Zachary was quiet for a long moment. When Sarah thought he wouldn't answer, he finally said softly, “A friend."Something in his tone made her change the subject quickly. "If you don't mind, could you tell me more about your sister's condition?""She has severe reactions to blood. Episodes of memory loss. Panic attacks around unfamiliar men - severe enough to cause physical symptoms. In certain situations, she completely breaks down."His professional demeanor returned as he spoke, creating distance.Sarah considered this carefully. Classic signs of severe trauma. Whatever happened must have left deep psychological scars.Before she could respond, Mrs. Maggie returned with clothes. "The shower's ready, dear. These should fit - they're Mia's."Sarah thanked her, but after showering and changing, she realized she'd caught more than just rain. Her face was flushed, her eyes glassy with fever.Zachary noticed immediately, touching her forehead with a frown. "You're burning up."Thr
James's face tightened with irritation. "I'm in a meet-""Another meeting, right?" Sarah cut him off, her voice turning cold. "Mr. Chancer, I can’t be waiting for you forever. If we're getting divorced, stop dragging it out while planning your wedding. Playing the devoted groom while keeping me hanging - it's getting pathetic."Sarah was done with Charlotte's little power plays, done with this pointless connection to James.She'd always been decisive - when she loved, she gave everything, and when it was over, she walked away clean.She wasn't deluded enough to think James's hesitation meant he cared. She simply ranked last in everything that mattered to him.James gripped his phone, jaw clenched. Thinking of the man who'd driven her home, anger flared. "Drop the act, Sarah. You're only in such a rush because you've found someone else."Sarah almost laughed at his absurdity."Think what you want," she said coolly. "It's none of your business anymore. Besides, no one moved on fas
"Man, you've got some nerve," Scarlett finished with disgust.Sarah, amused by her friend's outburst, couldn't help but smile.James frowned. "My mother threw you out? You were sick?"Playing concerned now?Sarah glanced at the courthouse doors, finding the whole thing ironically funny."Yes," she said flatly. "So, Mr. Chancer, if you care at all, handle the paperwork quickly. Let's avoid any more... misunderstandings."She pulled Scarlett away before James could respond.As soon as she left, James called Charlotte about yesterday's events."I wanted to let her stay," Charlotte said, sounding apologetic. "But your mother... well, you know how she feels about Sarah. She called the security before I could do anything else."James felt oddly uncomfortable. "Charlotte, that house was meant to be hers."Meanwhile, Sarah opened her phone to find a flood of messages from Steven,"We could do $3,000?""Even $2,500 works!!!""Hello???""You there?""Price is totally negotiable!!!"S
His reaction startled them. One friend hesitantly explained, "After Charlotte left, you were in a dark place. The board was losing faith. Then these major accounts suddenly appeared. My father told me Sarah secured them using her status as your wife. She never mentioned it, knowing you wouldn't approve."She had no business background, no degree. She'd used the family name he resented. She must have known he'd reject the deals if he knew, so she'd kept quiet.For three years.James sat in the shadows of the private lounge, remembering her face today. His chest tightened unexpectedly.That evening, he returned home to find Charlotte and his mother on the living room sofa, looking like the perfect family."James!" his mother brightened. "Join us. Charlotte and I were planning the wedding. She had this lovely idea about holding an outdoor garden wedding, but I thought we could do a grand church ceremony as well...""Mom, could Charlotte and I have a moment?""Of course, darling. Ta
"Mom, James just pities her," Charlotte soothed. "No career, no degree. He wanted a clean break, so he threw some property her way to leave quietly."Her mother's perfectly penciled eyebrows drew together. "I don't like it. Are you absolutely certain James isn't harboring feelings for her?"Charlotte laughed, all sugar and honey. "Mom, please. James never even slept with Sarah. He spent three years waiting for me.""Well, that's something. Let me handle this house situation."After hanging up, Mrs. Garnett speed-dialed Mrs. Chancer.The news left Mrs. Chancer reeling. Her son had given that woman prime real estate? Sarah hadn't even produced an heir - what claim did she have to Chancer property?Her calls to Sarah went straight to voicemail - blocked.Unable to reach Sarah and hesitant to confront James - fearing it might jeopardize the engagement - she let the situation simmer.Meanwhile, Sarah nestled into her new apartment, buried in psychology journals, refreshing her exper
Steven stepped in with a friendly smile to lighten the mood. “Miss Sanders, sorry for showing up unannounced,” the tall, refined man greeted Sarah with a polite nod, a flash of mischief glinting in his eyes.“Hello, Miss Sanders,” Mia added, her gaze bright as she looked at the graceful woman before her. “I’m Mia Reynolds.”Sarah took in the sight of the sweet, lively young girl and immediately understood.“Hello, please come in,” Sarah said, stepping aside to let them enter.“You guys chat! I’ll get started on dinner.” Steven, carrying several bags of groceries, headed straight for the kitchen as if he owned the place.Sarah moved to stop him, but Scarlett blocked her path.“Hey, Chef, we know you’re talented, but Sarah’s hosting today! No need for you to cook—we’re having hotpot. I already bought everything we need.”Scarlett was quite the foodie, and her compliment about Steven’s cooking was genuine—she still remembered the taste of his barbecue game bird from last time.H
"I hear you're working at Adams University now?" Zachary asked casually, skillfully deflecting the curious glances around the table.Mia perked up. "You're at Adams? Are you teaching?"Her enthusiasm was genuine—she'd clearly taken a liking to Sarah's gentle demeanor."I'm working at the counseling center," Sarah explained, warmed by the young girl's obvious delight."Really? So I could come visit you?" Mia leaned forward eagerly.Despite having just met, Mia felt drawn to Sarah's warmth, finding an unexpected comfort in her presence.Sarah studied Mia, reminded of a young deer she'd once encountered while hunting—trusting and bright-eyed."Of course," she smiled, already fond of this sweet girl."Then I'm in your debt for looking after my sister." Zachary's voice was smooth as he added another portion to Sarah's plate.Sarah caught his eye as she glanced at the food he'd served her. His satisfied expression made her feel like she'd walked right into his carefully laid plan.
