"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
Tears streamed down Duncan's face as he whispered, "Audrey, you said you had no regrets, but I'm wishing I could die. I brought this on myself. It's all my fault. I didn't trust you. Even when you and Josh both told me you were sick, that you were dying, I refused to believe it. Instead, I went ahead and married Heather to spite you. I deserve this. Audrey, blame me. Yell at me. Hit me if you can. Just... please wake up. Please, I'm begging you, come back."Duncan cried for what seemed like an eternity. Afterward, he locked himself in the room with Audrey's body, refusing to come out. No matter how much Seamus knocked or how Janet pleaded outside, Duncan remained silent.It wasn't until three days later, when Audrey's body began to show signs of decay, that Duncan finally opened the door.As it creaked open, Janet almost fainted from shock. In just three days, Duncan's hair had turned completely white, and he looked like a man aged beyond his years, as though he were seventy.Witho
Josh pointed at Duncan's white suit. "Is this just for show? So people will praise you for being so devoted, for being merciful to a woman who once betrayed you?"Duncan remained unmoved. He was determined to investigate Audrey's death on his own. He didn’t want Josh involved. Avenging his wife was something he needed to handle himself.And the one who poisoned Audrey? Who else could it be but Heather?A socialite like Heather wouldn’t suddenly take a low-level job as Audrey's assistant for no reason. She joined Quartet Enterprises, worked under Audrey, and within two months, Audrey had left for France for medical treatment. After that, Heather cozied up to Duncan, securing the business partnership between the Millington and Leverton families.It was all premeditated.Audrey hadn’t lied. It was Duncan's blind hatred that kept him from seeing the truth."Josh, thank you, but this has nothing to do with you. Leave," Duncan said, his tone surprisingly polite, a first when speaking t
Though Seamus didn't know the full reason behind Duncan's plan to bring down the Leverton family, he believed their arrogance needed to be checked. On the tenth day of the Leverton family's stock plummeting, they declared bankruptcy and secretly attempted to transfer assets.Unable to bear the pressure from her family, Heather went to plead with Duncan. He sat with a file in his hands, not sparing her a single glance. Heather was on the verge of tears. "Duncan, please, can you let my family off? It was you who left me at the altar, humiliating us. My parents cutting off supplies to Quartet Enterprises was just their way of retaliating!"Duncan didn't care about the Leverton family cutting off the supply chain. Quartet Enterprises had plenty of hidden suppliers they weren't aware of."I just want to ask you one thing—did you poison Audrey with thallium a year ago?" He already knew the answer, but he wanted to hear Heather admit it herself.Heather's face paled at his question. "Dunc