The Man Who Waited vs. The Man Who Wasted novel Chapter 23

The reason Audrey had married Arthur was because she'd genuinely liked him.

After he died, she had indeed been depressed for a while. But that depression was a mix of grief and fear.

The reason Arthur had gone out street racing that day was because he'd had a massive fight with Audrey.

He had found flirtatious texts on her phone from another man.

Audrey's explanation was full of holes, and in a fit of rage, Arthur had stormed out.

She never imagined that what she saw as harmless flirting would cost her husband his life.

After Arthur's death, she had nightmares for days.

She dreamt that he had come back to claim her life.

That was what had nearly driven Audrey into a deep depression.

But the Lowell family just thought she was overcome with grief, and they pitied her, treating her with even more affection.

To avoid upsetting her, no one ever mentioned Arthur's name in her presence again.

They certainly wouldn't let her see a picture of him.

And Jocelyn had put that very picture right under the pillow.

When Adrian stormed into her room, his face like thunder, she knew the photo had done its job.

"Jocelyn! Get up!"

The blanket was ripped off her, and her arm was yanked.

Adrian pulled her into a sitting position.

"You..." The words he'd been about to say caught in his throat.

Jocelyn's eyes were bloodshot, her face tracked with fresh tears.

He had never seen her like this. He'd always thought of her as an ice queen—cold, calculated, and utterly unfeeling. Seeing her broken like this shattered his composure.

Adrian stammered, completely forgetting why he had come. "What... What's wrong?"

Jocelyn wiped away a tear. "Adrian, you're hurting me."

He immediately let go. "Why are you crying?"

She faked a sigh. "...so I took that photo. I took it out to look at it a few days ago and forgot to put it back in the drawer."

Adrian's mind was still stuck on the words "remember you by."

He was in disbelief. "You... miss me?"

Jocelyn sighed. "You're my husband. Who else would I miss?"

Adrian's expression visibly softened, though he said, "You see me every day. What's there to miss?"

Jocelyn lowered her voice. "But I haven't been seeing you every day lately."

Because her husband was spending all his time with his sister-in-law.

Adrian understood her meaning and couldn't help but smile.

"I never thought you could get jealous."

Jocelyn remained silent on purpose.

Adrian reached out and ruffled her hair. "Alright. It wasn't on purpose. I'll explain things to Audrey for you."