Yet somehow, he had walked right past Sarah to his sister instead. While dancing, he'd seen Sarah's disappointed look but still avoided her. In fact, he had never once asked her to dance.But in this photo, he saw a vibrant Sarah, her black velvet dress hugging her elegant curves. Only the hand at her waist was jarring to see.“James? James, what are you thinking about?!"The repeated calls finally brought James back to reality. He looked at Charlotte in confusion. "What is it?""I said you should calm your mother down."James turned to his mother, who was glaring at him angrily. "Mom, I won't do it."Sarah avoided him like a mouse fleeing from a cat, especially now with Zachary constantly by her side."What's the use of talking about this! If you really care about my well-being, go get that money back! That's Chancer family money!"James remained silent and went upstairs.The gala wasn't even over when Zachary’ words had spread throughout the East Coast, leaving wealthy young
She constantly felt someone was out to harm her, seeing everyone as a threat.But Sarah sensed there was more to it than just the kidnapping."After Mia was kidnapped, I searched for a long time. When I finally found her, she was like that day she had her episode - completely unhinged, not even recognizing me. She was broken for days, crying in terror every night," Zachary explained.Sarah's brows furrowed. "What exactly happened? Was Mia..."Zachary gave a resigned smile. "No, nothing like that. She witnessed them torturing people, heard the screaming, saw blood everywhere. She told her therapist that when she closed her eyes, all she could see was blood - the whole world turned red. Later, she had a complete breakdown, was unconscious for days. When she woke up, she'd forgotten everything. But she remained sensitive. I know she never truly recovered."So that was it...No wonder Mia was so timid. "Mr. Reynolds, Mia's mind must have instinctively chosen to forget that incident.
Lost in his impulse, forgetting about his mother and Charlotte, he rushed upstairs and pounded on the door.Sarah was removing her makeup, still in her evening dress, when she heard the knocking.Who could it be this late? Zachary? But he'd just left.Looking through the peephole, she was shocked to see James.Sarah immediately locked the deadbolt, ignoring him, but the knocking grew louder. She yanked open the door. "James, are you crazy? What are you doing here in the middle of the night?""Why did Zachary drive you home? What's going on between you two? Do you like him?" James was almost manic.Sarah replied coldly, "How is that any of your business? We're divorced!""Answer me! Do you like him?" James stepped closer, menacing."James, get out of my house! My life is none of your concern."But James continued, "Why did he publicly admit to liking you at the gala? I didn't give you all that money so you could go after Zachary! It wasn't meant to be your stepping stone!""Yo
"The police just came and took James away for breaking and entering!" Charlotte explained anxiously."But wasn't James home the whole time? How could he break into anywhere?""He was distracted all evening after dinner. Around eleven, he went out by himself. I asked, but he wouldn't tell me where he was going." Charlotte recalled James's disturbed state earlier and began to suspect something.Could he have gone to...?At the university, Sarah received an email from Jane Lawrence in Milan. Since Jane had reviewed her paper, they'd frequently exchanged emails discussing psychological research.This email was about publishing her paper. Jane believed her research could be published in the Psychology Journal. Sarah had considered this before but had abandoned her career and prospects after marriage, leaving everything unfinished.Now, with Jane's suggestion, she was reconsidering.She had barely written a few words when Lucy burst in with Mrs. Chancer and Charlotte following."Sara
Sarah exhaled, fixing Lucy with a deadly stare as cold as a frozen pool. "That was part of my divorce agreement with James. Watch your words, or you might not live to regret them!"She pressed the office intercom button. "Security, please come up.""What? Are you threatening to kill me? Fine! Mom, Charlotte, did you hear that? This witch just threatened to kill me!" Lucy screamed.Sarah stood up in disgust and slapped her. "Are you done?""You dare hit me?" Lucy glared at her, seething with rage."I'm trying to knock some sense into you. Now get out!"Mrs. Chancer covered her mouth in shock before launching into a tirade. "You worthless woman! How dare you hit my daughter! You'll pay for this!""You hit me!" She lunged at Sarah.Sarah stepped back and warned sharply, "Want to get arrested too?"At those words, Lucy finally backed off. Of course she didn't want to be arrested! Once was humiliating enough - she couldn't face it again.She'd already become a laughingstock among
Mia clenched her fists, her voice trembling, “It's Sarah...""Yes, it's Sarah. She reaches out to you, and you climb into the boat. The boat drifts on the sea, the wind carrying you far away. Can you remember why you're on the water?""I... I'm looking for someone.""Good. You found them - they're beside you now. There are two people with you: Sarah and the person you're looking for."Mia's brows furrowed. "No, there's only one person."Sarah paused but quickly adjusted, "Alright, you haven't found that person. Your boat continues drifting. You notice many boats appearing, all moving toward your small boat. What do you think they want?""To kill!" Mia's voice turned shrill. "They want to kill people!""Now you smell something fragrant coming from one of the boats. As they get closer, you realize they mean no harm. Instead, they kindly share their caught fish with you."Mia's fists loosened slightly. "Yes, I see it.""Sarah disappears. You're alone in the boat now. What do you
