"Thallium poisoning doesn't leave the body naturally, and it's undetectable in standard tests. Audrey shouldn't have lasted this long. Are you sure you gave me the right dose?"That voice—it was Heather!Though her words were hushed, Audrey heard every syllable with crystal clarity.Audrey froze, her mind reeling. After countless hospital visits and inconclusive tests, she never imagined Heather was behind her mysterious illness. What had she ever done to deserve this? Was Duncan really worth destroying another person's life?"Look, I'm marrying Duncan today, and Audrey needs to be out of the picture. Permanently. I don't care how you do it—just make it happen!"Heather angrily ended the call, only to turn and find Audrey standing right there."What did you hear?" Heather's face drained of color, panic flashing in her eyes.Though weak, Audrey's voice was filled with fury. "Everything! It was you all along! You wormed your way into Quartet Enterprises just to poison me!""Fine,
Before Audrey could react, Heather rushed to Duncan, her body trembling. "Duncan, I'm terrified! Audrey tried to kill me because she doesn't want us to marry. She almost pushed me out the window!"Audrey stared at Heather, her blood boiling as she watched the lies unfold. "Heather, when will you stop? How long will you keep up this act? You poisoned me with thallium! That's why I've been sick. You deserve to rot in hell, to die in the gutter! You're the one who should die, Heather!"Consumed by rage she had never known before, Audrey lunged forward.Duncan, hearing Heather's cries, hurried over. He saw Audrey's face contorted with fury, looking wild and unhinged. Without hesitation, he grabbed Heather and roughly shoved Audrey away.Audrey crumpled to the floor."Audrey, one minute you're dying, the next it's poisoning. Can you ever tell the truth? All those blessings earlier—just another act, wasn't it? You wanted me to call off the wedding and marry you instead, right?"It was
In the grand cathedral, Duncan stood tall in his crisp white tuxedo, looking every bit the prince charming from a fairy tale. Yet his face was devoid of joy despite being the groom. Beside him, Heather beamed radiantly, as stunning as a cover model.The who's who of high society filled the pews, marveling at the opulent decor. But just as Duncan was about to slip the ring onto Heather's finger, a commotion erupted outside."Duncan! Where's Audrey? What have you done with her?" Josh's voice boomed through the church. Audrey had told him she was ready to leave, but when he had gone to find her earlier, she had vanished. The evasive answers from the Millington staff had only fueled his suspicions.Duncan, bewildered by the sudden interruption, asked, "Audrey's missing?"Josh grabbed Duncan's lapels, barely containing his rage. "Don't play dumb! Audrey went to see you. She can't see, so she couldn't have gone far. If she's missing, you must have done something!"Duncan's heart skipped
"I have more pressing matters to attend to," Duncan said as he strode out, his steps resolute, as if nothing could deter him.Heather, the proud Leverton heiress, knew all too well the consequences of Duncan's departure. If he walked out now, she'd become the laughingstock of the city’s elite, and worse, the entire Leverton family would be fodder for gossip columns.Desperately, Heather clung to Duncan's arm as whispers from the guests filled the air. The patriarchs of both families were approaching, adding to the chaos.Josh, watching Duncan leave without hesitation, let out a bitter laugh before heading for the door himself. He had to find Audrey. Whatever happened to these people was none of his concern.But after a few steps, he heard footsteps behind him. Duncan had indeed followed. Audrey still mattered to him, though it was too late for that now.Audrey was already gone.Even so, if Duncan wanted to search, Josh wouldn't stop him. One more person meant one more chance. He
Josh had no time to deal with Duncan’s frantic shouting. He grabbed passersby, asking if anyone had seen Audrey, but every answer was the same—no one had seen her. In just a few short hours, it was as if Audrey had vanished into thin air.With no other choice, Duncan checked the security footage. The video showed Audrey, hands outstretched, struggling to move forward. Sometimes she bumped into trees, sometimes into people, all the while leaving a trail of blood behind her. The sight was like a knife slowly cutting through Duncan’s heart, piece by piece.It was undeniable—she was really bleeding, and she really couldn’t see.It was all true.The footage showed Audrey making her way to the bus stop, where she didn’t get on a bus but instead sat down behind the sign, unmoving. A crowd had gathered around her, and someone had called for an ambulance. But before it arrived, she had left. She refused everyone’s help.Duncan rushed back to the bus stop and followed the direction in which
"You're going to be fine, Audrey. I won't let anything happen to you. We have so much life ahead of us. You can't leave me now," Duncan whispered, cradling Audrey in his arms. She felt so fragile, and the metallic scent of blood was overwhelming."I'm... I'm sorry, Duncan. I can't stay with you anymore. I'm so tired... so cold... I can't hold on." If she could, she would have stayed, but fate had other plans. Her hand rested on her stomach, tears streaming down her face as her voice grew weaker. "Our baby... I'm sorry. I couldn't bring you into this world. I'm so sorry..."Baby? Duncan's gaze fixed on Audrey's abdomen. She had been carrying their child. But now... the child was gone.The pain in his heart was unbearable, as though it were being ripped apart. How could the world be so cruel?Even in his anguish, Duncan knew he had to stay strong. He gently rested his chin on her forehead, whispering, "It's okay. We can have another child. As long as you're safe, that's all that matt
