Chapter 8

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 from holding on to a woman who had betrayed him.

“Do you think I wouldn’t want that? Duncan, let me tell you this—one day, you’ll regret every word you’ve said today,” Joss stormed out, his eyes red with anger.

Regret?

No, Duncan thought. He would never regret it, not in this lifetime. Audrey had betrayed their relationship first. She was the one who was unfaithful, and she should bear the consequences of her actions.

Duncan picked up a document and pretended to focus on it. But after tossing it aside three times, he finally headed to the hospital.

When he arrived, Audrey wasn’t in the room—she had gone to the bathroom. His eyes fell on two plane tickets by the bedside. The flight was at 3 p.m.

Two tickets. She was planning to leave with that man again?

On one hand, she had that guy begging her to listen to him. On the other hand, she already had her escape planned!

Dying? It was all lies!

When Audrey came out of the bathroom, she saw Duncan holding the plane tickets, his eyes blazing with anger.

“Duncan, I—” Audrey stammered, desperate to explain but tripping over her words.

“Audrey, what more is there to say? Weren't you supposed to be dying? Why do you look so healthy?” Duncan growled, gripping her chin tightly.

Joss had promised to bring him here. Audrey hadn’t been sure if he would actually come, but she had still tidied herself up and put on light makeup. She wanted Duncan to remember her at her best.

She hadn’t expected Joss to tell Duncan about her illness. But now, it seemed like Duncan didn’t believe it at all. In fact, his misunderstanding had only deepened.

With a cruel glare, Duncan threw the plane tickets in Audrey’s face. “Go back abroad with your lover! I never want to see you again!”

No matter what she said now, he wouldn’t believe her, would he?

“Duncan, I love you. No matter how much you misunderstand or hate me, I still love you,” she said, looking at him with that familiar stubbornness in her eyes.

Duncan’s heart clenched painfully, his fingers tightening as his eyes reddened with fury. “Your love makes me sick, Audrey. Do you even know what love is? Do you know what it's like to truly love someone or to feel the sting of being betrayed by the one you love?”

He suddenly let go of her, his anger dimming to something darker. “No, you don’t. How could you? Audrey, remember this—no matter how many lifetimes we live, I will never love you again. A woman like you isn’t worthy of love.”

Tears streamed down Audrey’s face as she watched Duncan press his hands against his chest, struggling to contain his emotions. “I know... I know everything. I love you, Duncan. I’ve never stopped loving you. A year ago, I didn’t leave you by choice—I had no other option... I... ”