**Audrey's POV**

"I'm not asking to replace your dead wife," Rachel continued, voice thick with emotion. "But if you're looking for a replacement, why couldn't it be me?"

"Audrey and I were best friends. I know her better than anyone." She paused, breathing hard. "I know exactly what you two had together."

She turned toward me, jabbing a finger in my direction. "I can't possibly be less qualified than this woman who just happens to have Audrey's face!"

The room seemed to tilt as everything clicked. I finally got it from her words. Rachel Hayes was in love with Blake Parker.

My mind raced back through time. Rachel sitting across from me at that little cafe five years ago, her expression concerned: *"Audrey, you need to let go of him. He abandoned you. Stop thinking about him."*

Another memory - Astrid asking what kind of guys we liked. I always answered honestly. Rachel claimed she wasn't interested in men,just wanted career success.

Whenever I mentioned Blake, she'd immediately advise me to give up.*"He's not looking for you. You should focus on your own life."* She'd even persuaded me not to tell Blake my real name when we met again.

When had her feelings started? Five years ago? Four? After waking from her coma?

I'd always thought Rachel was my best friend, that her advice was for my benefit. Now I was seeing the truth. My closest friend not only fell for the same man I loved but had actively tried to keep us apart.

"What are you talking about?" Blake's cold voice snapped me back to reality.

He'd positioned himself between us, expression hard. Michael kept working on Blake's wound, eyes flicking nervously between us.

"I asked her to pretend to be Audrey for my grandfather," Blake said firmly.′′TOtest his reaction."

Rachel scoffed. "Why waste time on -"

"Since Mrs. Knox is in New York," Blake cut her off, "she may attend our wedding. If grandfather sees her face and thinks she's Audrey,claiming you're the impostor-then what?"

Rachel's face went pale. She opened her mouth but nothing came out.

I took a deep breath and stood up. No point dragging this out.

"Mr. Parker saved my life in that forest," I said evenly. "Of course I'd want to attend your wedding."

I met Rachel's eyes. "He brought me here to test whether my face would cause problems. I'm surprised Miss Hayes would assume I'm trying to steal her fiancé."

"Seems I was wrong about you all along. I won't be attending your wedding.And Knox Corporation will terminate our partnership with Parker Group immediately."

The desolation in my chest was overwhelming. I shouldn't have come here.Rachel never cared about our friendship. I should have cut all ties with Blake's family long ago.

"Wait!" Rachel grabbed my wrist as I turned to leave.

Her expression had completely transformed - anger replaced with contrite sincerity.

"I'm sorry," she said,gripping me tightly.′′lost control. It's just... your face looks so much like Audrey's."

"I was scared of losing everything. You understand, right? As another woman?"

I studied her face - still as beautiful as when we first met five years ago.But the person behind it had become a stranger. I couldn't tell if any of her past kindness had been real.

"Are you so afraid because these things weren't yours to begin with?"I asked quietly.

Rachel's mouth opened, but no words came out.

"You're fine being Audrey's replacement to get what you want,"I continued after a moment. "But if you're going to use her identity with William, shouldn't you at least fulfill her responsibilities?"

I glanced at the old man in the bed. "At minimum, you should take proper care of him."

Rachel's face hardened. "That's between grandfather and me. It's none of your business."

"You're right." I said coldly."It′Ss Parker family business."

I pulled my wrist free from her grip. Maybe the old Rachel had been real-the one who befriended a poor girl from a village, who taught me things I'd never been exposed to. But that Rachel was gone, replaced by this woman I didn't recognize.

I walked toward the door, wanting nothing more than to leave and never return.

"Evelyn." Blake's voice stopped me in the hallway.

"Grandfather dloesn't recognize you now," he said. "He probably won't at the wedding either. You and Mr. Knox are still welcome to attend."

I didn't turn around. "I'll discuss it with Adrian."

"But don't count on us being there."

I continued toward the elevator, feeling Blake's eyes on my back the whole way.

Alone in the elevator, everything I'd been holding back surged up. I closed my eyes,seeing images of William and Rachel from happier times. Once,T d thought they were the two people who cared for me most. Now one didn't know me, and the other had become someone I didn't recognize.

The elevator reached the first floor. I quickly wiped my eyes and stepped out.

"Well, if it isn't Mrs. Knox with a face identical to Audrey Sinclair's?"

I recognized the mocking tone immediately. Four women stood blocking my path.

"Crying as you come down from upstairs?" one sneered.

"Did your plan to seduce Blake fail?" another taunted.

I looked up to see Rebecca. Thalia, Elizabeth, and Olivia. All except Elizabeth wore masks and hats - trying to hide the injuries I'd given them.

"You're all so beat up you can't show your faces in public," I said, "yet you still come looking for more trouble?"

I clenched my fists. "Perfect timing. I'm already pissed off. Don't blame me for what happens next."

Ten minutes later, I walked out the main entrance, leaving chaos in my wake.

All four Parker women were sprawled across the lobby floor behind me.Elizabeth's once-perfect face now wore several handprints and bruises.Rebecca lay face-down, unable to even stand.

"Blake," she whined into her phone, "that woman attacked me again..."

Their pathetic moaning actually made me smile as I walked away. After three years of their torment, these minor injuries didn't begin to settle the Score.

A group of security guards rushed past me toward the building.

"Parker's mother and sister got beat up," one said under his breath. "His aunt and cousin too."

Another guard snorted. "Hate to say it, but they had it coming. Those four are nightmares every time they visit."

"Even the janitors can't stand them," a third added. "About time someone

stood up to them."

"Knock it off," the lead guard hissed. "Mrs. Parker said the attacker just left. Keep your eyes open."

None of them gave me a second look. Guess a woman in designer clothes didn't fit their idea of somneone who could take down four people.

I strolled down the tree-lined path, my mood lighter with each step. I'd barely reached the halfway point when my phone rang.

Blake.

I answered without hesitation. He'd always defended his mother and sister no matter what they did. Now that his head was bandaged and I'd beaten his precious family members again, he was probably calling to scream at me.

"Hello?" I kept walking, my tone deliberately cheerful. "Missing me already,Mr. Parker? We just said goodbye."

There was a pause before he responded. "You sound happy."