Since leaving the police station last night, James hadn't gone home. Instead, he'd come to the bar, at first just sitting and staring into space. As the crowd grew, he started ordering drinks.He knew without question who had called the police on him. But what he couldn't understand was: had Sarah really become so heartless?He could remember countless moments of Sarah's forgiving and gentle nature - no matter what he did, she would always help him kindly, never objecting.Perhaps he'd never known the real Sarah. He couldn't believe those eyes now held no trace of warmth, but reality forced him to accept it.He'd never felt so torn before, caught between Charlotte and Sarah.On the day of the divorce, he hadn't felt this way at all. He'd brought this on himself.At the entrance, a woman linked arms with her friend. "Scarlett, what have you been up to lately? We've invited you so many times - you're such a diva!""Tonight's on me! To make up for it!"As she walked in, she spotte
Charlotte's face fell as she rushed to support James. "What are you doing?"What humiliation - her fiancé knocking on another woman's door right in front of her."Not leaving." James reeked of alcohol, his face flushed, stubbornly refusing to move."This is Miss Sanders’s home. Please come to your senses," Charlotte's voice grew heavy.But being a woman, she struggled with James's height and weight as he clung to Sarah's door.Soon Charlotte's arms gave out from exhaustion, and James crashed to the floor, still unconscious, muttering, "Sarah, open the door! Open up!""James! Look at me - do you know who I am?" Charlotte's voice rose as she stared at him coldly.Clearly, there was no reasoning with a drunk man.James ignored her completely, just banging on the door and calling Sarah's name.Charlotte remembered similar scenes from their past - how many times had James called her name in drunken desperation? He used to call out for her during those sleepless nights.She stared
After the doctor left, Charlie yanked out his IV and clambered off the bed, urging Zachary, "Let's get out of here. This place just drains you dry."Zachary, indifferent since his injuries were feigned, asked, "Your injuries alright?"Charlie, ever so casual about his resilience, boasted, "Ah, I've been roughed up worse before. Just give me a couple of days to rest at home, and I'll be as good as new."With unresolved matters and a longing to see Sarah, Zachary reluctantly set aside his desires. "Then you head back. Call me if you need anything."Charlie, sensing something off, gently tugged at Zachary's suit and noticed his white shirt stained with fresh blood. "Zach, you're hurt!"Zachary's lips were pale, his voice dry. "Yeah.""I'll get the doctor to bandage you up," Charlie said, moving to leave."No need," Zachary stopped him quickly, not wanting to expose his whereabouts by registering at the hospital."What about your wound?""I have a first aid kit at home. It's just
Zachary dragged the unconscious Charlie to the clinic, exacerbating Charlie's injuries as his back scraped against the small stones on the road.When Charlie woke up in the clinic, his howls filled the room. "It's killing me! Where's the doctor? Give me some anesthesia. I'd rather be out cold!"The nurse, irritated by his constant demands, was about to lose her patience when Zachary entered the room. Seeing him, Charlie momentarily forgot his pain and burst into tears. "Bro, did you save me? From now on, you're like a brother to me."Zachary responded indifferently, "Just focus on healing."As the nurse changed Charlie's bandages, she couldn't help but blush at Zachary's rugged, yet undeniably handsome appearance, even slightly disheveled from the fight."Damn it, get out! Are you doing this on purpose, you wretch? Trying to kill me?" Charlie slapped her, swelling her face, as he misunderstood her distracted clumsiness for malice.Zachary frowned, saying nothing. Although he disl
With an agile flip through the air, Zachary caught sight of Charlie sneaking a peek from behind a haystack, his sleazy demeanor perfectly deserving of a beating. The thought of what this scoundrel had done to Sarah intensified Zachary's fury, already heightened by the fierce combat.On the other side, the casino manager watched in rage as his men were effortlessly knocked down by Zachary. Cursing loudly, he shouted, "Damn it, what's the story with this kid?"Seeing some of his underlings still looking for an opportunity to strike, his anger boiled over. "Are you all brainless? Attack him all at once; I refuse to believe he can fight off everyone!"Those still standing and those who had managed to get back up exchanged glances and charged at Zachary with renewed ferocity.Zachary's sharp eyes flashed with disdain. Without moving, his fist met an attacker's face at an extraordinarily tricky angle.The attacker's pained expression froze mid-air, and when he hit the ground, dust flew
