**Audrey's POV**

I froze for a while, then I knelt beside hím and reached for his mask."William." I blinked back tears while adjusting the straps. "Why are you here?"

He took a few labored breaths through the mask, then pulled it away. "I asked you to visit me last night, but you refused. I thought maybe it was because I wasn't kind when we met before."

"So I asked about your hotel to find you... to apologize."

Tears filled his eyes. "Mrs. Knox, please don't hold it against a confused old man. I'm sorry for how I acted that day."

*How can he be apologizing to me?* I shook my head, fighting to keep my composure. "It's okay, William. I didn't take it personally."

I squeezed his hand. "I didn't come see you because of my own reasons,I-"

"As long as you don't hate me, that's enough," he cut in, wiping his eyes."I thought you wouldn't forgive me. If you hadn't, this old man couldn't die in peace."

Charles stepped in. "Now that Mrs. Knox says she doesn't blame you,can we go back?"

The doctors nodded in agreement. "Sir, your condition isn't suitable for staying out this long-""Mrs. Knox," William interrupted, his voice suddenly stronger. "I heard

you have a four-year-old daughter."

His eyes brightened. "I love children. Could I meet her?"

I stared at him, caught off guard. "You..."

He sighed. "I know it's presumptuous, but my days are numbered."

Bitterness crept into his voice. "Ten months ago, Blake didn't take care of Audrey, and she got sick and left us. I know I'll never see them happy together or having a child."

He looked up; eyes pleading. "You and Audrey were identical twins. I've heard your daughter looks like you."

"I want to see her. It would be like seeing what Audrey and Blake's child might have looked like." His mouth twitched into almost a smile. "Then this old man can die without regrets.".

*If Emma were truly my daughter, I'd agree immediately. But she's Evelyn'

s child with Adrian. I'm just pretending to be her mother. And William is Blake's grandfather. Do I even have the right to decide?*

Charles patted William's shoulder. "Sir, if Mrs. Knox isn't comfortable with this,we should go. Your health -"

"Mrs. Knox, please," William pressed, looking right at me. "I won't do anything to upset her. I just want to see her. I won't-"

The elevator dinged.

"Oh my, she really does look similar," Dr. Bennett murmured.

Emma dropped Adrian's hand and ran to me, wrapping her arms around my knees. "Mommy, why are there so many people? It's scary..."

"Did you leave me and Daddy alone just to meet them?"

Her gaze shifted to William. "Who's that serious old grandpa in the wheelchair?" she whispered, though everyone could hear her clearly.

I picked her up, forcing a smile. "Mommy came down early for breakfast but ran into these people. I didn't expect to see them."

I kissed her cheek. "You were still sleeping when I left. How'd you wake up so fast?"

Emma pouted. "The sun's up, so I woke up. Emma's not lazy!"

She rested her head on my shoulder and studied the strangers. "Who are these people? Do you know them?"

William leaned forward eagerly. "You must be Emma. Hello."

Emma surprised me with her politeness. "Hello. Who are you and how do you know my mommy?"

William paused, then chuckled. "I'm a friend of your mommy's twin sister."

"Oh, you're a friend of my dead auntie." Emma tilted her head,studying him. "Do you know Mr. Blake Parker?"William stiffened. "You know him?""Of course! I'm four now, and I understand lots of grown-up things! 1heard Blake Parker hurt my auntie the most and caused her death."

"Grandpa, since you were my auntie's friend, did you protect her before she was killed?"

William looked uncomfortable. "You..."

I coughed, trying to signal Emma to stop.

She ignored me completely. "My daddy keeps newspapers about Blake Parker. They always say how much he Tiked my auntie, but I think he's a hypocrite!"

She blinked up at William. "Grandpa, you look respectable. Could you help avenge my auntie? She was mommy's favorite sister..."

Adrian appeared behind us. "Emma, that's enough. Let's go."

He lifted her from my arms and headed for the elevator. At the doors,he glanced back. "Do whatever you want. Just come back early tonight."

The doors closed, leaving me alone with William's entourage.

I took a breath and turned to face him. "William. That was my daughter."

"You wanted to see her, and now you have. You should go back and rest."

I bowed slightly. "I hope you stay healthy.but please focus on resting.Don't come looking for me again."

I met his eyes directly. "I am not Audrey Sinclair, and my daughter is not Audrey and Blake's child."As I turned to leave, two voices called out from my back: "Grandfather!"

It was Blake and Rachel.*Perfect timing.* I stepped into the walting elevator, relieved to escape another confrontation.

Back upstairs, Adrian was waiting in the hallway, looking exhausted.

"Thought the old Parker would keep you all day," he said, eyebrow raised.

I hung up my coat. "I have nothing to talk about with him, I-"

My phone rang. Unknown number.

After hesitating,I answered.

"Mrs. Knox." Rachel's voice was tight with anger. "What did you say to William? Why dlid he collapse and lose consciousness after you left?"

My hand froze on the phone.

"We're headed to Mayo Clinic," she continued. "If you have any conscience,get to the hospital now!"

I felt my stomach drop. "How did he lose consciousness?"

*He was fine when I left. What happened?*

"Like you don't know!" Rachel snapped. "Blake and I had just gotten to your hoteliwhen Willam saw us and collapsed."

"Whatever you said to him did this! You upset him!"The raw hatred in her voice caught me off guard. "Evelyn. I actually thought Audrey's twin would have some of her kindness."

"Guess I was wrong.""The man's eighty with one foot in the grave," she continued, her voice

rising. "All he wanted was to see us getting along. Was that so hard?"

"You already blew him off last night. I covered for you then."

"But this morning? He dragged himself to your hotel, and you still couldn'

t play nice for five minutes? Now he's unconscious!"

"T've met some cold people, but you take the cake."

The line went dead before I could get a word in. I stared at my phone.a knot forming in my stomach.

"Parker drama?" Adrian asked, watching me from the sofa.

I nodded and gave him the rundown of what happened.

Adrian closed his eyes, taking it in.

"I'll get someone to watch Emma," he said finally, grabbing his jacket. "We're going to Mayo."

I blinked. "You're coming with me?"

"Let's go."

At the hospital, we rushed toward the emergency wing where they'd taken William.

The entire Parker clan had already assembled in the hallwayJust like when I "died," Rebecca and Elizabeth were already locked in a heated argument about inheritance and property divisions.

Their voices carried down the corridor before we even stepped off the elevator.

"Charming family tradition?" Adrian muttered. "The man's still breathing and they're divvying up his fortune."

"New York's finest," he added with a cold laugh.

.