Reborn Young Miss: Phoenix Burning Red-Chapter 439: A World Without You (3)

With each passing day, Adrienne saw Lennox slowly wilt under the weight of his sorrow. She couldn’t bear to see him like this, but she couldn’t do anything to lessen his pain. She wished she could take away his sorrow and bring back his joy, but she could do nothing to change the past. She could only offer him her love and support, hoping it would eventually heal his wounded heart. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Adrienne didn’t know how long she should watch Lennox like this, but she was determined to stay by his side until he found peace. She wished there could be someone who could help him put his life back together again. However, not even his mother could mend the pieces of his broken heart.

Lennox had succeeded and took over Qin Industries and all of its subsidiaries with Gavin’s help. They made a name for themselves in the business world, becoming known as formidable and shrewd entrepreneurs. However, despite their success in their chosen careers, their personal lives were a mess.

Gavin never had a chance to reunite with his lover and son, while Lennox hadn’t met and found someone to share his life with. He wanted to be with someone who could accept and love his siblings unconditionally, but with his thick wallet, it was hard to find a woman who wasn’t after his money.

However, being a bachelor didn’t bother Lennox at all. He was content with his independence and enjoyed the freedom it brought him. He also liked his siblings’ company, and because he never got a chance to marry, Lennox decided to pass Qin Industries and StarMedia to Noah and Scarlett, respectively. He believed they were the most capable and trustworthy individuals to carry on his legacy. And with Samantha’s help, Lennox was confident they would do an excellent job running the company.

Meanwhile, Huayi, the company he established with his best friend, Gavin, was still thriving and expanding rapidly in the market. He was still running the company and refused to sell it to others, as it was the only thing Gavin left to him. He believed he was responsible for honoring Gavin’s memory and continuing their shared vision.

Lennox continued working the following days, acting as if everything had returned to normal. But Adrienne knew better. Being with her husband for so long, she could see the pain and struggle behind his facade. Lennox was distracting himself by throwing himself into work, but deep down, he was still grieving and trying to come to terms with his loss.

This continued for months as Lennox tried to bury his emotions and put on a brave face for the outside world. Adrienne could only watch in silence as Lennox slowly unraveled under the weight of his pain. She couldn’t understand why Lennox refused to seek help and open up about his feelings.

Lennox had trouble falling asleep at night, and when he did, he would frequently wake up in a cold sweat from nightmares. Gavin’s pale face kept appearing in these nightmares, blaming Lennox for his loss. He would wake up gasping for air, feeling overwhelmed with guilt and remorse.

There were no signs of relief in sight. Some nights, Lennox would weep quietly, and Adrienne could only watch him and stand nearby to accompany him through his pain. She believed that the heavens were punishing her for allowing her to see how Lennox suffered indirectly as a result of her. She wished she could find a way to ease his suffering, but she felt utterly helpless.

Months turned into years, and Adrienne found himself in his home study. Lennox opened the drawer on his table and pulled out the file. He opened a folder, and Adrienne’s eyes widened as she saw her name written on the top of the document with an old photo of her attached. She had never thought Lennox would have kept a file on her.

Lennox opened her file and held her photo with his right hand. He gave it a good, long look before speaking.

"You lost everything," he finally said, a somber expression on his face. "I wonder what you’d do now if you were alive."

Adrienne smiled weakly and pondered her options. She knew she had to start over but needed to figure out where to begin. It also didn’t help that she wasted years married to Alistair.

"I once thought I had it all figured out," she whispered, "but now I realize how wrong I was."

"I met an old monk when Gavin and I just arrived from our business trip overseas. He told me I’ve lost my chance to change my fate, and the person who could change my life forever has been gone. I wonder... I wonder if it was you." Lennox said, almost in a whisper.

Adrienne felt a sudden pang of regret and sadness in her heart. She wished she had taken the opportunity to seize her chance and meet Lennox in the past. However, she wondered if the monk he met was also the same monk who read her fate when she was younger.

Were they fated to cross paths and be together, or was it just a mere coincidence?

Adrienne didn’t know what to feel about Lennox spending the rest of his life alone. He might have his siblings with him, but without her and Gavin, Adrienne feared Lennox’s depression would consume him.

"You and Gavin kept showing up in my dreams," Adrienne heard Lennox say. "Perhaps you also blame me for your death. If I had come to your rescue much earlier, you and Dylan might still be alive today. I wouldn’t have to lose Gavin if I had acted sooner."

Adrienne’s heart ached as she listened to Lennox’s words. She knew that blaming himself would deepen his despair, but she also understood his guilt and regret. She wished she could reassure him that it wasn’t his fault and that fate had dealt them a cruel hand.

Adrienne shook her head. No. She would never blame him for her tragic end. What led her to her tragic end was beyond anyone’s control and was mostly because of the poor choices she made in the past. She knew that she alone was responsible for the consequences.

Lennox had nothing to do with it. There was no reason for him to blame himself for her death, though she admitted she wished he and Gavin had come to their rescue sooner so they could have saved Dylan at least.

Lennox put her photo on his desk and stood beside the window, staring into the night. He couldn’t help but feel guilt overwhelm him, keeping him awake until the early morning hours.