The Man Who Waited vs. The Man Who Wasted novel Chapter 447

Audrey wasn't stupid. She had noticed Adrian's shift in behavior a long time ago.

She had just bitten her tongue and endured it.

She had been terrified it was all in her head, and that bringing it up would only make him angry.

But now, it was blindingly clear.

It wasn't in her head at all.

Adrian had genuinely changed.

Yet, he remained tight-lipped, refusing to answer the question.

Desperate for the truth, Audrey pushed him relentlessly.

"Tell me, why?"

"You used to be so deeply in love with me!"

For her, he used to go to bars and drink himself into oblivion.

He used to watch over her from the shadows, noticing every little sniffle or headache before Arthur ever did, and rushing to care for her.

Whenever she was upset, Adrian would move heaven and earth to make her smile.

Back then, Audrey felt like the luckiest woman in the world.

Even when Arthur died, she hadn't been completely devastated.

Because she still had Adrian.

But now...

It felt like she had nothing.

Adrian was physically there, but his heart was long gone.

And his heart was the only thing Audrey wanted right now.

"Adrian..."

Eyes red, Audrey opened her arms, walked over, and wrapped them tightly around his waist, burying her face in his chest.

"Tell me the truth, please? I just want the truth. Please don't lie to me."

Adrian sighed and gently pushed her away.

"Fine. I'll tell you the truth."

Audrey held her breath, every nerve ending screaming with tension.

The answer meant everything to her.

But Adrian's face was completely devoid of emotion.

"You were right. From the very beginning, I never intended to marry you."

Audrey clenched her fists, biting her lip so hard she tasted blood.

So... it was true.

"Why? I thought you loved me?"

Her voice trembled violently.

"I did. I really liked you in the past. But I'm no longer sure if my feelings were genuine love, or just a bruised ego."

But somehow, his silence hurt far worse than words ever could.

"Okay."

Audrey brought her hands to her face, violently scrubbing away every last trace of her tears.

"I don't care why you're marrying me. I will still marry you. As soon as my dad's trial is over, we'll go get the marriage license."

"I don't need a wedding dress, a ceremony, or a diamond ring. I don't need any of it. I just want to marry you."

"Just please... don't leave me."

All the pride and arrogance had been completely drained from her eyes, replaced only by a desperate, agonizing sorrow.

In that moment, even a heart as hardened as Adrian's couldn't help but soften.

He walked over and pulled Audrey into a hug.

He wanted to say something, but the words wouldn't come.

So he just held her.

Terrified he might vanish into thin air, Audrey locked her arms around him in a vice grip.

With one fractured sob of "Adrian," the tears came flooding back.

"You're... you're really all I have left. Please don't throw me away, okay?"

Adrian gently patted her back.

"I won't throw you away."

But the promise carried no real weight.