Divorce Me Before Death Takes Me, CEO novel Chapter 368

Chapter 368

Audrey’s POV

Astrid’s red sports car slid into New York traffic as we left JFK behind. Emma was already dozing beside Adrian, the summer heat barely kept at bay by the car’s air conditioning.

I noticed Astrid’s white-knuckled grip on the steering wheel as she kept glancing at Adrian in the mirror. The tension was obvious.

“So when were you planning to tell me my sister knew Henry Hartford? I turned to face Adrian directly.

Adrian unwrapped a candy for Emma, his movements unhurried. “He wasn’t significant enough to mention.”

“Really? The way he greeted me suggested otherwise.”

He looked up, face perfectly composed. “Five years ago, Henry got caught in a maritime disaster. Evelyn jumped in and saved him. That’s all there was to it.”

“He visited Sydney a few times afterward out of gratitude. We invited him to our wedding as a courtesy, then lost touch until I ran into him at the airport today.”

I studied him, searching for cracks in his story. “Was this the same disaster where Blake Parker’s father died and Blake was blinded?”

Adrian adjusted Emma’s seatbelt, eyes down. “I wouldn’t know. I was in Europe on business when it happened – Evelyn’s parents sent me there for experience while she went to the States.”

“I only heard what happened after returning to Sydney. Does that answer your question?”

My fingers clenched at my side. His story sounded rehearsed, too perfect. But I couldn’t find the right angle to challenge him.

The car pulled up to Adrian’s hotel. He climbed out with Emma cradled against his shoulder, her small body limp with sleep.

“I’ll get her settled,” he said, then glanced my way as I reached for the door. “You should collect your luggage. We’re staying here together – a family of three shouldn’t live separately.”

I hesitated. Yesterday had made sense – crashing at Astrid’s place for our reunion, somewhere Adrian obviously couldn’t stay. But with people questioning whether I was really Evelyn Knox, we couldn’t afford to look divided. Plus, keeping up appearances mattered.

“Fine. I’ll grab my stuff and be back soon.”

His straight back disappeared through the revolving doors, his steps careful not to wake Emma.

“Something’s off with Adrian,” Astrid said as we pulled away, her eyes flicking to the rearview mirror.

I leaned back with a sigh. “He’s definitely hiding things.”

Not just Adrian, either. Jeffrey and Eleanor, my sister’s adoptive parents, had their own secrets. When I first woke in Sydney, everyone painted Evelyn’s life as perfect – surrounded by people who loved her. But after months together, that picture was cracking.

Her marriage. The mental institution. Her daughter. Nothing quite added up.

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Chapter 368

Astrid’s POV

My phone’s ring interrupted our silence. I pulled over and answered.

“Boss.”

“About those people you wanted to find – Malcolm Sinclair and Ivy Thornwood,” Henry said. ‘I found them.”

I sat up straight, quickly switching to speaker for Audrey’s benefit. “Where are they?”

“Why the interest?’ He sounded amused. “What’s your connection to them?”

1 glimpsed Audrey in the mirror, then looked away. “They’re not for me. My friend needs to find them urgently.”

“Astrid,” he said, “you rarely ask for favors.”

“I should take you to meet them personally, but I’m flying out in thirty minutes. I’ll be gone three days minimum, possibly a week.”

“Since it’s urgent, I’ll send you their address. They’re here in New York.”

Relief washed through me. “Great. Please do.”

Honestly, I was glad he couldn’t come along. Henry spending too much time with Audrey would be a disaster waiting to happen. After all she was Audrey, not the real Evelyn, the woman who’d saved his life the one he couldn’t forget.

“Got it,” I confirmed when my phone pinged.

–

“Good.”

“Thanks, boss.” I was about to hang up when he spoke again.

“Astrid Wilson.”

My hand froze. “Yes?”

“What gift would you like?”

My eyes widened. In the mirror, I caught Audrey smirking at me, her eyes twinkling.

“Astrid?” Henry prompted after my silence. “Still there?”

My face burned. “I don’t need anything.”

“But if you insist… maybe perfume?”

Henry laughed softly. “Done.”

The call ended. I covered my face with both hands. “What just happened?”

“Does he normally buy gifts for his employees?” Audrey asked, grinning.

“No,” I said after a moment’s thought.

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hated and a diamond necklace from some auction he claimed didn’t suit him.

Each gift had sent me over the moon, hoping it meant something more. Then I discovered his feelings for someone else, and I buried my crush. He hadn’t given me anything since.

“If he doesn’t usually give gifts but specifically asked what you’d like…” Audrey’s grin widened. “You must be special to him.”

“Your secret crush might actually work out.”

A week ago, those words would’ve made me dance with joy. Now they just left a bitter taste. What if he was only using me to get closer to “Evelyn”? My heart felt like it had shattered on impact after falling from a great height.

I sniffled once and pushed these thoughts away. “Here’s the address for your adoptive parents. Should we go now?”

Audrey’s POV

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