Betrayed by His Love

"Are you out of your mind, Lennon? Did you really give Audrey's bone marrow to Zelda without her knowing?"

In a private clinic in Edinburgh, Nevaeh burst into the room, angrily pointing at Lennon who was sitting on the sofa.

Lennon tilted his head slightly, frustration lining his handsome features, and spoke with resignation: "Sis, Audrey and Zelda were the only ones with compatible marrow; there wasn't another option."

Nevaeh glanced at the report on the table, detailing Audrey's months-long hospitalization due to an infection. Her anger boiled over: "No other option? You knew Audrey was unwell and you deceived her into believing it was just a stomach issue, taking such risks!"

"I can't believe this, has Zelda cast some spell on you? You even took up horse riding just to make her smile, which resulted in five years of paralysis. During those years, it was Audrey who stood by you."

"And now that you're better, Zelda's illness is cured after being abandoned here, and you've secretly given her Audrey's marrow. Months have passed, Zelda recovers, and you're indulging her whims by considering a surrogate!"

At the doorway, Audrey had just finished her discharge paperwork and overheard Nevaeh's furious words. Her hand clenched against the wall, the smile on her face stiffening, as if she had been plunged into ice water.

Just half an hour ago, the doctor informed her that her post-surgery infection had completely healed, and she was cleared to leave the clinic. Lennon had proposed to her then, bringing her to tears; she even posted on Instagram about it being the happiest day of her life.

Inside the room, Lennon hung his head, his dark hair shadowing his eyes, hiding his expression.

"Sis, please keep this to yourself. Don't let Audrey find out. Zelda's grandmother doesn't have much time left, and her only wish is to hold her grandchild before she goes. I don't want her to have regrets."

Nevaeh glared at him, her delicate face ablaze with anger. "And what about Audrey? Everyone knows she's loved you for eight whole years!"

"I remember clearly, eight years ago Zelda confessed to the Walsh family's second son but got turned down. You approached Audrey, flirting with her to spite him for Zelda's sake."

"And now Zelda's pregnant, and Audrey, who's stood by you for eight years, what about her?"

Lennon lowered his gaze, eventually speaking in a hoarse voice: "I've arranged it all so Audrey will never find out about Zelda's pregnancy. As for the future, I've gotten used to having Audrey in my life over these years. I do plan to marry her..."

Audrey didn't hear the rest of the conversation. A nurse was approaching the room, so she kept her head down, pretending she had just returned.

Inside the room, Nevaeh took Lennon by the arm, leading him away.

On the drive home, Lennon discussed wedding plans with Audrey, though she couldn't focus on a single word he said. She stared out the window at the passing tall buildings, feeling utterly chilled.

Audrey first met Lennon at a gathering of her parents and business partners when she was fifteen. That fleeting glance of his aloof yet noble demeanor remained etched in her mind ever since.

At sixteen, under the alias 'Silent', she entered racing competitions, saving Lennon's life, marking the beginning of her long unrequited love.

At twenty, Ocean pursued her; the same year, Lennon attended a friend's party and added her on Facebook. That night, she was overjoyed.

That year she discovered Lennon had a childhood friend, Zelda. But Zelda, spirited and free, cycled through numerous relationships, never interested in Lennon.

At twenty-one, Lennon confessed, and she agreed to be with him.

By twenty-two, Lennon had a horse riding accident and was rushed to the clinic, declared disabled by doctors the next day. That year, the disabled Lennon seemed transformed, his temperament dark and irritable. Out of love, Audrey declined her parents' offer to move abroad, choosing to stay and care for him.

At twenty-seven, Lennon's leg recovered, and Yahya announced Lennon's leadership over the Gray family, a moment of triumph for the young man.

That same year, Audrey unexpectedly fainted at home and awoke to find she needed surgery for what she thought was a stomach condition.

Reflecting now, she realized those sweet feelings she once thought genuine had been laced with lies from the start!

Over the past months, she'd had countless blood draws in the clinic, supposedly for tests, only to find out it was all to donate marrow to Zelda!

Their Aston Martin pulled into the estate community.

At midnight, Lennon's phone rang.

Audrey glanced at the caller ID — 'Zelda's Sparkling Personality.'

Lennon quickly ended the call, his long fingers tapping the screen before he got up and left.

Audrey walked to the window.

In the endless night, the Aston Martin rolled away.

Audrey dialed her mother.

"Mom, I've made up my mind. I'm agreeing to the Phillips family alliance. Seven days from now, when I land, I'll marry him."

Anastasia seemed to sense what her daughter had gone through. She offered a few comforting words and patiently analyzed the situation: "Are you certain, Audrey? The Elliott family isn't what it used to be. This alliance isn't casual. The Phillips family and the Grays are worlds apart, but they've been rivals for generations, completely incompatible."

"Should you marry into the Phillips family, they might require you to sever ties with the Grays entirely."

On the other end, Audrey's eyes lowered.

Six years ago, the Elliott family, thriving in business, relocated abroad, settling there permanently.

Shortly after the move, they faced an economic crisis. The Phillips family, also abroad, repeatedly expressed interest in an alliance.

But her parents knew she loved Lennon, never considering sacrificing her marriage to support the company.

Now, she no longer wished to have any connection with Lennon. Marrying into the Phillips family was the best decision.

"Mom, I've decided. I never want to see Lennon again in my life!"