**Eleanor's POV**

I sighed as Adrian left the dining room and sank back into my chair to finish my tea.

"This boy," I said, shaking my head. "That photo he showed-was he testing Audrey,or us?"

Jeffrey took a sip of his wine, leaning back at the head of the table."Probably both."

"Don't you think Adrian's been slipping from our control since Audrey woke up?"

"What we need," Jeffrey continued, "is a son-in-law who'll inherit our business and actually obey us - a real heir for Parker International. Adrian used to fit that role perfectly. But now..."

"I've been looking into Blake Parker recently. If Adrian's becoming unreliable, Blake could be worth considering. We could-"

"Jeffrey!" I cut him off sharply. "Have you forgotten whose son he is?However flawed Adrian might be, at least he has no grudge against us."

"If you let Audrey reconnect with Blake, and he discovers who caused that disaster five years ago... the consequences would be unthinkable!"

Jeffrey laughed like I was worrying about rain at a picnic. "Darling, you're overreacting."

"Five years ago, Blake's father died instantly in that maritime accident,and

Blake was blinded for months... If Blake had the ability to investigate that cause, he would've done It years ago."

"Five years have passed wwith nothing. Either he doesn't care to look, or he can't find anything. As long as we stay quiet, he'll never find evidence."

"Actually, replacing Adrian with Blake might not be such a bad idea."

I gave him my coldest look. "You've lost your mind."

I glanced around to make sure we were alone, then hissed, "Don't ever say that again!"

Jeffrey chuckled softly but fell silent.

**Audrey's POV**

I helped Emma out of her clothes as the bathtub filled with warm water.Just as I was about to undress her completely, a knock made me freeze.

"Evelyn. Can I come in?" Adrian called through the door.

Emma, standing in just her underwear, ran to the door and pressed her tiny body against it like a miniature guard.

"Daddy, no!" she protested. "Mommy and I are both girls. No boys during bath time!"

"You can talk to us later," she added. "Don't rush!"

"Fine," Adrian replied. I could hear the smile in his voice. "I'll wait outside."

"Make hot milk for me and Mommy!" Emma called, not finished with her demands.

Adrian laughed. "Coming right up.Princess."

We heard his footsteps fade and the bedroom door close. Emma took a deep breath and ran back to me with a proud grin.

"I sent Daddy away!" she announced."Now we can take our bath in peace!11

I crouched down and pinched her cheek gently. "Thank you, Emma!"

She climbed into the tub and started playing with the bubbles. After a minute of contented splashing, her face turned serious.

"Mommy, you and Daddy don't act like my friends'parents."

"You never kiss or hug or hold hands," she said, drawing shapes in the bubbles. "On TV, when parents do that, it means they're only staying together for their kid."

"Those parents are always unhappy," she continued, looking up with those intelligent blue eyes. "I don't want you to be sad. If you like that strange man better, you should go with him."

My heart squeezed painfully.

"You can still visit Emma sometimes," she added, her nose turning red as tears formed.

I climbed into the tub fully dressed and pulled her into a hug. "I'm not going anywhere,sweetie."

Emma had already lost her real mother. I couldn't let her experience that again.

"But you're not happy with Daddy," she said, pulling back to look at me.

"How do you know that?"

"Because you never hug or kiss him!"

I smiled at her simple logic. "Don't worry. Mommy's just been sick. When

I feel better. I'll hug and kiss Daddy so you'll know I'm happy. Okay?"

Emma sniffled and held out her pinky. "Promise?"

"Promise," I said, linking my finger with hers.

When we finished our bath, Adrian was waiting in pajamas by the window.

Two steaming mugs sat on the table.

"Your milk is ready, ladies," he said, standing as we entered.

Emma tugged me toward a chair. "Thanks, Daddy!"

I sat down and picked up my mug. "Thanks."

Adrian raised an eyebrow. "That's all? No 'thank you, honey'?"

I froze, thinking of our argument downstairs. Had he overheard my

conversation with Emma?

Emma frowned at my sílence. "Mommy?"

I glanced between them. "Thank you, money," I said flatly.

Adrian smiled. "You're welcome."

I hurried Emma through her milk and off to bed, reading her favorite story until she fell asleep. When I finally slipped out and closed her door,Adrian was waiting in the hallway.

"You don't need to do that agaín," I said. "We both know this ian't real. f'

m only playing along for Emma. Don't ask me to call you that again when she's not around."

I turned to leave, but his voice stopped me.

"Wait." He held out a plane ticket. "Early flight to New York tomorrow."

"Get some rest tonight. Look your best when you see William."

I stared up at him, genuinely surprised.

"What, shocked?" he asked, noticing my expression.

I frowned and nodded. Downstairs he'd shown that fake invitation,making his parents doubt my intentions. Now this?

"When did you buy this?" I asked.

Adrian leaned against the wall. "As soon as I heard about Blake and Rachel's wedding."

"Their invitation mentions it's for his grandfather's sake - there's a note on the final page. I got their invitation, so I saw it."

He pressed the ticket into my hand. "I know William matters to you. I had this booked immediately. Even if you hadn't mentioned it at dinner, I would've given it to you anyway."

I took the ticket. "Adrian... thank you."

"Don't mention it. And don't hold dinner against me."

I looked up, confused. "If you always planned to send me to New York.why act that way at dinner?"

Adrian was quiet for a moment.

"I wanted to see how my in-laws would react," he finally said. "They don't fully trust you yet."

"I've watched you ty so hard to become Evelyn, to live her life well. I see everything you've done. But Audrey, you should know - the Parkers'feelings toward you and Evelyn aren't what you think."

"All those stories about them spoiling her like a princess? Media narratives they created. I'm worried if you trust them too much, you'll end up like Evelyn."

He took a deep breath and put his hands on my shoulders.

"Tonight proved it. They don't trust you either."

I didn't show my surprise as Eleanor had told me something similar.

A month ago, my first week back in Australia, Eleanor cornered me on the balcony. She'd grabbed my hand while we watched Adrian playing tennis with Emma in the garden.

"You're trying to be a good Evelyn," she'd whispered. "But don't get attached to them."

"Especially Adrian. You have no idea what he did to Evelyn."

She'd slid a folder across the table. Inside were admittance papers to a psychiatric facility - with Adrian's signature authorizing my sister's commitment.

"Emma was conceived in that place," Eleanor had said,her voice flat."Adrian only let Evelyn out because of the pregnancy."

"You know the rest. Before Emma could even walk, Evelyn was gone. We've spent years trying to wake her, to get her side of the story." Her fingers had drummed against the papers. "But she never got that chance."

"Then Adrian found out about you. He didn't even ask us. Just decided to swap your brain into Evelyn's body."

"If Dr. Clarke hadn't refused..."