Chapter 15

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 the only explanation that made sense. This was classic Audrey manipulation.

Audrey never imagined Duncan would see her this way. She lay on the floor, shaking.

"Duncan, I'm not lying. Why can't you believe me just this once? Heather poisoned me when she was my assistant a year ago. It was her! She admitted it!" Audrey's voice grew desperate. "She's dangerous, Duncan. She'll do the same to you one day. I'm scared she'll—"

Audrey crawled to him, clinging to his leg. But when she looked up, the disgust in his eyes silenced her. The words died in her throat.

"Audrey, what are you trying to accomplish? Is ruining my wedding the only thing that will satisfy you? Get out!"

In that moment, Duncan loathed Audrey to his core. He couldn't fathom how he had ever fallen for such an evil woman.

Heather, playing the victim, nestled against Duncan's chest, a subtle, victorious smirk crossing her lips.

Audrey was speechless. The man she loved didn't believe her. Nothing she said would convince him now. She had only wanted to leave without his hatred, but after discovering Heather's true nature, how could she let Duncan marry her?

"I don't care what you think of me, Duncan, but you can't marry her! If she poisoned me, she'll do the same to you! Duncan—"

But Duncan had heard enough. He yanked his leg free, and with a slight shove, Audrey fell again.

Heather's eyes gleamed with satisfaction as she watched Audrey struggle to rise.

Duncan glanced down at Audrey, lying on the floor, but he felt nothing. Without a second thought, he turned and walked away with Heather.

From the end of the hallway, Heather's voice drifted back. "Duncan, why haven't you changed into your tux yet?"

"It got dirty. Throw it out and pick another one later."

Audrey's vision blurred, her surroundings fading to white. She could no longer see clearly, but her ears worked fine, reminding her that all the tenderness Duncan once showed her now belonged to another woman.

The tux was dirty. Was it because it had touched her? His hatred ran so deep.

Audrey couldn't tell whether her heart or body hurt more. Every breath was agony.

A sharp, stabbing pain in her abdomen snapped her back to reality. Warm liquid pooled beneath her.

Audrey frantically pressed her hands against her stomach, but she couldn't stop it.

"No! No! My baby..."

Blood soaked through her clothes, the metallic smell overwhelming her senses. Her agonized screams echoed down the hallway, filled with despair.

"Ah—!"