Divorce Me Before Death Takes Me, CEO novel Chapter 448

Chapter 448

Audrey’s POV

“Mommy missed Emma too!” I hugged my daughter tight, planting kisses all over her cheeks. Her little hands patted my face like she was making sure I was real.

When we broke apart, Emma turned to Blake, studying him with wide eyes.

“Uncle Blake, your legs got better?” she asked.

Blake’s serious expression melted into a smile. He reached out to ruffle her hair. “Almost. Can’t run yet, but I’m getting there.”

Emma nodded thoughtfully before brightening. “Good! When you can run, come with Mommy to my preschool for the parent games! I want to race!”

Blake’s smile faltered. He gently pinched her cheek. “Those games are for parents, kiddo. Your mom and dad should do those with you, not me.”

“But Daddy’s sick,” Emma pouted dramatically. “He said he can’t come anymore. He told me Mommy and the handsome uncle will do the games instead!”

My head snapped up at this. Adrian stood nearby, looking noticeably thinner than when I’d left.

“You’re sick?” I walked toward him, concerned.

Adrian gave a slight nod, his smile not reaching his eyes. “Yeah.”

“What happened?” I studied his face, noticing his unhealthy pallor.

“Cancer,” he said simply, holding my gaze.

The word hit me like a brick. “How –

‘Is it that surprising?” His voice was eerily detached. “Your sister was bedridden for four years. I knew she wasn’t coming back, but I kept her alive anyway.”

–

He took Emma’s hand. “Started feeling off a while back. Got checked out. Doctors say my worries turned physical – late-stage lung cancer.”

Adrian turned toward the exit. “Maybe I’ll get to join Evelyn soon. As for Emma…” his voice softened as he glanced at his daughter, “I’ll need to leave her

with you two.”

Blake and I stood frozen as Adrian walked away, Emma skipping beside him, unaware of what her father had just revealed.

Eleanor broke down the moment she saw Blake. She rushed forward, embracing him while sobbing uncontrollably. I stepped back, giving them space for this

emotional reunion.

When she finally calmed down enough for us to move inside, Blake immediately cut to the chase.

“The shipwreck – what really happened?”

Jeffrey sighed heavily. “We did arrange to meet Leo on that cruise. And yes, initially we planned to kill him. We were blinded by anger, only seeing the man who destroyed Leonora’s life.”

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Eleanor wiped her tears. “But Evelyn discovered our plan. She begged us not to go through with it, but we wouldn’t listen. She fell into depression.

“Then on the day itself,” she continued, “Evelyn sent us a video. She was already on the ship. She said she’d warn Leo and his son, and if we went through with our plan… she’d either save them or die trying.”

“We canceled immediately, Jeffrey said firmly. “Called our people off.”

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“But Elizabeth had her own people on board, Eleanor explained. After we backed out, she activated her plan instead.”

“Evelyn tried to save you both, Jeffrey added. “She rescued Henry Hartford by mistake.”

“After the disaster, Eleanor continued, “Elizabeth threatened to expose our original plan unless we helped cover for her. We felt trapped – the plan had been ours initially, even if we didn’t follow through. So we agreed.”

“When Evelyn found out what we’d done,” she said softly, “she couldn’t forgive us. Learning her adoptive parents had plotted such violence broke something in her.”

Jeffrey handed Blake a folder. “Here’s everything our communications with Elizabeth, proof of her involvement, all of it.”

Blake examined the documents quietly. “After all these years… I never suspected my own aunt.”

Astrid’s POV

‘James’s designs keep getting better!” I exclaimed, admiring the wedding ring Henry had just handed me. “It’s perfect!”

Henry smiled. “We ordered them a year ahead, so he had plenty of time to get it right. Like it?”

“Love it! I jumped into his arms excitedly. “Best husband ever!”

Henry caught me easily, his hand moving protectively to my stomach. “Careful there. Can’t have you bouncing around in your condition.”

Two years had passed since our Europe trip to investigate my memory issues. With Taylor Arden’s help, I’d finally recovered my true memories and unraveled what happened.

Ryan Quinn had targeted me as part of his revenge against Henry. The truth shocked everyone Kate Peterson had been Ryan’s girlfriend in university. They’d genuinely been in love until Ryan’s jealousy toward Henry poisoned their relationship. When Kate tried to leave, Ryan pushed her from a balcony in a

rage..

Consumed by guilt, Ryan later conspired with Taylor to transfer Kate’s memories into my mind during my “accident.” What Ryan never knew was that Taylor had been Kate’s admirer. He deliberately left my memories fragmented, creating clues that would eventually reveal the truth.

With Ryan now in prison for Kate’s murder, I was finally ready to move forward. Henry had proposed in Europe, agreeing to wait until my memories returned before we married.

–

Now that day had come I was three months pregnant, my memories fully restored, and our wedding was tomorrow. Only one guest’s attendance remained uncertain.

Blake’s POV

I stood at the airport, a bouquet of roses in hand. My eyes scanned the arrivals gate until I spotted what I was looking for with a little girl in a matching outfit. Two assistants struggled with luggage behind them.

“Audrey, I called softly.

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