Just as Josh was about to turn away, two sleek SUVs pulled up in front of Duncan. Out stepped the Millington and Leverton family members, along with a fuming Heather.Janet, Duncan's mother, stormed forward and slapped him hard across the face. "You ungrateful brat! Walking out on Heather in the middle of your wedding—what were you thinking?!"Duncan said nothing, silently enduring Janet's tirade.Heather approached, but when she saw Duncan cradling Audrey's lifeless body, her face twitched. Had Duncan figured everything out? Or had Audrey said something before she died?"Duncan, you...""Audrey's back. Heather, I won't marry you. It's over." Duncan's voice was cold, robotic.Janet froze, finally noticing Audrey in Duncan's arms. The color drained from her face. Audrey was dead.Duncan's father, Seamus, along with Heather's parents, approached. They knew about Audrey, Duncan's ex-girlfriend. A year ago, she had run off with another man after taking Duncan's money. But why was sh
Back at the Millington estate, Duncan gently bathed Audrey and dressed her in clean clothes, as if she were still alive. In his mind, she wasn't gone—no matter how many times people told him that Audrey was dead and would never return, he refused to believe it.Duncan's long fingers combed through Audrey's silky dark hair, his voice soft and tender, as though she could still hear him. "Audrey, if you're tired, just rest. I'm here with you. I used to hate you for betraying me, refusing to listen to any of your explanations. I didn't give you a chance to speak. But now... I don't hate you anymore. I want to hear your side, and then we can uncover the truth together, okay? I can't live without you. I made a terrible mistake before, and I'm sorry... I'm so sorry."This usually composed man cried like a child as he held her.His tears fell onto her face, and he gently wiped them away, again and again, endlessly.When Janet and Seamus returned to the estate, they found their son asleep o
In psychology, it's often noted that people who experience extreme trauma may subconsciously block out their most painful memories, retaining only the happier ones. However, certain triggers can bring those painful memories rushing back. It seems that Duncan was experiencing this very phenomenon.Josh patted Duncan on the shoulder. "You're not well. I'll arrange for a therapist to see you tomorrow."Duncan still hadn’t moved on from Audrey's death. He was stuck in that moment, and if this continued, it would destroy him.Duncan rubbed his temples and waved Josh off. "No need; I'm fine. I want to go see Audrey."Josh wanted to insist, but Duncan had already turned and was heading out the door.When Duncan arrived at the cemetery and saw that there were no flowers left at Audrey's grave, he felt a deep sense of guilt. He had failed in his responsibilities as her husband. For months, he had forgotten her, leaving her to rest here all alone.The more he thought about it, the more he
"Audrey..." Duncan’s voice was faint, as if he could collapse at any moment.Lucy had been raped by over ten men before Duncan arrived, and now she could barely stand. Blood was still flowing between her legs, and though she wanted to reach out to him, her body simply wouldn’t obey.Outside, the sound of sirens wailed closer, but Duncan didn’t seem to hear them. His cold, deathly gaze was locked on Peter’s lifeless body, eyes wide open in eternal shock. Just as Duncan was about to strike again, a police officer grabbed his arm, and Duncan collapsed against him, exhausted.Lucy let out a sigh of relief and, with what little strength she had left, managed to whisper to the officers, "It was them... they tried to extort us... it was all them..." She knew that if she didn’t explain now, Duncan could be blamed for everything.The police, taking in the scene, quickly called for an ambulance.Duncan, struggling to move, made his way to Lucy’s side and held her close. "I’m sorry, I’m so s
Duncan’s eyes suddenly darkened. "You want the money? Hand her over first."Even though he was deeply worried, Duncan maintained a calm and composed appearance.Brian hesitated, regretting that he had listened to Peter’s suggestion. The woman they had wasn’t of much use. But the name "Audrey"—where had he heard that before?One of Brian’s men leaned in and whispered, “Audrey’s been dead for a long time. The guy must be out of his mind, mistaking any woman for Audrey.”Realization hit Brian like a wave, instantly restoring his confidence. Right! How could he have forgotten? Audrey was dead. Duncan had turned pale overnight after her death and even held a wedding at her funeral. His love for Audrey had crossed into madness. Otherwise, why would he refuse to marry a living woman like Heather from the Leverton family and insist on marrying a corpse?With this knowledge, Brian felt as if he had Duncan in the palm of his hand. He lifted his head and stared Duncan down, enunciating each
