Chapter 31
Josh looked at Duncan, a flicker of hesitation in his eyes, but he eventually pressed the USB into Duncan’s hand.
“I don’t want you to misunderstand Audrey,” he said softly “She’s gone now, and she deserves to remain perfect in your heart.” She never betrayed their love.
From beginning to end, Josh and Andrey were innocent somewhere between friends and family, nothing more.
Duncan stared at Josh, and for the first time, he felt a deep sense of respect for the man in front of him. Josh had been open, honest, and selfless, caring for Audrey without expecting anything in return, even supporting Duncan
in the end.
Before leaving, Duncan embraced Josh–a lug shared between brothers. “Thank you,” he whispered. “Thank you for being with Audrey in her most difficult moments, for conforting her when I was the one hurting her. I know you loved her, and 1 want to say, Josh, Audrey was lucky to have met you during her hardest times.”
Josh pushed Duncan away with a soft punch to his chest, a small smile on his face. “That’s not what she wanted. She only ever wanted to come back to you, healthy and whole. Unfortunately, her body didn’t allow it. But even in that state, all she wanted was to return to you. Audrey told the that dying in your arms was enough for her–she had no regrets.”
Once, Duncan and Josh had been at each other’s throats because of Audrey, but now, they embraced, grateful for each other because of her.
As soon as Duncan returned to his country, the first thing he did was watch the videos Josh had given him.
He had missed Audrey’s most painful year, and now, he was determined to make up for all of it.
In the video, Audrey’s face was as pale as ash, and she sat in front of a mirror, carefully applying makeup. Duncan knew she was trying to keep those who cared for her from worrying. Even in the worst moments of her illness, she hadn’t thought of herself as someone who needed care–she was always thinking of others.
She had once told him she was afraid he’d worry about her, which was why she’d secretly gone to France for treatment. Back then, he hadn’t believed her.
Josh had come to him, begging him to listen to her, to at least hear her out in her final moments. But Duncan had dismissed it all as lies.
He cursed himself now. He wasn’t worthy of Audrey’s love neither then nor now.
again. Now
He had spent her life obsessing over the belief that she had betrayed him, wounding her over and over ag that she was gone, his obsession seemed like a cruel joke.
He deserved it all of it. He deserved to live out the rest of his life in regret.
The video shifted scenes, showing Audrey sitting on a sofa, her expression vacant, like a lifeless doll. Her lips moved mechanically, repeating his name over and over again: “Duncan… Duncan…”
Another clip showed Josh bringing in doctors to examine her. She didn’t even lift her head.
The doctor drew a syringe of blood from her bony wrist, and handfuls of white pills were fed to her. Afterward, she lay down on the sofa, restless in her sleep, her forehead damp with sweat, as if trapped in a nightmare.
When she woke, a large clump of her hair had fallen out, but she silently reached for a photo of Duncan on the Table and began to cry.
She wept for a long time until she eventually passed out from exhaustion on the couch.
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Chapter 31
The video cut again, showing her undergoing dialysis. The pain of dialysis was unbearable for many, but Audrey nover flinched–not once,
If it weren’t for her pale complexion betraying her suffering, no one would have known just how much pain she was enduring.
Duncan kept his hand pressed to his chest, where the ache only grew. The timestamp on the video was from when she had first left him.
There were many more videos. She had endured that kind of agony for a whole year.
ine that y And during that year, he had been filled with hatred for her. When she returned, he had been even more brutal.
He had been wrong–so, so wrong.
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Chapter 32
Chapter 32
