Chapter 12
As Claire heard that Dylan was with Audrey, her face darkened immediately. She angrily said, “What, he’s still with Audrey?”
Secing Claire angry, Sarah, despite her tear–streaked face, quickly tried to calm her down. “Mrs. Clifford, don’t blame Dylan. You know my sister always liked Dylan, so it’s normal for her to go after him once she got out of prison.”
Sarah placed all the blame on Audrey. After all, Claire already hated Audrey. Years ago, Audrey had nearly killed Claire. Although Sarah didn’t know the details, she knew Claire despised Audrey.
As Claire heard these words, her expression grew even more displeased. “That Audrey is truly shameless!”
“Mrs. Clifford, don’t be angry. This is our fault; we should have taught Audrey to know better. Don’t worry, I’ll go home right now and teach her some manners!” William said furiously. Yesterday, Audrey had embarrassed him outside Silvandel Auction House, and now this. He was beyond angry with Audrey.
“This isn’t your fault. It’s all because Audrey is too shameless. It has nothing to do with you!” Claire said coldly. “Rest assured, I only recognize Sarah as my daughter–in–law. I won’t allow anyone else to marry Dylan!”
Hearing this, the three of them were very pleased, though they didn’t show it on their faces.
“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure Dylan handles this properly,” Claire added.
Now Sarah felt reassured. Just as she expected, Claire’s dislike for Audrey had only intensified upon learning she was with Dylan.
As soon as Sarah and her parents left the Clifford family mansion, Claire immediately called Dylan. Her voice was icy as she questioned, “Dylan, are you with Audrey?”
“Who told you that?” Dylan asked coolly. He glanced at Audrey, who was eating across from him, his expression unreadable.
“Never mind who told me, I won’t agree to you being with that woman!” shouted Claire.
“Whether you agree or not is none of my concern!” Dylan’s voice was icy and domineering. Even though he was talking to his own mother, he remained emotionless.
“I advise you not to cause her trouble, or you won’t be able to handle the consequences!”
Dylan hung up abruptly, not giving Claire a chance to respond.
As soon as Dylan ended the call, Audrey’s phone rang. Somehow, William had found her number. The moment she answered, she heard William’s furious voice. “Audrey, get back to our house right now!”
The angry shouting made Audrey frown slightly, so she held the phone a bit farther from her car before replying coldly, “Don’t worry, I’ll go back there, but not now.”
“You brat, are you deliberately trying to disgrace the Hernandez family and Sarah? Smearing Sarah online so everyone can mock her? If I had known this would happen, I should have strangled you when you were a baby!” William roared.
Audrey let out a derisive laugh. “Too bad for you. I’m still very much alive.”
“Audrey, apologize to Sarah online right now and admit you seduced Mr. Clifford, or you’re in for a world of hurt!” William shouted, desperate to restore Sarah’s reputation.
“Why should I apologize to Sarah? The worse she has it, the happier I am,” Audrey retorted coldly.
“If you don’t apologize, don’t blame me for what happens next!” William’s voice grew even angrier.
“Bring it on!” Audrey sneered, completely unfazed by William’s threats.
Perhaps the old Audrey might have been scared, but not now. Putting away her phone, she turned to Brian, who was eating beside her. “Are you full?”
Brian nodded compliantly. “Yes, I’m full!”Text © by N0ve/lDrama.Org.
Audrey lifted her eyes, her cool gaze meeting Dylan’s. “Thanks for lunch, Mr. Clifford.”
“I’ll take you home,” Dylan said, standing up and addressing Audrey and Brian.
Audrey frowned slightly, then looked directly at Dylan. “Mr. Clifford, your mother is right. A convicted murderer like me doesn’t deserve to be with you.”
“Whether you deserve it or not is for me to decide. No one else has a say,” Dylan replied, his eyes cold and intense, almost obsessive as they fixed on Audrey’s face.
Audrey smiled lightly, her expression tinged with subtle mockery. “If that’s the case, then why did you send me to 3 seven years ago, Mr. Clifford?”
For a moment, Dylan’s face turned pale, his dark eyes freezing with a hidden pain. He pressed his lips together, is cold gaze locked on Audrey’s calm face.
“Mr. Clifford, since you made your choice seven years ago, you shouldn’t be bothering me now. Understand?” Audrey, not being the original host, couldn’t feel the same pain, but from what she had learned, Dylan had chosen to believe his mother and put handcuff’s on the original host, sending her to prison, where she endured inhumane suffering for three years. She felt that Dylan had no right to bother Audrey anymore.
The flicker of pain in Dylan’s eyes abruptly vanished as he looked sharply at Audrey, who remained indifferent. A sudden pang of pain nearly suffocated him, but his expression stayed icy and domineering.
“Audrey, you and I will never be strangers,” Dylan said.
“There’s no need for that. I just want to never see you again,” Audrey said calmly.
Audrey’s voice was soft, but her words hit Dylan like a tidal wave of pain.
“Dream on!” Dylan growled through gritted teeth.
Dylan could endure Audrey hating him. He could accept that she wanted revenge. But he would never let her disappear from his life. He would stop at nothing to keep her by his side, even if it meant tying her up.
“So, Mr. Clifford, what if I’m not actually Audrey?” Audrey asked.
“What do you mean?” Dylan frowned, his expression turning frighteningly intense.
“I mean, the Audrey you knew is dead. I am a soul from another world with the same name. Whether you believe it or not, that’s the truth,” Audrey said, her gaze serious as she looked at Dylan.
She wasn’t the original Audrey. It seemed the original host had been so utterly broken by Dylan that even though she had all of Audrey’s memories, she lacked any recollection of Dylan.