" Astrid jumped up. grabbing my arm. "Emma's already asleep.If you move her now, you'll wake her up."

She looked toward the bedroom. "I've watched my cousin's kids before.Once they're disturbed, they never go back to sleep. You should stay here tonight."

"Ethan and I can get another room," she added. "You can have this one."

Ethan nodded quickly. "Astrid's right. You should stay."

They left together.

When the door closed, I exhaled and splashed some water on my face in the bathroom before pushing Emma's bedroom door open.

Emma clutched her white bunny to her chest, lost in peaceful dreams.Adrian lay beside her, his body curved around her tiny form like a protective barrier.

I leaned against the doorframe, watching them. My hand drifted unconsciously to my stomach, remembering the baby I never got to meet.T d imagined this exact scene during my pregnancy - walking in to find my child and... Blake... sleeping soundly.

Yet here I was, looking at someone else's husband and a child who wasn't míne.though she had my face.

"Evelyn..." Adrian's voice startled me, though he was still asleep. "Don't leave me..."

"I'll give you anything... just stay..."

"This wasn't what I meant to..."

"Please don't go..."