He Destroyed Me, Then He Mourned Me

Audrey Finch once gave her heart to Lucas Montero, unaware of his true identity. His staged death and Cassandra Thorne's persecution cost Audrey her parents, her education, and her freedom. Now suffering from terminal stomach cancer, she endures life as Lucas' mistress to pay for her younger sister Ruby's treatment. At an alumni dinner, footage of her mother's assault is publicly screened. Lucas forces Audrey to take the blame by threatening Ruby and her parents' graves, then orders his guards to make her drink. That night, Cassandra destroys the Finches' graves and reveals that Ruby is dead. Audrey finally fights back. Lucas sends her to an underground boxing ring, where she loses consciousness from her injuries as New Year's fireworks accompany a hopeful message recorded by her 18-year-old self. Believing Audrey is staging another protest, Lucas casually orders her cremation if she dies. Confronted with medical records, a death certificate, and an urn, he breaks down, investigates the past, punishes Cassandra, and publicly declares Audrey his wife. In fact, Audrey has been secretly rescued by European mafia leader Cyrus Wolff and taken to Switzerland for treatment, where her cancer is brought under control. She wakes with amnesia, and Cyrus claims to be her fiance. Years earlier, Audrey saved his life while he was on the run. Although tempted to keep her dependent on him, he ultimately respects her wish to recover her memories and seek justice herself. His younger sister, Daisy, stirs Audrey's memories of Ruby, and a news video of Lucas brings her past flooding back. Audrey returns to Chicago, stabs Lucas at her family's graves, and rejects his apologies and offer of marriage. When he confines her to his estate, she gathers evidence and works with Cyrus to bring the police to his door. Released on bail, Lucas takes his own life at her parents' graves, leaving Audrey his remaining fortune and a farewell video. She chooses to return to Europe and resume her interrup