"Duncan, please..." Annie’s voice cracked as she fell to her knees in front of him, clutching desperately at the legs of the man who now looked at her like a stranger. "We’re practically already a family. My father poured millions into your company. Can’t you overlook just this once? For ... for the baby?"
Duncan stared down at her, jaw tight and expression cold.
"Get up, Annie," he said, voice low but firm. "Don’t humiliate yourself more than you already have. I won’t marry you. And I won’t claim that child as mine."
Annie’s breath hitched.
"I ruined my life, my family, my future—all because of greed and lies. Because I believed in you. Because of that child," Duncan continued, his tone heavy with self-loathing. "And I’m not making it worse by tying myself to you forever."
"But Duncan—" Annie’s voice turned desperate, trembling as she clung tighter. "Please, I’ll give you everything. My inheritance. My savings, all that I have, all I need is you. Just marry , and my father will pull strings—he’ll get you out of here. I promise we can start over. We can even have a baby of our own once you’re out, okay?"
Duncan yanked his legs back, shaking her off with revulsion.
"I’d rather rot in this cell until my last breath than sell my soul again," he spat. "You disgust , Annie. Every ti I look at you, I see the lies, the manipulation, the ruin. That child isn’t mine, and even if it were—I still wouldn’t stay."
Annie sobbed, still on her knees, trembling as her world crumbled around her.
"Get out of my sight!" Duncan roared.
Randolf Evans, who had remained silent until now, stepped forward at Duncan’s subtle gesture and waved to the guards stationed outside.
"Please escort Ms. Tucker out," Randolf said calmly, his face void of sympathy.
The guards entered and gently but firmly pulled Annie to her feet. She fought weakly, trying to reach for Duncan again.
"Duncan—please—don’t do this! I love you!" she cried out as she was dragged out of the room.
Duncan turned his back to her as the door slamd shut behind her wailing, the silence that followed heavy with finality.
Randolph let out a long, exaggerated sigh once the door shut behind Annie, the tension in the room finally lifting like fog after a storm.
"Finally, so peace!" he quipped, cracking a rare smile.
Duncan raised an eyebrow as he dropped into the chair across from him, still unsettled by everything that just happened. "You seem unusually cheerful."
Randolph chuckled and reached into his briefcase. "That’s because I co bearing very good news."
He slid a docunt across the table.
Duncan stared at it, blinking. He picked it up and read it once. Then again. And again.
He looked up, completely bewildered. "Is this a joke? Are there hidden caras in here? Is this so kind of twisted reality show?"
Randolf barked a laugh and leaned back in his chair. "Do I look like soone with that much spare ti and a dark sense of humor? Co on, Duncan. This is real. You’re officially a free man. The charges have been dropped—but of course, I still need to process the paperwork. Give it a few hours, maybe a day."
Duncan was still frozen, the paper in his hand trembling slightly. "But... why? I don’t understand. This doesn’t make any sense. Am I dreaming?"
Randolf’s smile softened, but there was a pointed gleam in his eye. "Honestly, I don’t know what changed her mind either. Cammy filed the motion to retract all charges this morning. No press. No explanation. Just a quiet signature and a handwritten note to let the past rest."
He paused for effect. "You really did marry an angel, Duncan. Too bad you lost her."
Duncan’s mouth opened, but no words ca out.
Randolf stood and straightened his coat. "I’ll take this to the proper office now and begin the release process. You’ll need to return to your cell for the ti being, but I’ll co get you as soon as the paperwork clears."
He paused at the door. "And when you’re out... maybe do sothing worthwhile with this second chance. Oh—and thank Cammy. Even if she never hears it, you owe her that much."
With that, he left.
Monts later, the guards entered and silently escorted Duncan back to his cell. He didn’t resist, didn’t speak. He sat down slowly on the thin mattress, the docunt still in his hand, and stared at nothing for a long, long ti.
The silence wasn’t peace. It was disbelief and guilt.
Outside the prison gates, Annie paced back and forth like a restless spirit. The mont she spotted Randolf Evans stepping out, she rushed toward him, desperation written all over her face.
"You’re still here?" Randolf said with a dry smirk. "You should be ho resting. You just gave birth. Your daughter will need you when she’s finally discharged."
Annie ignored the concern or sarcasm in his voice. "Please, Randolf. I’m begging you. Talk to Duncan for . I’ll pay you, two million, three, whatever you want, just convince him to marry . I don’t care if it’s a prison wedding or a piece of paper—I just need him."
Randolf let out an exasperated sigh and rolled his eyes. "Annie, you’re not hearing . Duncan won’t be in prison much longer. Cammy dropped the charges."
Annie froze, her eyes going wide. "What... what did you just say?"
"Cammy retracted everything. The case is done. Duncan’s getting out, possibly today if I move fast enough."
"Why? Why would she do that?" Annie’s voice trembled, her confusion mingling with disbelief and rising panic.
Randolf gave her a tired look. "I don’t know. And frankly, I don’t care. It’s not my place to question her motives. Maybe she’s just tired of dragging this ss behind her. She’s pregnant, Dylan’s coming ho, she’s rebuilding her life—and probably doesn’t want any more of your drama clinging to it."
Annie’s lips parted, but no sound ca out.
Randolf stepped away. "Hire another lawyer for your delusions. I have release papers to file."
He didn’t look back as he walked away, his pace brisk and purposeful. The sooner he got Duncan out, the sooner he could finally close the Chapter on this tangled, toxic case—and maybe, just maybe, start writing one of his own.
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