Vivian finally noticed the faint, acrid scent lingering in the air. Blood pooled across the floor. A disaster of this scale was too much for the factory supervisor to handle alone. "How many people know about this?" Vivian’s voice was ice-cold. The supervisor swallowed hard. "Miss Wilson, I shut down the factory the moment it happened. Only a handful of people saw it." Vivian nodded. "Contact the families of the deceased. Offer them a generous compensation package. As for the others who witnessed this—make sure they keep their mouths shut. This must never get out. And one more thing—make sure nothing like this happens again." The supervisor hesitated, looking at the lifeless bodies on the ground. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed, but in the end, he nodded. On the way back, Vivian sat in the car, still shaken by the incident. She turned to her assistant. "Make sure those families stay calm. Under no circumstances should the police be involved. If they refu
Vivian curled up in agony, her body trembling. Mr. Wilson quickly entered the room, his expression stern as he tried to assess what had happened. Anne followed close behind. She had been caring for Vivian since she was a child and regarded her almost like a daughter. "Miss, what’s wrong? Did you have a nightmare?" she asked worriedly. Vivian’s face was pale with terror. Mr. Wilson frowned deeply, observing her reaction. Seeing him, Vivian forced herself to regain some composure.No matter what, Grandpa can’t know about this. "I’m fine, Grandpa. Just a bad dream," she muttered, wiping the cold sweat from her forehead. Mr. Wilson eyed her suspiciously but didn’t press further. Later that night, the Wilson household settled into deep slumber. Vivian, finally exhausted, drifted off into a heavy sleep. She had chosen to sleep near the window, and at some point, she rolled over. Tap. Tap. Tap. A faint knocking came from the glass. Even in deep sleep, h
Vivian had no idea how long she had been asleep when she was jolted awake again by the faint tapping at her window. A chill crawled over her skin. The sound was the same as before, and this time, she didn’t even dare to open the curtains. But the tapping grew louder and more insistent, making her chest tighten with unease. Then—suddenly—silence. She held her breath, waiting. Minutes passed, but nothing happened. Eventually, she convinced herself it was over and forced herself to sleep. But half an hour later, just as she was slipping into unconsciousness, the noise returned. This time, the tapping was sharper, more erratic, yet eerily rhythmic. Vivian clutched her blanket tightly and immediately covered her ears. "Go away!" she whimpered. "Tina, it wasn’t me! I gave your mother plenty of money—don’t come after me! If anything happens to me, my grandfather will make sure your whole family suffers!" But the sound didn’t stop. The grating, high-pitched scra
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."
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
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
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
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
"Is that a threat?" Sarah scoffed. "I'm seeing Zachary because of Mia.""Whatever the reason, if Zachary and his grandfather don't want you treating Mia anymore, you should just disappear. Stay away from them." Vivian's voice dripped with venom.Sarah narrowed her eyes, suddenly leaning in so close their faces nearly touched. A chill ran down Vivian's spine."Aren't you overstepping? Not everything needs your control, Vivian. Mia's my friend. Of course I'll help when she's in trouble."Vivian sneered. "Don't be ridiculous. Their grandfather and Zachary have found dozens of renowned therapists. You really think you're more qualified? Are you really helping Mia, or using her condition to get close to Zachary?""Shut up. There may be many qualified people, but I've been treating Mia all along. No one knows her condition better than I do. As for Zachary - we're over. I won't go back. You don't need to be so threatened."Vivian burst into mocking laughter. "Me? Threatened? You don't k
Mia calmed slightly at the familiar voice. Her frantic movements slowed, the pillow she'd meant to throw falling to the floor. She stared at Zachary with wary confusion, her guard dropping only when she finally recognized him."Brother?" she tested uncertainly.The worry in Zachary's eyes softened. "Yes, Mia. It's me, your brother."He approached slowly, careful not to startle her, gently removing the cup from her left hand."Mia, look at my face. I'm your brother.""Brother?" she murmured, then her expression twisted. "Liar! You want to kill me, don't you? You want to eat me!" The word "eat" seemed to trigger her deepest terrors.Her face contorted as she crouched down, hugging herself. "Don't eat me, please don't!"Zachary looked at his sister with pain, cautiously placing a hand on her shoulder. "Don't be scared, Mia. I'm here to protect you.""You're lying! You said you'd protect us but never came! Sarah was eaten and you never came! You lied to us!" Mia sobbed hysterically
She left without waiting for Zachary's response, not looking back.At the restaurant, Vivian and Zachary sat at the best window table, their food already served."Zachary, try this!" Vivian said eagerly. "This steak's even better than that Kobe beef we had in Japan."Zachary mechanically cut a piece and took a bite. The meat was indeed good."So," Vivian asked, feigning casualness, "what did Miss Sanders want earlier?"Zachary frowned slightly. "That's private.""Why so hostile? I just care about you. If she needs help, maybe I could assist?" Vivian's voice turned hurt.Zachary put down his cutlery and looked at her coolly. "Actually, there is one thing you could help with.""What is it?"A cold smile played at his lips. "Stay in your lane."Vivian's smile froze, her body tensing. She forced a laugh. "What do you mean?""Nothing at all," Zachary said, taking another bite.After dinner, Vivian dabbed her lips. The meal had been tasteless.She hadn't mentioned the engagement
