I Took the Fall So She Could Love Him

Abram's POV

"What? Say that again, Abram Darrow!"

My mother, Joanne Blackwell, abruptly stood up from the leather chair, staring at me incredulously.

Darrow Group's cash flow had dried up, and the company had also been involved in a massive financial fraud scandal. Now that the scandal had come to light, someone had to step forward and take the blame. If not, the whole family would end up in prison.

The scapegoat would be either me or my brother, Adrian Darrow.

I replied calmly yet firmly, "I'll just turn myself in, Mom. I'll be the one going to prison."

Adrian was actually my younger half-brother whom Mom had with another man. He was also Caitlyn Murray's first love.

In my past life, Mom had chosen to sacrifice Adrian. He ended up being horribly tormented and bullied in prison, and he died of depression less than a year later.

Caitlyn hated me for the rest of her life because of this. She hated that, as the eldest son of the Darrow family, I did nothing but watch the sickly Adrian suffer in prison for the sake of the family.

Caitlyn and I were married for ten years, but she'd only ever treated me coldly and with disgust. Later, I was diagnosed with ALS, which gradually left my entire body frozen until I could barely even swallow. It wasn't until then that she finally showed me some pity.

Yet, after my death, she killed herself at my grave.

But if she couldn't get over my passing in the end, why had she still treated me so terribly before that?

I might have been reborn, but I was tired of everything. I didn't want to continue getting entangled with her anymore.

"Do you even know how serious this crime is, Abram? You're going to spend at least ten years in prison! Are you out of your mind?" Mom exclaimed.

She looked at me with a complex expression in her eyes. I knew what she was thinking.

I had been brought up rather spoiled, never having to endure any hardship. However, Adrian was more docile and obedient, which was why she favored him more than me. Still, she felt guilty toward Dad, and the thought of sending me to prison instead made her feel troubled and unsettled.

But if I wasn't the one going to prison, it would be Adrian instead.

"I know," I said, looking straight into her eyes. "I'm willing to face the consequences as long as you give me the green light."

Mom was silent for a long while. Finally, she sighed and said, "Are you sure that you've thought this through?"

"I have."

I then turned to walk out of the study. I was heading to the Murray family manor after this.

Caitlyn's grandmother, Madeline Knapp, was the one who arranged the marriage between her and me. But since I was now going to prison, that naturally meant that the wedding and the engagement were off. I had to go over and explain everything in person.

Right after stepping into the manor, I heard two people arguing loudly in the living room.

"Over my dead body!" Madeline roared, striking her staff against the ground as she glared at Caitlyn, who was standing straight and tall before her.

"I'm not going to marry Abram, Grandma! The person I love is Adrian!"

Madeline trembled with anger. "You insolent brat! Adrian is about to go to prison for his family! What else can you do about it? Your fiance is Abram Darrow, not Adrian Darrow!"

The same scene had also played out in my past life. Caitlyn would rather give up her family inheritance than get engaged to me. But I had loved her with all my heart, so back then, I rushed up and begged Madeline for mercy. I even threatened to give up my position in the family if Caitlyn was forced to give up hers, all in an attempt to save our engagement.

However, this forced marriage ultimately became a bitter shackle for both of us.

When Caitlyn caught sight of me, a hint of disgust appeared on her face.

"You're here. Good," she said icily. "I have only ever thought of you as a close sibling—never a lover. Why won't you just let me go?

"I'll never marry you, even if I never get to marry Adrian!"

Every single word she said felt like a stab into my heart. I took a deep breath and suppressed the pain in my heart.

I didn't look at her. Instead, I went up to Madeline and said, "Mrs. Murray Senior, I'm actually here to discuss annulling the engagement with Caitlyn."