Divorce Me Before Death Takes Me, CEO novel Chapter 296

Chapter 296

Audrey’s POV

I caught Rachel studying me, her expression cold and calculating. Gone was the warmth she once showed to Audrey Sinclair.

“I admit,” she said, “neither Blake nor I are jewelry design experts. Our lack of knowledge in this area is understandable.”

She held up her phone, showing comparison images of jewelry pieces. “But we can still see the striking similarities between your designs and Audrey’s work.”

“We’re not calling it plagiarism, Mrs. Knox. We just think your design approach seems remarkably similar to Audrey’s.”

She paused, taking a deep breath as something painful crossed her mind.

“We’d like to understand what inspired you when creating these pieces,” she continued after collecting herself. “With work so similar to Audrey’s, your creative process must follow similar patterns.”

Rachel leaned forward. “Mrs. Knox, I know this might sound strange, but I truly want to help complete my friend’s legacy. While she was alive, I never really understood what she was trying to express through her designs.” She looked directly at me. “So we thought –

“Let me get this straight, Adrian cut in. “You want to collaborate with Q-elegant so my wife can explain her design philosophy, which you’ll then use to figure out your friend’s intentions?”

He raised an eyebrow at Rachel. “That’s actually not unreasonable.”

His gaze shifted to Blake. “But Mr. Parker’s attitude seemed more like he was accusing my wife of stealing his ex-wife’s work.”

“How do you explain that?”

Rachel laughed awkwardly. “Blake’s never been great with people. He didn’t mean it like that. Like me, he just wants to understand Audrey’s vision through Mrs. Knox’s similar work.”

She turned to me. “My fiancé sometimes says the wrong thing. If he offended you, please don’t hold it against him. We came for collaboration. If we truly thought you were copying Audrey, why would we propose these terms or seek a partnership?”

Adrian stepped between us. “It’s fine. I’ll forgive him on her behalf.”

His protective stance was unnecessary but predictable. After months together, I’d come to understand Adrian’s nature. Cold and distant, caring or y about what directly mattered to him.

“My wife will explain her design philosophy after Dr. Clarke’s birthday celebration,” he said, guiding me to a seat.

He sat beside me, crossing his legs. “But I’ve been wondering about something else. Miss Hayes, you were Mr. Parker’s ex-wife’s best friend, right?”

Looking at Rachel like this made my stomach twist with conflicting emotions.

“It’s only been ten months since his ex-wife died,” Adrian continued. “How did you two get engaged so quickly?”

I knew what he was doing. Adrian was asking the question I couldn’t.

“One of you claims you loved your ex-wife enough to attempt suicide,” he said with thinly veiled mockery. “The other acts deeply concerned about your dead friend. So why are you two together?”

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