Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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.
Without emotion, Duncan’s first words were, “I’m going to marry Audrey. Her funeral and our wedding will be held today.”
Janet’s heart broke for her son, but she could only agree. She knew him too well–once Duncan made a decision, nothing could change his mind. All she wanted was for her son to live. His hair could be dyed, but if he chose to follow Audrey into death, she would lose him forever.
That day, the headlines exploded: “CEO of Quartet Enterprises to Marry Deceased Fiancée.” The event drew the attention of everyone, and Duncan welcomed them all. His goal was simple: he wanted the world to know that Audrey was his wife, and that even in death, her gravestone would read “My Beloved Wife.”
Naturally, this was a slap in the face for the Leverton family. Several of their business partners discreetly cut off supplies to Quartet Enterprises in retaliation.
Seamus, more accustomed to his art studio than boardrooms, found himself overwhelmed. He couldn’t turn to Duncan for help, so he bore the burden alone.
Meanwhile, Heather was far from idle. She secretly collaborated with tabloids, spreading the story of how Audrey had cheated on Duncan a year ago. She wanted everyone to know that Audrey wasn’t the saint Duncan believed her to be. In Heather’s eyes, only someone as well–connected and beautiful as herself was worthy of him.
Her tactics worked to some extent. At Audrey’s combined funeral and wedding, whispers spread through the crowd, condemning her for infidelity and claiming she didn’t deserve Duncan’s devotion.
But all gossip fell silent when Duncan, dressed in a white tuxedo, his hair shockingly white, stood before them.
“In three days, I will clear my wife’s name,” Duncan announced, his eyes filled with deep emotion as he gazed at Audrey, lying in a sea of white lilies, dressed in her wedding gown.
To him, Audrey was still as breathtakingly beautiful as ever a sight that made it hard to breathe.
The media wanted to probe, to dig for more details, but Duncan’s commanding presence was too intimidating. Not a single reporter dared speak.
By evening, all guests had leff
and Josh arrived, looking worn from his travels. He handed a stack of documents to Duncan. “I know what caused Audrey’s illness. It was thallium poisoning. Someone poisoned her.”
Duncan lifted his eyes but showed little reaction. “Is that all you came to say?”
Josh’s frustration mounted. He had rushed to bring this crucial information to Duncan, hoping they could find the
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Chapter 22
person responsible for Audrey’s death. But Duncan seemed utterly indifferent. “Duncan, don’t you want to investigate? Why are you even doing all of this if you don’t care?”
