The Moment I Realized I Can't Lose You novel Chapter 49

The carefully rehearsed invitation to dinner Audrey had prepared instantly died in her throat. She turned her head, staring out the window at the sky, which had now turned completely dark. Her voice was ice. "Aren't you supposed to be hospitalized? He's showering in your VIP ward?"

"Oh, we're at a hotel." The smugness in Rainey's voice was unmistakable. "After you left the hospital last time, my condition worsened, and I was bedridden for a whole week. Joaquin stayed by my side the entire time, taking such good care of me. But today, I just couldn't stand the smell of hospital sanitizer anymore. And honestly, it broke my heart seeing how exhausted he was from looking after me. So I asked him to bring me out to the beach to relax. He carried me along the shore all day. We were both so tired that we decided to just check into the Oceanview Hotel for the night!"

Rainey let out a soft, giggling laugh. "Anyway, did you need Joaquin for something? Once he's out of the shower, I'll have him call you back."

Audrey’s knuckles turned white around her phone. "Don't bother."

She closed her eyes and immediately ended the call. She never should have reached out. It was nothing but self-sabotage.

How utterly pathetic! On their one-year anniversary, she had wanted to sit down, share a final meal, and close the book on their marriage with some shred of dignity. Meanwhile, he had taken another woman on a romantic getaway to a neighboring city, checked into a hotel, and was sharing a room with her.

Audrey didn't even want to imagine what was going to happen in that hotel room the second he stepped out of the bathroom. A deeply cynical smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.

"Is everything alright, Ma'am?" Noticing her hang up, Martha, who had just poured a bottle of expensive red wine into a decanter, hurried over with a hopeful smile. "When is Mr. Judd arriving? Should I decant another bottle? He loves a good vintage. Since it's your anniversary, he might be in a great mood and want a second bottle."

Audrey closed her eyes tightly. After a long moment, she opened them and swept her gaze over the festively decorated room and the eager, bustling staff. A bitter laugh escaped her lips.

"How much wine is left in the cellar? Open all of it."

Under Martha's stunned gaze, Audrey took a deep breath and stood up. "Mr. Judd is too busy to come home and celebrate our anniversary with me. Open every single bottle. And none of you are allowed to go home tonight. You're going to eat all this food and drink all this wine until it's gone!"

The entire manor plunged into a stunned silence. The maids exchanged terrified, confused glances. No one dared to move.

"What? I haven't even officially divorced him yet, and you're already refusing to treat me like the lady of the house?"

Audrey marched straight to the glass wine cabinet, grabbed Joaquin’s most obscenely expensive vintage, popped the cork, and started pouring it into the pyramid of crystal glasses. "Just because he won't sit with me doesn't mean you can't."

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