Reborn Young Miss: Phoenix Burning Red-Chapter 440: A World Without You (4)

Watching the person you loved slowly deteriorate before your eyes was a harrowing and heartbreaking experience for Adrienne. Lennox was battling a terminal illness and refused to take any form of treatment. He claimed he had done everything he could and simply wanted to live out his remaining days peacefully and on his own terms.

Adrienne pleaded with him in tears to take treatment, though she was aware that Lennox couldn’t see or hear her. She couldn’t bear the thought of seeing him waste away, waiting to die alone and in pain. If this was her punishment from the heavens for changing the course of events so much, then she got their point loud and clear.

She ought to know that there will always be consequences for actions, and Adrienne knew she was paying for it now as she watched with her eyes how Lennox suffered because of her mistake in the past. She knew she could never undo the harm she had caused to the people close to her heart.

Lennox’s siblings’ presence had relieved Adrienne, knowing that her husband wasn’t completely alone. He was already 53 and had several white hairs sprouting from his temples. Adrienne wondered how long she needed to watch her husband age and worry about his health.

Lennox had completely stopped working and spent most of his days reading books while bedridden. It was hard for Adrienne to see him get worse with each passing day. She dreamed of growing older with him, having a family, and spending their remaining years together in happiness and love. But now, those dreams were slipping away.

Adrienne never left his side, accompanying him in silence. He might not know her existence, but she vowed to stay by his side until the end. She would endure and accompany Lennox until he took his last breath. She would find solace in knowing that she had fulfilled her promise.

Every now and then, Lennox would occasionally go to his study, pull out her file from his drawer, and look at her photo as if he were trying to imprint her face into his memory forever. Adrienne wondered if he felt the connection between them despite being unable to meet her in this timeline or if he was simply attracted to her physically.

Lennox then calmed down and took a nap, dreaming of what could have happened if they crossed paths when she was still alive. He wondered if they would have fallen in love or if they would have remained strangers forever.

As Lennox drifted off into his peaceful slumber, Adrienne couldn’t help but gaze at his fragile form. The lines etched on his face told stories of a well-lived life and a lifetime of pain and regret. She wished she could reach out and wipe away the burden that weighed heavily on his heart.

In the quiet room, Adrienne found herself drawn to Lennox’s study. He was seated on an armchair and dozed off in the middle of his reading. It wasn’t the first time something happened, and Adrienne knew Lennox was sleeping more these days. It worried her deeply.

It seemed frozen in time. The shelves were lined with books loved and worn through countless readings. She discovered an old journal whose pages were yellowed with age.

Adrienne knew it was her husband’s journal. She had seen him writing his entries there and never dared to look at what he’d written. Curiosity overcame her as she carefully opened the journal, surprised that she could touch it despite not being able to touch or move anything in the past. She knew she shouldn’t pry and read in his journal, but her curiosity got the better of her.

The journal revealed a glimpse into the depths of Lennox’s soul. The words on the pages revealed a vulnerability and pain that Adrienne had never fully understood. The entries told a tale of missed opportunities and chances not taken. They chronicled his dreams and aspirations, his fears, and his insecurities. It was as if Lennox had poured his soul onto those pages, desperately seeking guidance and understanding.

Adrienne became entranced by the words that flowed from Lennox’s pen. She realized his longing for connection extended beyond their brief encounter in this altered timeline. He had carried the weight of unfulfilled dreams for years, hoping against hope that someday fate would offer him a second chance.

Tears welled up in Adrienne’s eyes as she read about Lennox’s deep desire to find true love and companionship. His words resonated with her unspoken yearnings. She couldn’t help but feel a connection to his vulnerability and understood the pain of longing for something that seemed just out of reach.

The last entry in the journal took her breath away, tears streaming down her face as she read the heartfelt confession of a soul desperately searching for the same happiness she so deeply craved. The last entry in the journal revealed that she was not alone in her longing.

"I always see her in my dreams with a smile on her face," Lennox started on his entry. "She was smiling as if assuring me everything would be alright. It gives me respite from my suffering and helps me hold onto hope. But I know it’s just an illusion, a figment of my imagination. I was drawn to Adrienne Jiang, although I have never met her, not even once.

"She didn’t know me but gave me comfort and solace. I must have been enamored with the idea of her and the possibility of a connection that may never exist. But her presence in my thoughts feels real and brings me a sense of contentment and peace. But deep down, I know it’s all just a figment of my imagination: my wishful thinking and longing for something that would never come to fruition.

"Adrienne was beautiful—so beautiful that I somewhat understand why Alistair Han had become obsessed with her. But I was livid after hearing what he’d done to her. I couldn’t believe the depths of his cruelty towards Adrienne. She didn’t deserve any of it."

Tears streamed down Adrienne’s face as she continued to read her husband’s entries.

"She must be the person the old monk was talking about because Adrienne Jiang was the only woman who managed to get her attention—the person who had captured her heart in ways no one else ever had, but it was too late as she was already dead.

"I know my days were already numbered, and soon I would follow them in the afterlife, but I couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret for not meeting her sooner. If there’s a god, I wish he would allow Adrienne to give her a chance and experience the love and happiness she deserves, even if I wasn’t on it."

Adrienne could barely hold it together. She started sobbing uncontrollably, thinking that even in her husband’s remaining days, Lennox was still thinking of her, hoping she’d be happy in the future.

Adrienne thought she didn’t deserve this man. This selfless person loved her unconditionally, even when he knew he had no time left.

She was brought back to reality when the book her husband had read earlier dropped on the floor. Adrienne left the journal she was reading and looked at Lennox. She stared at him for a moment before dawning on her what just happened and realizing that her husband had passed away.

"Lennox!" Adrienne screamed at the top of her lungs, feeling her heart break into a million pieces.