"Audrey, he's getting married. The engagement ceremony is in three days. How can you be together after that? Please listen to me - come with me for treatment. I've contacted the best hospital. I believe we'll finally find out what's wrong. We can save you. Please, just listen." Josh placed his hands on Audrey's shoulders. She was so thin, looking as if a breeze could knock her over.Audrey brushed his hands away. "Stop trying to deceive me, Josh. We haven't found the cause in a whole year - why would we find it now? I'm grateful for everything you've done this past year. I know you did it all for my sake.""But returning to him was my choice. Yes, he's getting engaged in three days. I'll leave then, but not for treatment. I'll find somewhere where no one knows me and quietly die. I'm tired, so very tired. I can't take any more of this."With that, she rushed out.Josh crouched on the ground, defeated. The woman he loved wouldn't stay, no matter how much he gave.Her heart was comp
The puddles on the sidewalk reflected her frail body, drenched by the pounding rain until she looked as pale as a corpse.Her chest felt constricted, a metallic taste rising and filling her entire mouth. With a splash, blood spilled into the pooled water, quickly spreading before disappearing without a trace.Her body gradually lost its warmth, her breathing becoming shallower.She kept whispering Duncan's name: "Duncan... Duncan..."Before the last syllable could fall, Audrey collapsed in the rain. In her hazy vision, she thought she saw a familiar silhouette appear before her, but when she tried to focus, everything blurred.Was that Duncan?Two days later, Audrey woke up in a hospital room with only Josh by her side.On the nightstand lay two plane tickets to Zurich.Josh couldn't bear to watch Audrey torture herself like this.That man wasn't worth it.Josh held Audrey's hand, his voice as gentle as a concerned father. "Audrey, please. Come with me to Switzerland for trea
Audrey is such a wonderful woman, yet she fell in love with someone like Duncan. She deserves so much better.“Isn't it obvious? Audrey is the kind of woman who's fickle and unfaithful. It's a well-known fact,” Duncan said, a mocking look in his eyes.Joss was so furious he wanted to punch Duncan. Audrey, such a good woman, and Duncan talked about her as if she were worthless. He yanked Duncan out of his chair and shouted, “Duncan, do you even know? She's sick—she’s dying! The least you can do is see her once, listen to her before she passes, just out of respect for the time you spent together!”Duncan couldn’t believe it. Good people don’t die young—only the wicked seem to last forever.Audrey, dying? This had to be some elaborate trick between them, another ploy to deceive him."Josh, right? Didn't you run away with her once? Now that I don't want her anymore, doesn't this work out perfectly for you two? You can finally be together openly," Duncan sneered, his pride keeping him
"No choice? Was betraying me also no choice? Fine. Audrey, weren't you supposed to be dying? Do you want to explain? Alright! I'll grant your wish. My engagement to Heather is canceled. Instead, we're getting married next month. You'll prepare the wedding, and then I'll listen to your explanation once."Audrey stared at Duncan in disbelief. He knew she loved him, yet he wanted her to prepare his wedding, to hand over the man she loved to another woman with her own hands.His cruelty and coldness far exceeded her imagination.But she had no choice. She didn't want to leave with his hatred.He could marry another woman, but he couldn't hate her.To be hated by the man she loved with all her heart—that was crueler than anything else.Audrey couldn't accept such an outcome.She wouldn't. Not even in death."Alright, I promise you. I'll help prepare your wedding, and you'll give me a chance to explain." These were probably the most difficult words Audrey had ever spoken in her life.
All women dream of wearing a beautiful wedding dress and marrying the man they love, but for her, this had become an impossible dream.As she hesitated, Heather had already brought the wedding dress before her.Just as she took the dress, Audrey suddenly cried out "Ah!" and dropped it as if she'd been electrocuted.Something had just pricked her. There was something wrong with this dress.Hearing the noise, Heather looked at Audrey with confusion. "What's wrong?""There's something in this dress..." She was about to say there was something hidden in the dress.But the store assistant didn't give her a chance to speak, picking up the dress and thrusting it back into her arms. "Miss Lyons, this dress was designed by a top French designer. There can't be anything wrong with it. Please, just go try it on.""But this..." Before Audrey could say more, she was pushed into the fitting room by the assistant. As the door closed, she caught a glimpse of a sharp glint in Heather's eyes.So
That man’s heartlessness had reached a truly appalling level.Josh desperately wanted to take Audrey to France while she was still unconscious, but he didn’t. He loved Audrey, and because of that, even though it hurt him deeply, he respected her choices.On the third day, Audrey woke up in the hospital. She struggled to get out of bed, but Josh wouldn’t let her. The moment she felt a little better, she sneaked out of the hospital.Heather was too busy cozying up with the Duncan family to come after Audrey. However, she still managed to dig up last year’s scandal and put it before the media again.Audrey became a public disgrace, a target of ridicule wherever she went.Then, on the eve of Duncan and Heather’s wedding, Janet Baker, Duncan’s mother, came to see her.Without a word, Janet slapped her across the face. “You shameless woman! You already have another man, so why are you still clinging to my son?”Even though Janet was in her forties, she took great care of herself and l
"No, I can't leave," Audrey insisted, her voice trembling. "I might go blind or even die before we reach the airport. Josh, I'm so close now. They're getting married tomorrow, and Duncan promised to hear me out. I still have a chance."Josh ran his fingers through his hair, exasperated. "And then what? Will he call off the wedding? Leave Heather at the altar?""That's not the point," Audrey whispered, her voice barely audible. "I just can't bear him hating me. I don't want to die with that burden. He may not love me anymore, but I can't let him hate me."Her devotion was unwavering, a love so deep she'd sacrifice everything for it."Audrey, please," Josh pleaded, his heart breaking. "Can't you think of yourself for once? You're not made of stone. You're flesh and blood, with feelings that matter."Tears rolled down Audrey's cheeks. "Just give me tonight. After I explain, whether he forgives me or not, I'll go with you. Duncan and Heather are perfect for each other. I won't interfe
Duncan took a long drag from his cigarette, his mind in turmoil. Had he really misjudged her? Or was this just another of her elaborate lies?"Let me help you get ready," Audrey's voice was soft, but it did nothing to ease the knot in his stomach. He felt like he was losing something precious, though he couldn't quite put his finger on what.He crushed out his cigarette and stood, his eyes meeting hers. "Is this really what you want?""Yes, Duncan. I love you. Meeting you, loving you—it's been the greatest joy of my life. You're getting married today, and even though I'm not the bride, I want your happiness more than anything. Your joy matters more than my own. From now on, you won't be alone. Life will get harder; you'll be tired sometimes, but that's part of the journey too."Tears streamed down Audrey's face.Watching her cry, Duncan remembered a promise he'd once made: "Audrey, don't ever cry again. You're beautiful when you cry, but each tear is like a falling star. I want yo
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