The Moment I Realized I Can't Lose You novel Chapter 10

Chapter 10 

Clearly not expecting the usually silent Audrey to fire back with such lethal accuracy, Arthur froze, his face turning an ugly shade of purple. 

“Excuse me, Mr. Judd.” A nurse stepped out of the ICU, approaching the group. “Ms. Sinclair is asking to speak with her cousin, Audrey. Alone.” 

“Absolutely not!” Beatrice immediately objected. “Rainey is far too weak! She can’t defend herself against Audrey! Putting them in a room alone is basically signing Rainey’s death warrant!” 

She bit her lip, glaring venomously at Audrey. “I forbid it!” 

Audrey rolled her eyes. “You think I actually want to be in a room with her?” 

She hadn’t even stepped foot in the room yet, and Beatrice was already laying the groundwork for a murder accusation. If she actually went in there alone and Rainey decided to dramatically spit blood or fake another fainting spell, Audrey would be locked up for life. 

Bianca scoffed loudly, hooking her arm through Audrey’s. “Exactly. Who the hell wants to talk to her anyway?” 

“Since Rainey is perfectly fine, we’re not wasting another second in this circus.” Audrey squeezed Bianca’s hand. “Let’s go. We have better things to do.” 

She turned and headed straight for the elevators. 

She barely made it two steps before a massive hand clamped down on her wrist. Joaquin’s brow was locked in a furious scowl. “Go apologize.” 

Audrey stopped dead, glaring at him with freezing contempt. “I told you. She brought 

that fall on herself. I am not apologizing.” 

Joaquin’s grip tightened. “But she’s still-” 

“Joaquin…” 

A frail, breathy voice drifted from the ICU doors. 

Joaquin’s head snapped up. 

Several nurses were wheeling Rainey out on a stretcher. Looking pale and tragically beautiful, she offered him a brave, weak smile. “Please… don’t be hard on Audrey. She’s my cousin, after all.” 

Watching her play the martyr, Beatrice rushed forward in hysterics. “Rainey! She nearly killed you! Stop being so sweet and defending her… You have no idea how she was just slandering your name…” 

Arthur matched his wife’s outrage. “Rainey, you are far too forgiving.” 

Watching this family of psychopaths flawlessly execute their synchronized acting routine actually made Audrey want to laugh. 

assuring them that Joaquin cherished her, that she had married for love. And now, the man she married was threatening to destroy them just to appease Rainey. 

In that exact second, Audrey heard the definitive, irreversible sound of her heart shattering. She squeezed her eyes shut, a violent tremor racking her body. “Fine. I’ll apologize.” 

Joaquin’s frown deepened sharply. He had successfully threatened her into submission, but seeing the completely shattered, lifeless look on her face sent a bizarre, violent twist of anxiety through his chest… 

“Joaquin Judd, you are an absolute monster!” Bianca gripped Audrey’s hand, glaring at him with pure hatred. “You’re going to regret treating her like this!” 

“Whether I regret it or not is none of your concern, Ms. Snow.” Joaquin buried his unsettling emotions, his face snapping back to a mask of cold arrogance. “But I do recall the Snow family is currently negotiating several massive contracts with the Judd Corporation. Are you absolutely certain you want to keep running your mouth?” 

Bianca’s face went sheet white. Forced into silence, she could only glare at him with furious, helpless tears in her eyes. 

Watching this all unfold, the Sinclair trio exchanged smug, victorious glances. 

Finally, Rainey offered a weak, angelic smile. “Audrey, I really don’t need an apology… I just wanted to talk to you privately.” 

She reached out, gently tugging on Joaquin’s tailored sleeve like a helpless child. “Audrey and I just have some girl talk to catch up on. Please say yes?” 

Joaquin looked down. Seeing her pale, sickly face, his eyes immediately softened. “Alright. Whatever you want.”