Sarah looked at Scarlett, who was visibly worried for her. With a sigh, Sarah explained patiently, “Scarlett, since I was willing to divorce James, it shows that I’ve already moved on. I don’t plan on staying single forever, but right now, I just haven’t met anyone who makes my heart flutter.”Scarlett let out a relieved “Oh,” finally at ease.But then she remembered that even someone as charming and handsome as Zachary hadn’t managed to catch Sarah’s eye, and she couldn’t help but wonder what Sarah had ever seen in that jerk, James.…Since they had work the next day, Scarlett didn’t stay too late, helping Sarah clean up before heading home.The following morning, Sarah was up early. During her years of marriage to James, the Chancer family had expected her to stay home, playing the perfect trad wife and dutiful daughter-in-law. Now, returning to work filled her with excitement and anticipation.The university wasn’t far from her apartment, so she decided to walk. As she enjoyed
Vivian sabotaged her from behind, while she had already found her next target. In this endless cycle, she could never escape the trap Vivian had set for her.When Sarah saw that Melvin was also making progress without any interference, she realized Vivian was targeting only her.She gave up looking for targets and sat quietly on the sofa.Sarah walked to the table, about to pick up a glass of wine when a voice suddenly appeared, "Don't drink that glass, it's been contaminated by the cork."She leaned in to smell it - indeed, there was a strong musty odor.She looked at the person who had been speaking, an elderly man in worn pants. "How could you tell?""I smelled it."She moved her hand to the glass next to it, and the same voice spoke again, "Don't drink that one either. The sulfur dioxide concentration is too high. These cunning merchants add preservatives excessively to the wine, not understanding what's actually good for health.""What about this one?" Sarah pointed to ano
Sarah took sip after sip of her wine, trying to tune out the whispers. But the more she tried not to listen, the louder their words seemed to burrow into her mind. She let out a bitter chuckle. Maybe they weren’t completely wrong. No matter what anyone said, Tina had died because of her. Sarah’s gaze darkened as she turned toward the center of the gala. The real criminals, the ones behind the racetrack incident, the ones responsible for Tina’s death, were standing in the spotlight, basking in admiration. Vivian Wilson, hand in hand with Zachary Reynolds, smiling effortlessly at the cameras, secure in her place next to him. Meanwhile, Sarah sat in the shadows, the target of endless gossip and malice. Then, suddenly— "Shut the hell up!" The voice rang out across the room, cutting through the whispers like a blade. "You’re all full of crap! Zachary Reynolds himself cleared Sarah’s name in a public interview. Do you think you know better than him? Are yo
"And what if I did? Your mouth was spewing filth, so I simply helped you wash it out. Now, kindly get lost." "You f**king—!” The man’s face contorted with rage as he raised his hand, ready to strike. His arm cut through the air with force, the sound of wind trailing behind it. It was so sudden that Sarah barely had time to react. Instinctively, she squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for impact. But the expected pain never came. Instead, a sharp, agonized scream rang out. "Let me go! Who the hell are you?!" Sarah’s eyes snapped open. James had seized the man’s wrist mid-air, twisting it back with ruthless precision. The man’s arm bent unnaturally, like a twisted rope, his face contorted in pain. "And since when did the Fishers start running their mouths like this?" James said icily. "I’ll make sure to ask your father myself in a few days. "Now get lost!” The man, now realizing that James knew his father personally, instantly lost all his bravado and scram
"Oh, don’t get me wrong," the woman sneered. "I just wanted to see what kind of thick-skinned person would still dare to show up here. You caused the death of a student, you’re literally her murderer. What, did you come here hoping to win back Mr. Reynolds?" She clicked her tongue twice in mock pity. "Such a shame. You should take a good look. Mr. Reynolds isn’t into women like you. Open your eyes and see who’s standing beside him. That’s the perfect woman, his childhood sweetheart, the one he truly loves. You’re delusional if you think you have a chance. A murderer like you will always be despised. If I were you, I’d leave now before making a fool of myself." "Exactly! You should just get out of here before you make yourself sick watching Miss Wilson and Mr. Reynolds together." Sarah set her wine glass down with a soft thud, the sound heavy against the table. "That’s why you’re not me." Her gaze turned icy as she looked at the woman. "Judging from your tone, I can al
