**Audrey's POV**

"They've always been like this," I said, watching the Parker family tear into each other.

*They never have room in their hearts for the elderly. All they see is money.*

Though I'd never met Blake's father, both William and Blake had described Leo Parker, Blake's father, as kind and gentle, just like William.It made me wonder how such a man could have ended up with someone like Rebecca.

"What gives you the right to demand so much money?" Elizabeth snapped."The Parker family has given you enough these past years."

Rebecca's face turned red. "I gave birth to your brother's heir!"

"My brother was already engaged to Leonora Sterling before you came along with your pregnancy story," Elizabeth shot back. "You forced him to break up with her!"

"You've been scheming against our family from day one. We only tolerated you because you gave the Parkers Blake and Thalia."

She pointed her finger at Rebecca."Father isn't even dead yet, and you're trying to take two-thirds of the inheritance.How shameless!"

"You don't compare to Leonora Sterling," Elizabeth added with a dismissive wave. "Not even close."

Rebecca's face twisted with rage."Don't mention that bitch! She's dead!"

She lunged forward and grabbed Elizabeth by the throat. Thalia and Olivia rushed to pull them apart, but they just became part of the mess.

"Leonora Sterling?" I whispered.

Adrian narrowed his eyes. "Leonora Sterling was Eleanor's sister."

I turned to him, surprised. "Eleanor's sister... and Blake's father?"

"They were first loves," he confirmed. "Leonora and Leo Parker were New York's ideal couple. They were engaged until Rebecca came along."

"She slept with Leo and got pregnant," Adrian continued. "At the time.Leonora's family was facing bankruptcy."

"WVilliam wanted to preserve the Parker bloodline without getting dragged into the Sterling family's troubles. He forced Leo to break his engagement and marry Rebecca instead."

"Then Jeffrey used his Australian business assets to save the Sterling family.He married Eleanor."

Adrian sighed. "Leonora gave birth to a stillborn child after Leo married Rebecca. She died of heartbreak on Blake's first birthday."

"Eleanor couldn't accept her sister's fate. She pushed Jeffrey to launch an economic attack against the New York Parkers. When they were forced to leave the American market, they adopted Evelyn and took her to Australia.1

I stood silent, processing everything. Now I understood why my adoptive parents had looked so troubled when I mentioned New York. In their eyes,

there probably wasn't a single good person in the New York Parker famíly.

"Mom, Aunt, stop it!" Olivia yelled. "Everyone's staring! They might laugh at you!"

Rebecca turned around. "Who's laughing at me?"

She spotted us and froze. "What are you doing here?"

Thalia glared at me. "Rachel told me grandfather collapsed after meeting you. You put him in danger, and you still have the nerve to show up?"

"If anything happens to my father because of you," Elizabeth added, "you'Il be hearing from our lawyers."

Rebecca snorted. "You'd better hope he's alright."

I couldn't help the smile that spread across my face.

"You're all ridiculous," I said. "One minute you'refighting over William's inheritance like he's already dead, and the next you're playing the devoted family, blaming me for harming him. Don't you see how absurd that is?"

The Parker women's faces darkened at my words.

Just then, the emergency room door opened.

"William is stable now," Rachel announced, pushing Blake's wheelchair."Thank God I got there in time."

I instinctively moved forward to ask about William's condition, but Adrian coughed behind me. I stopped in my tracks.

Rachel spotted me and marched over. Without warning, she slapped me hard across the face.

"How dare you come here?" she demanded.′′Dyou know William almost died because of you?"

She raised her hand to strike again, but I caught her wrist.

"That's enough," I said coolly. "I accept the first slap since William's collapse might be related to me. But you don't get a second one."

I pushed her hand away. Rachel winced, rubbing her wrist.

My cheek stung, but I kept my face expressionless as I walked past her toward the emergency room. I didn't even glance at Blake as I passed his wheelchair.

"Let her in," Dr. Bennett said, stepping aside. "He's asking for her."

I nodded my thanks and entered the room.

William looked so frail lying there, hooked up to machines, his skin ashen.

My throat tightened at the sight.

"You came..." He reached for me with a trembling hand.

I rushed to his side and took his hanad. "William, I'm here."

A smile spread across his face. "You came to see me... I'm so happy."

His eyes narrowed as he noticed my cheek. "What happened to your face?Did they hit you because of me? This is all my fault."

He reached out to touch the handprint. I leaned into his palm.

"It's nothing," I murmured.

"Don't lie to me," he said. "Imay be old, but I'm not stupid. I know what

happened."

William's eyes filled with concern. "Child, you've suffered because of me."

He asked Charles for a tissue and wiped the tears I hadn't realized were falling. "Don't cry for me anymore."

The way he looked at me wasn't how someone would look at a stranger,or even at their grandchild's twin. It was too familiar, too intimate.

*Does he recognize me?* I wondered. *How could he look at a stranger with such tenderness? Is it just because I'm Audrey's twin?*

My emotions overwhelmed me, and I couldn't stop the tears.

"I don't have much time left," William said, his voice barely above a whisper. "You need to take care of yourself when I'm gone."

He studied my face. "That Adrian seems like a decent man. I don't know why he's good to you, but at least he doesn't make you miserable."

His gaze softened. "Just live your life. Take care of your sister's little girl."

"And let the past stay in the past."

I squeezed his fingers, feeling a bittersweet ache in my chest.

"William..." The word caught in my throat.

William nodded, smiling. "I just want you to be happy."

Something in his eyes - that familiar warmth, that unconditional love -broke my last defenses. I threw my arms around him,careful of the tubes and wires.

"William!"

It hit me then. He knew who I was. He'd recognized me all along.

That's why he'd waited at the hotel. That's why he'd wanted to see Emma so badly.

He'd been worried about me. Even after everything he couldn't let me go.

The realization made my chest hurt. I'd pretended not to know him, and that must have broken his heart - enough to land him here.

"T"'m sorry," I whispered, wiping my tears with the back of my hand."I thought you were still confused. I didn't want to upset you."

"Stop apologizing," William said, patting my hand. "You always take blame that isn't yours."

He shook his head slightly. "This isn't on you."

"It's on me." His voice grew hoarse. "If I hadn't pushed you to marry Blake three years ago, you wouldn't have gone through hell."

"Terminal cancer. Nearly dying." His eyes filled with tears. "I did this to you."

A tear slid down his weathered cheek.′′Inmy life, I've made two mistakes.11

"First was making you marry Blake."

"Second,twenty years ago..."

Before he could finish, I could no longer contain my emotions. I hugged him tightly and wept uncontrollably.