"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
This was a threat—Duncan wanted to push her to the edge. All the assets had been secretly moved, but none of it had escaped his notice. Those properties were the Leverton family's last lifeline. Without them, the entire family would be left destitute.Could she really tell him the truth? If she did, would she even survive afterward?"Duncan, we were almost married. Please, let my family off the hook. We have nothing left, just a small emergency fund. We can't lose that, Duncan. I'm begging you," Heather said, dropping to her knees, nearly prostrating herself before him.Duncan turned, his gaze darkening. He remembered Audrey once kneeling like this, her forehead bloodied from bowing so hard. He had forced her to apologize to the woman now groveling before him: Heather.In hindsight, he realized how utterly desperate and resentful Audrey must have been. He owed her a debt he could never repay in this lifetime.Without a word, Duncan began walking upstairs, Heather's pleading voice
She had always wanted to explain, but he had never given her the chance. Later, it was Josh who told him that she was sick, begging him to visit her and listen to her one last time before she passed. But Duncan hadn't believed it; he thought it was all lies.Now, sitting on the floor, Duncan flipped through Audrey's medical records again, reading each word carefully. Tears fell relentlessly from his eyes, and the papers slipped repeatedly from his trembling hands.She had endured unimaginable suffering before she finally passed, yet she had told him that she had no regrets, leaving this world with a heart full of gratitude. How could such a kind woman be tormented like this? How could fate be so cruel?Two lives lost. Two lives!Duncan sat on the floor, staring blankly at the ceiling, calling Audrey's name over and over until daybreak.Heather came knocking on the door.Duncan, his legs stiff from sitting for so long, glanced toward the door with bloodshot eyes. Outside, Heather'