Sarah’s arrival stirred a small wave of excitement throughout the banquet hall. "Oh my god, how does she still have the audacity to show up here? After everything that happened, she actually dares to come? Absolutely shameless!" "Exactly! That student jumped because of her! Even though people are trying to clear her name, who knows what really went on behind the scenes?" “Mr. Reynolds and Miss Wilson are practically engaged. Do you think she’s here just to cause trouble?" "Cause trouble? Please. What could she even do?" "I heard the Sanders are in trouble. They lost their wine suppliers, and she’s here to fight for a deal." As whispers and judgmental glances swept through the crowd, Sarah remained composed, unaffected by the scrutiny. Melvin, however, squared his shoulders, his cold gaze sweeping across those who dared to stare too long. He shielded her from much of the hostility, though he knew she didn’t care about their opinions. After a brief exchange, Melvi
Melvin shook his head. "It’s useless. The top wineries produce limited quantities of wine each year, and they’ve already been snatched up by suppliers. The contracts are signed before the bottles even leave the vineyards." The global wine market was massive, but true premium wine had always been in short supply. Beyond vintage limitations, quality was another key factor. "So what can we do?" Sarah asked. "There’s one last opportunity. In two days, St. Ritz Hotel is hosting a wine-tasting gala. It’ll bring together winery owners from all over. This is our chance," Melvin said seriously. Sarah nodded in understanding. The gala wasn’t just a major event for East Coast—top sommeliers and vineyard representatives from all over the country would attend. Among them would be powerful figures who weren’t afraid of the Wilsons. This was Sanders Group’s only shot. Otherwise, they’d have to abandon this sector entirely. St. Ritz Hotel, 7pm.The entrance road to hotel was line
The police had even found this woman’s fingerprints on the rooftop. And at the chocolate boutique, purchase records confirmed her order history. It was all too perfect. If Sarah hadn’t seen Vivian with her own eyes, hadn’t heard her cold confession that day—perhaps she, too, would have believed it. Mrs. Mendes let out a bitter laugh, her expression vacant. "I told you before—no one can fight against capital. People like us could struggle for a lifetime and still never reach their heights. For them, crushing us is as easy as stepping on an ant. "Even when the evidence is laid bare, they’ll always have someone ready to take the fall." Her voice was hoarse, empty. Perhaps, before, her reluctance to speak had been instinctive self-preservation. But now, when she had finally found the courage to seek justice—she realized how naive she had been. Sarah shook her head, her voice quiet but firm. "It’s because they are rotten to the core—so cruel they can erase a
Mr. Wilson chuckled. "If we can’t finish the bottle, take the rest home for your grandfather." Vivian laughed. "Grandpa, what are you saying? Do you really think Grandpa William would drink someone else’s leftover wine?" "True, true. My mistake," Mr. Wilson admitted with a good-natured smile. "Then how about this—before you leave, pick out a bottle from my collection and take it back for him. That way, he won’t have anything to complain about behind my back." The meal had yet to begin, but the atmosphere at the dining table was warm and harmonious. Anne was busy serving dishes, while Zachary quietly observed the exchange between Vivian and Mr. Wilson. It was just a simple family dinner, so why go to such extravagant lengths? The Romanée-Conti on the table was no ordinary wine. Though its auction price had been around three million yuan, it was truly priceless—aged for years, often purchased as an investment rather than for consumption. So why had Mr. Wilson brought
Mr. Wilson pulled something from behind him and tossed it at her feet. "You mean this shadow you saw? Was it this?" Vivian stared in disbelief. "This…?" "From the moment you had your first nightmare, I had people watching the villa’s surroundings. Tonight, the so-called ghost you saw? It was just a piece of white cloth. "The person behind it got away, but they left this behind." His eyes were ice-cold. Then he scoffed. "Idiot. You’ve been played and didn’t even realize it. Do you actually believe in ghosts? You’ve thrown away every bit of education you’ve ever received." The tight grip of fear in Vivian’s chest suddenly loosened. She let out a breathless chuckle, which quickly turned into anger. "Who?! Who would dare mess with me like this?!" Mr. Wilson leaned back, watching her. "Find out for yourself. I’ll give you full authority to investigate, but don’t let it interfere with our plans. You’ve already slowed us down enough these past few days."