Divorce Me Before Death Takes Me, CEO novel Chapter 413

Chapter 413

Audrey’s POV

“If it weren’t for you, Emma would never have been kidnapped!” Adrian’s bloodshot eyes locked onto mine, his voice sharp enough to cut glass.

I stood frozen, struggling to process this sudden attack. This wasn’t the calculated, controlled Adrian I knew. This was someone else entirely.

‘Four years with me in Sydney and nothing like this ever happened to her,” he continued, hands trembling with barely contained rage. ‘We follow you to New York, and suddenly she’s getting grabbed by kidnappers?”

I opened my mouth, but he bulldozed right over me.

‘Emma nearly died today, but all you care about is Blake Parker and his legs! You don’t give a damn about her!”

The accusation hit like a physical blow.

‘I thought you and Evelyn shared blood, so you’d treat Emma like your own.” His voice dropped dangerously low. I was wrong. You never knew Evelyn, so how could you possibly care about her daughter?”

He shook his head, disgust evident. “You’ve let me down, Audrey. Completely.”

I stood there, stunned speechless. This was how Adrian truly saw me?

He thinks I care more about Blake than Emma? Blake used his own body as a shield. He took every knife meant for her. He kept her so safe that not one drop of blood touched her.

If Blake had died saving Emma, could we ever repay that debt? Would the Parkers let us live in peace?

I thought Adrian understood me. I thought he knew how much I care about Emma. But when crisis hit, his first move was to blame me

–

the non-biological mother.

The ache wasn’t anger. It was disappointment, cold and deep.

Suddenly, Blake’s door creaked open. Emma appeared in the doorway, guilt written all over her little face.

‘Daddy… I’m right here,” she said quietly. “I didn’t disappear…”

She stepped forward, nervous. “I just wanted to check if Uncle Blake was getting better…”

Her eyes welled up. “I’m sorry for making you worry…”

Adrian stared at her, shocked, then turned to me with ice in his eyes.

“Did you stash her in Blake’s room?” he demanded.

“Are you kidding me?” I frowned in disbelief. “If I knew where she was, would I have stood here letting you blame me this whole time?”

I walked over and scooped Emma up. Through the open door, I caught Blake watching us. Our eyes met briefly before I shut the door with a firm push.

Just knowing Blake heard everything made my chest tighten – like my privacy had been invaded, like I was naked in front of him.

“Mommy… Emma whispered against my neck. “Did I get you in trouble?”

She sniffled. “I asked Daddy if I could see Uncle Blake, but he said no…”

I just sneaked in when he wasn’t looking,” she continued. “Uncle Blake got hurt protecting me. I was worried…”

1/3

Chapter 413

I rubbed her back gently. “It’s okay, sweetie. Nobody’s mad at you.”

I looked up at Adrian. “You scared her.”

Adrian stepped forward, reaching for Emma. “Come here.”

Emma instantly tightened her grip on me, burying her face deeper into my neck. When Adrian reached for her again, she clung even harder.

His brow furrowed. “Emma.”

“No! Daddy’s scary,’ she whispered. ‘I want Mommy.”

“Save me, Mommy,” she pleaded against my shoulder.

Adrian’s face darkened. Stop being difficult, Emma. Come here now.”

‘I already gave my blood to your precious Uncle Blake,” he added coldly. “We’ve paid our debt. He saved you, I saved him. We’re even. No need to keep checking on him.”

I frowned at his tone. “You just scared her half to death. Give her time to calm down.”

I met his gaze head-on. “Let me handle this. I won’t lose her again.”

With an edge to my voice, I added, “She’s perfectly safe inside the Thompson mansion.”

Adrian stared at Emma’s defiant little form. After a long moment, he sighed and lowered his hand.

“Hartford’s back from overseas. He needs to see me,” he said flatly. I’ll go meet him.”

His eyes bore into mine. “Try not to lose our daughter while I’m gone.”

With that, he turned and walked away, footsteps echoing down the hall.

As soon as he disappeared, Astrid emerged from a nearby room, eyebrows raised.

“What’s his problem?” she muttered, watching his retreat as I patted Emma’s back. “I never noticed he was this fierce before.”

It’s like he swallowed a bomb today,” she added. “Yelling at everyone for no reason.”

‘I get him snapping at us, but his own kid? Seriously?”

I sighed. “He probably just cares too much.”

“That’s no excuse,” Astrid argued. “Emma’s safe now. Why keep being a jerk to her? It’s not her fault.”

Because he lost Evelyn, and when Emma was kidnapped, he feared losing her too. He lost his mind.

Astrid reached out and playfully pinched Emma’s cheek. “Don’t worry, kiddo. Your mom and I are here. Nobody’s gonna mess with you.”

Emma’s lips quirked up. “I know. I have Mommy, Astrid, Ethan, and Uncle Blake protecting me.”

Her smile grew braver. “I’m not scared of anything!”

She looked up at me, voice dropping to a whisper. “Mommy, does Uncle Blake protect me because he likes you?”

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