Escaping the police’s attention wasn't difficult. The nightclub had plenty of its own people, and all it took was a word from Brian to create chaos, allowing them to slip away unnoticed.With that thought in mind, Brian swung his fist and landed a brutal punch on Lucy, sending her crashing to the floor. The women in the room were so terrified that they didn’t dare make a sound.Meanwhile, Duncan awoke in the middle of the night to find the bed empty. He searched the bathroom and scoured the entire villa, but Lucy was nowhere to be found.His first thought was that Audrey had rejected his proposal and left him again, just as she had a year ago.Standing alone in the empty living room, Duncan's mind was filled with nothing but thoughts of Audrey. His heart, entirely consumed by her, was in turmoil.Audrey had long since become intertwined with his soul, so deeply that without her, he felt like a shell of a man. Without her, there was only one path for him—despair.Running a hand ro
Though Duncan never directly asked about what happened last time, he knew Peter would return sooner or later. He had been waiting—waiting for Peter to show himself again.This time, when Peter called, he demanded a hefty sum: ten million.Lucy made up her mind: this time, she would fight Peter to the bitter end. She wouldn't let him continue to take advantage of her.Peter arranged for them to meet at the nightclub where Lucy used to work.Lucy agreed.At eight in the evening, Lucy quietly slipped out of the house while Duncan was fast asleep and went to meet Peter.When she arrived, Peter had already summoned a few women to join him—some of whom Lucy even recognized."What do you want this time?" Lucy barely held back the urge to tear Peter apart.Peter, grinning, grabbed one of the women next to him and shamelessly squeezed her chest. "What else could I want? Money, of course. You’ve got it easy now, Lucy. Don’t think you can just leave me behind."Lucy knew all too well tha
As Duncan watched Lucy walk away, he couldn't help but wonder how many secrets she was keeping from him. Yet, faced with Audrey in this state, he found himself unable to utter a single word of reproach.Lucy, afraid of Duncan's questioning, left on her own, with Duncan following close behind. He had always felt guilty about how he had treated Audrey before, so now he didn't want to press her further.From that point on, Duncan was practically inseparable from Lucy. She didn’t receive any more strange phone calls and didn’t even step out of the house. But the incident lingered in Duncan's mind, an obstacle he couldn't overcome.He felt that although they were physically close, their hearts were worlds apart. He didn’t know what she was thinking. Aside from some deliberate attempts to please him, most of the time she seemed uneasy, as if she were afraid of something.Duncan brought up the topic of marriage multiple times, only to be rejected each time. Audrey didn’t want to marry him
However, Lucy showed up alone, with the money in hand. Seeing how easily she got the cash, Peter’s mood soared. It seemed Duncan was treating her well, and he figured there might be even more to gain from her in the future.Feeling smug, Peter stepped out from behind a large rock and slowly approached Lucy, wrapping his arms around her from behind. “Did you miss me, baby?” he whispered, nuzzling his face against hers.The scent of Lucy’s perfume stirred something in Peter, and his hands began roaming over her body. But after experiencing a man like Duncan, Lucy now found Peter utterly repulsive. She pushed him away forcefully, her voice cold and detached, “Peter, take the money, and we’re done. Don’t come looking for me again.”Peter smirked and, undeterred, reached out to touch her again, but Lucy recoiled as if she had just touched something filthy.“Keep your hands to yourself!” she snapped.Peter chuckled, bending down to unzip the bag. When he saw it was filled with cash, his
Peter, even after being kicked, wasn't angry. Instead, he grinned slyly and said, "Fine, if you don't want to give me the money, I'll go tell him that Lucy Clark is an escort and has been far from innocent for a long time. Let's see if he'll still want you after that."Lucy was so furious she almost strangled Peter. She had met him through her line of work, and Peter had known all along what she did for a living. He also knew that she had stayed with him because she thought he had money. What she hadn't realized at the time was that Peter not only didn't have any money but was also in deep debt.Peter used this to blackmail her, saying that if she didn't give him money, he would tell everyone, including her family, about her work. Left with no other choice, Lucy had given in.But she hadn't expected Peter to demand half a million dollars today.She didn't have that kind of money, and she certainly couldn't ask Duncan for it right away—he would get suspicious.Seeing Lucy's trouble
Audrey had forgotten that he was allergic to eggs.She had also forgotten that he never drank milk.A bitter smile appeared on Duncan's face. Was this a sign that her illness had worsened? Her memory was beginning to fade. Soon, Audrey might forget all the little things he loved, and eventually, she might even forget him.Meanwhile, Lucy continued eating her breakfast without a care, reminding Duncan to eat as well.After they finished breakfast, Duncan finally mentioned taking Lucy to the doctor. Lucy had thought she might get through the day without him bringing it up, but there it was—unavoidable.She couldn’t escape it. All she could do now was face it.Pushing her empty plate toward Duncan, Lucy said cheerfully, "Duncan, look, I finished everything! I can eat, drink, and sleep just fine. I’m all better. I don’t need to go to the hospital."Duncan pushed the plate aside, his eyes fixed on her. Her face did look healthy, but her memory was slipping. That was why he had to tak