The Man Who Waited vs. The Man Who Wasted novel Chapter 434

That woman.

Audrey sobbed for a long time, devastated and completely helpless.

But her tears couldn't revive Adrian's affection.

At best, they earned a sliver of pity.

He reminded himself.

This woman was Leo's mother, and he had once loved her.

But more importantly...

"Stop crying," Adrian said.

He was growing annoyed by the noise.

"Adrian, I swear I didn't know my dad would do something like that! I didn't know he'd get..."

Audrey didn't dare say the rest.

She bore responsibility for Arthur's death, too.

If she hadn't been texting another man, Arthur wouldn't have stormed out of the house in a jealous rage.

He wouldn't have gone speeding.

If he hadn't been street racing, none of this would have happened...

To think it was her own father who had caused the fatal crash...

Oh God.

What was she supposed to do now?

To her surprise, Adrian's tone softened in false comfort.

"Audrey, I don't blame you for what happened to Arthur."

It was exactly what Audrey had been desperate to hear.

She almost couldn't believe it.

"Really? You really don't blame me?"

"Your father is your father, and you are you. I know the difference."

"Thank God!" Audrey threw herself into Adrian's arms.

"I thought you were going to throw me away."

When the Evans family fell from grace, Jocelyn had been driven out of the Lowell house because she no longer had powerful backing.

Now the tables had turned. The Preston family was ruined, so wouldn't Adrian toss her aside just the same?

So Audrey's tears were partly for Caleb.

But mostly for herself.

Adrian was her only lifeline now, and she was terrified of losing him.

Caleb offered, "Let's make a deal."

Adrian said mildly, "I'm listening."

Caleb paused for a few seconds before suddenly pivoting.

"Audrey isn't my only child."

Adrian gave a half-smile.

"So I've heard. Chairman Preston has quite the vitality, leaving a trail of children all over town."

Caleb didn't even have the energy to get angry at the sarcasm, his voice flat.

"I wouldn't say a trail. Just two daughters and a son."

"The girls are sixteen and nineteen. The boy is barely ten. They're just kids."

Adrian pressed, "And?"

Caleb continued, "I've already set up trust funds for them. Once I'm gone, they'll be set for life."

"They won't come after Audrey for the inheritance."

"I'm leaving those clean assets, two villas, and a mountain estate entirely to Audrey. It's my way of making up for how much I've failed her."

Adrian already saw where this was going.

"Get to the point."