Chapter 46
“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 didaft 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 protect you,” he muttered.
to Lucy’s side and held her close. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry I couldn’t
Gripping his shirt weakly, Lucy looked up at him with tear–filled eyes. “Duncan… it’s my fault… I lied to you Don’t blame yourself… don’t blame me…” With those final words, she breathed her last.
When the paramedics arrived, Duncan was still holding Lucy, refusing to let her go.
His Audrey couldn’t be gone. She wouldn’t leave him. Not like this.
“Sir, please let go. Miss Clark has passed,” one of the paramedics said gently after identifying Lucy by her ID in her bag.
But Duncan shook his head, staring blankly at the paramedic. “Audrey’s last name isn’t Clark. It’s Lyons. She’s not dead. She wouldn’t leave me.”
The paramedics exchanged glances, confused by his words, but the ID clearly matched the woman lying in his
Barms.
“No, sir, there’s no mistake. Her name is Lucy Clark. May I ask how you are related to her?”
Duncan froze, his eyes falling onto Lucy’s blood–stained, torn clothes. Memories flooded back–the image of Audrey lying in his arms, her body covered in blood, whispering, “Duncan… I have no regrets. Dying in your arms… I’m happy. Thank you…. thank you for staying with me to the end.”
He blinked, refocusing on the woman in front of him. Her features bore some resemblance to Audrey’s, but she wasn’t her. Audrey had been more beautiful, her features more refined.
They weren’t the same.
Audrey had died long ago, cradled in his arms, with her blood staining both of them. She’d taken their unborn child with her. He had buried her on the hill where they had once planted peach trees together. He’d even had the words “My Wife” engraved on her tombstone. Their wedding and her funeral had taken place on the same day.
The memories were vivid and painfully real, seared into his soul. He had lived through it all. Which meant that the woman who had been by his side recently wasn’t Audrey. She was someone else entirely.
He had given his love, his apologies, and everything he wanted to say to Audrey… to a different woman. A stranger.
Slowly, Duncan released Lucy and stood up, walking away without looking back.
When he returned home, the air felt heavy and suffocating. Every breath hurt, as if his nerves were being torn
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Chapter 46
apart. He sat in silence, not even registering when Josh approached him.
“Duncan, are you okay?” Josh asked, sensing something deeply wrong. Duncan looked like a man who had just lost everything–hollow and broken.
Duncan lifted his weary eyes to Josh, filled with sorrow. “I forgot Audrey was dead,” he said quietly. “I mistook another woman for her. And now that woman… she’s dead too. Just like Audrey.”
Josh could feel the raw pain emanating from Duncan, a grief so deep It made his skin crawl.
Chapter 47
Chapter 47