Charlie's voice cut off abruptly as he stared in horror behind Zachary, his body beginning to tremble. Before he could speak, the casino manager had already set up a blockade on the road and rushed over with his men, ambushing them from both sides."Charlie, you think you're pretty clever, conniving with outsiders to cheat me out of my money?" the casino manager sneered, twirling an iron rod menacingly.Charlie's legs gave out, and he fell to his knees, stuttering, "Bro, what are you talking about? How could I dare cheat you? I don't have the guts.""Stop lying to me," the manager bellowed, pointing the iron rod toward a visibly unmoved Zachary. "This pretty boy, you've been colluding with him to cheat on my turf. Sick of living, are you?""No, it's all a misunderstanding! We were gambling fair and square, no cheating!" Charlie was terrified, fearing a brutal beating was imminent.The manager scoffed, "You think I'm blind?"Sweat poured down Charlie's forehead as he desperately l
”Come on… Come on…” Charlie leaned over the long table, his eyes crazed as he watched the dealer's movements. The dealer placed his hand over the dice cup, his voice stirring the gamblers, "Any more bets? The odds are thirty to one now." As soon as he finished speaking, a burly man with a scruffy beard shoved most of his chips forward. "Damn it, I'm all in. Worst comes to worst, I'll con some more out of my old lady's funeral fund." Others, eyes reddened, quickly followed suit.Charlie clenched his yellowed teeth, tempted to go all in too. He glanced at Zachary, who had remained calm throughout, and rubbed his hands together with a sycophantic smile. "Bro, should we make a big play too?"Zachary gave him a brief glance. "What's the rush." Charlie had no choice but to curb his eagerness."Here it goes!" The dealer shouted, and the outcome was revealed, triggering moans of despair around them."Did we win? Did we actually win?" Charlie rubbed his eyes in disbelief, his smile wideni
Charlie pulled her close. "When have I not thought about you? Anyway, I've got things to do tomorrow. I'll come see you again later." He got dressed as the woman watched him reluctantly. Just as he opened the door to leave, another woman suddenly appeared in front of him."Molly, I've come—Oh? What are you doing here? Isn't this Mr. Wesley? What are you doing at Molly's house in the middle of the night instead of sleeping at home?"She saw Charlie adjusting his clothes and knew exactly what had been going on."Cut the crap, I'm leaving now. If anyone finds out about today, you're done for," Charlie snapped.The woman wasn't intimidated. She dramatically fell to her knees, crying out loud, "Oh dear! Everyone come and see how this man is threatening me, saying he'll kill me! He's not sleeping at his home in the middle of the night but is here at Molly's—who knows what they were up to? Now that I've caught him, he's not retreating but threatening me instead! Everyone come over and jud
Back at the Wesley place, Charlie shut the front door with a meaningful smirk as his parents had already gone to bed. He cleared the dining table and retreated to his room. Alone, his thoughts turned to what he imagined would happen between Zachary and Sarah, and he couldn't help but snicker to himself. This time, he felt he had finally done Zachary a favor by orchestrating the situation. After this, he was sure Zachary would owe him one, especially in his gambling endeavors.Once something happened between Sarah and Zachary, Charlie thought he would have significant leverage over Sarah—she wouldn't dare cross him, not even in front of the factory manager. Yet, the thought of their imminent encounter left him feeling an unexplained emptiness, especially since the woman he usually pushed around had defiantly returned to her mother's house after yesterday's beating. How dare she act differently when every other woman in the town bore their circumstances silently?Why was it acceptable
"Zachary, you're here?" Charlie greeted with a sycophantic tone. Indeed, it was Zachary, who frowned slightly. About twenty minutes ago, Charlie had called him, claiming Sarah was in danger and that he needed to hurry over. Zachary had rushed here as quickly as possible, but now couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Why did Charlie's smile seem so... unsettling?"What's wrong with Miss Sanders?" Zachary asked, his gaze serious.Charlie, sensing he had played his cards right, pointed toward Sarah's room and said meaningfully, "Miss Sanders is in that room. She's in critical condition right now. Hurry, go save her."He even gave an expression that implied men would understand.Zachary's unease grew. He walked into Sarah's room, only to find her lying on the bed, seemingly unconscious."Sasa?" He rushed over, his voice full of concern.From outside the door, Charlie's voice rang out. "Zachary, time is money. I've given you what you wanted. Go ahead and take it."Zachar
The next morning, Charlie handed over the last two thousand dollars he had managed to scrounge from his house to Manager Sullivan. After groveling and pleading, it took quite a while before Sullivan finally decided to let him off the hook.Sarah sat in her office, her eyes fixed on the computer screen displaying an email reply from headquarters. The report about the equipment malfunction had been approved, and the request for new devices granted. The board of directors hadn't opposed it, which came as a surprise.Outside the office, Charlie passed by the door, his mind still reeling from Sullivan's earlier warning."You've got one more chance. Sarah Sanders is sharp. If you fail again, pack your bags and leave!"He clenched his fist, determined not to fail this time.At six in the evening, Sarah was about to leave for the day when, to her surprise, Charlie was waiting outside, calling her over. "Hurry up and eat! My mom made dishes specially for you. I know I messed up last time,