Sarah looked at Zachary gravely. "Mia's condition is deteriorating. I need to continue her treatment."Zachary's fingers drummed lightly on his desk, disapproval written across his face. "That's...""What? Don't you trust me?" Sarah raised an eyebrow."Of course I trust you. I've never doubted your professional ability. I just..." Just want to prevent what might happen - like you leaving me when you learn the truth.But he'd never tell her that.Sarah knew Zachary well. Something specific was making him hesitate. Those strange photographs? Or that drawing Mia had made?Though she suspected he wouldn't answer, she had to ask. "Tell me why."Zachary froze. "I'm sorry. I can't."He couldn't say anything until he'd figured out his explanation.Sarah gave a bitter laugh. "Is it because of Tina’s incident? Or what happened when Mia had her episode at the school gates? I know you don't believe those online rumors, but I can't think of any reason you'd willingly stop Mia's treatment,
The receptionist barely concealed her frown. Who could she be calling?"I'm at Reynolds Tower. Need to see you."The woman's tone was curt. The receptionist wondered who warranted such directness.Moments later, she watched in shock as the executive elevator whirred into action. The doors opened and Zachary Reynolds himself strode out, heading straight for the woman, his pace quickening. "Sasa, what brings you here?"Sarah didn't return his warmth. "Your office. We need to talk."In his office, Sarah fixed him with a disapproving look. "Mr. Reynolds, I don't know what you're thinking, but I do know you care about Mia. If you care so much, you must realize my therapy is what's best for her."She couldn't understand why he'd suddenly stopped her sessions with Mia, but it had to be connected to Mia's buried memories.Zachary looked at her helplessly. "Sasa, it's not just my decision. It's Grandfather's too. I'm sorry."Sarah stared at him in disbelief. "So because of your grandfat
Three days after leaving Sarah's... that was so long ago.She couldn't imagine how Mia had endured, but the raw marks on her arms told the story.Sarah frowned at Mia's scarred arms. "You silly girl. Doesn't it hurt?"Mia shook her head. "My mind's so chaotic then, I don't even remember doing it. It's like a nightmare - I just wake up and find the scratches.""What kind of nightmare?" Sarah asked worriedly."Someone trying to grab me, saying they'll drink my blood, eat my flesh. I'm so scared."Sarah knew these casual descriptions masked Mia's reality - waking up screaming, probably crying herself hoarse.Mia's shoulders trembled as she spoke."Mia, stop. That's enough," Sarah cut in quickly."Sarah, can you help me?" She buried herself in Sarah's embrace."Of course I will." Sarah patted her shoulder and stroked her forehead.Since she'd come under the pretense of therapy, Mia needed to get to her therapist's office.In the car, she looked back at Sarah longingly. "I'll co
After Shawn and Amanda left, Melvin warned, "Sasa, Sydney won't let this go. Be careful.""I will. Heading to the office?"“Yep. See you at home." Then he left too.Alone at last, Mia threw herself into Sarah's arms. "I've missed you so much! I've been trying to see you, but my grandfather wouldn't let me out. I finally found a way!""Did you sneak out?" Sarah asked, getting some coconut pudding from the fridge."Not this time!" Mia said proudly. "I made a deal with my new therapist.""A deal?"Mia nodded. “My grandfather and brother keep finding therapists, but I couldn't work with any of them. This one's different - I agreed to treatment if he'd bring me here."Sarah looked at her with concern. "Still having nightmares?""Yes. Without you, I'm always panicking. Even at home, my heart races. I just want to lock myself in my room, avoid everyone. But with you, I feel safe. I can talk again." Mia took a bite of pudding.Sarah had always known Mia depended on her - it seemed es
"Sydney," Mia said mockingly, "if you want Sarah to forgive you, it's simple - get on your knees and apologize. Right here, in front of everyone. And promise you'll never bother her again."On her knees?Sydney's eyes widened. Kneel before Sarah? Before that bitch?"Never! I won't kneel to her!"Sarah stepped closer, with a cool smile. "Fine. Then I'll personally see you to a cell. The last person like you is already in prison, and your cousin won't escape either.""You're threatening me!" Sydney's face flushed.Mrs. Blanco turned tearfully to Amanda. "Amanda, look at your niece! We're family - how can she demand Sydney kneel?"Before Amanda could speak, Shawn pulled her back. "Mrs. Blanco, where was this 'family' talk when your daughter was plotting? Since Sarah wants an apology on knees, that's what she'll get. Unless you want Benjamin back in detention? How would Lady White take that?""Uncle! I'm your niece too! Why protect only her?" Sydney's tears started falling."Sydne
"I see." Old Lady White fixed Sydney with an icy stare. "Benjamin, is this true?""No! Grandmother, please believe me! I'd never do something like this. Sarah's framing me - it's all her plot!" Sydney looked at her grandmother desperately.Benjamin pressed on, "She even warned me on the way to the hospital not to mention her involvement.""You're lying! Benji, look carefully at who's really trying to destroy you!" Sydney turned on Benjamin like a cornered animal."Look at yourself, Sydney," Mia said coldly. "You're acting unhinged. Your cousin's confessed - what's left to deny?""You Reynolds have no place here! This is Sanders family business. Anyone can see Sarah's manipulating everything behind the scenes!"Benjamin shook his head fiercely. "Grandmother, Sydney did this! Now that everything's blown up, she's trying to pin it all on me when she's the real mastermind."Old Lady White's expression grew colder. Finally dropping her facade, she said, "If this was Sydney's scheme