"Audrey is gone and Jeremy doesn't want to talk about her," Adel snapped before I even opened my mouth.
Simon's eyes cut into her like a blade. "You've got some nerve showing up here after the scandal you caused. And now what—try to steal her husband too? Shameless."
Adel's pout was instant, automatic. She turned to me, eyes wide. "Jeremy, excuse me. You're not going to let him talk to me like that?"
Simon leaned in closer, voice low but sharp. "Tell me I'm wrong."
"Uncle Simon, knock it off." My voice came out colder than I meant. "It was an accident. Adel didn't mean to. Don't disrespect her like that."
His hands curled into fists on the edge of the table. "You're taking the side of this—this woman who terrorized your wife? How do you even call yourself a man?"
I stood, my chair scraping the tile. "Simon, don't forget. Audrey is the one who forced me to marry her. She brought this on herself. She's the one to blame."
Simon slammed his palm down. "No. No. You're the one who's forgotten, idiot. You begged Audrey to marry you—to save Adel. And after Adel 'recovered,' she threatened to jump off a cliff. You nearly lost your sight trying to save her. You were almost paralyzed. Do you remember? Who was there to attend to you? Who fed you, changed your dressings, fought your family for you?"
The restaurant went silent around us.
Adel's voice trembled but she pushed through, "That is none of your business. I wasn't in the right headspace. I was going for a walk at the time."
Simon's glare didn't leave her. And for the first time in years, Adel looked… cornered.
I felt my jaw tighten, but my mind flickered—not to Adel, but to Audrey, walking away from me at the airport.
"Yes. Shut your stupid mouth." Simon snapped at Adel, his words like a whip.
Then his eyes locked on me. "Listen to me, you fool. When the doctors told you you'd be blind in both eyes, maybe in a wheelchair for the rest of your life—where was Adel? She was gone. The person who stayed by your side day and night was your wife, Audrey."
My stomach dropped. "What did you say?" My voice cracked.
And then the memories hit me, sharp and vivid—the hospital, the pain, the fear.
"Jeremy… Jeremy, stop. You're okay. You're the strongest man I've ever known. You're going to get through this. Don't you cry, okay? Until then, I'll be your eyes."
Her voice. Gentle. Steady. But in my memory, I saw Adel's face. I always saw Adel's face.
"No. No, that's not right." My head shook violently, as if I could rattle the truth loose. "The person by my side was Adel. It was Adel. Stop telling me it was Audrey!"
Simon stepped closer, jaw tight. "You're an idiot. Audrey let you think that. She pretended to be Adel because it gave you a reason to get better. She's the one who wanted us to play along."
The ground tilted beneath me. "So after I recovered, why didn't anyone tell me?" My voice was raw, half a roar.
"It was Audrey," Simon said, calmer now, almost pitying me. "She wanted your focus on healing. Nothing else. She didn't want you to feel like you owed her. So we all agreed to keep our mouths shut."
I felt the air punch out of my lungs. "So Audrey hasn't said a word to me in all these years… and you bring this up now? Now? She's probably just waiting for the perfect moment, isn't she? For when it would hit hardest. When it would be the best argument."
My fists curled, but all I could see was her face. Audrey's face.
"Are you insane?" Simon's voice thundered. "I've been trying to tell you—Audrey was the one by your side this entire time. So what the hell are you still doing with Adel? Hurting your wife until she ran from here!"
I barked out a laugh, sharp and ugly. "Audrey's a manipulator. She's even got you—and everyone else—lying for her. That's what you just admitted."
I turned to Adel, heat rising in my chest. "And you. You. You told me you were the one there with me every day. So answer me. Yes or no—was it you?"
Adel's eyes darted, glossy with guilt. "Jeremy… Audrey was stopping you from me. What was I supposed to do?"
Simon let out a disgusted laugh. "You hear that, Jeremy? Adelaide Bosten is still a liar. And you gave up the only woman who ever loved you for her. Enjoy your meal." He shoved his chair back and stormed out.
My chest burned. "Why did you lie to me, Adel? You know there is nothing I hate more than being lied to—"
That's when the officers arrived, cutting me off.
"Sir, are you Jeremy Gillian?" one asked.
I straightened, still seething. "I am."
"Is your wife's name Audrey Anderson?"
"She's my legal wife, yes. What's this about?"
The taller officer cleared his throat. "We've been trying to get in contact with you for some time now."
I waved a hand. "What trouble did she get herself into this time? No, I'm not coming to bail her out—"
"Sorry to inform you, sir," the officer interrupted, voice grim, "but your wife can't be found. She was never on the plane after passing the boarding gate. We are assuming… kidnapping."
My blood went cold. "What?"
The word tore out of me, raw and disbelieving.