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
"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
"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
"Not necessary." Sarah brushed past her without a glance.Sydney stomped her foot in anger. How dare she ignore her!"Don't get cocky! Let's see how calm you stay when my grandmother brings the family lawyers!"Sarah stopped and turned back with a mocking look. "My attitude is none of your business. But I know you won't be smiling for long.""Sarah! What's that supposed to mean?" Sydney shouted.But Sarah was already in her car, leaving Sydney red-faced with rage.Three days after Benjamin's arrest, Old Lady White arrived at Melvin's house with the family lawyers and board members, including Shawn and Amanda.In the formal living room sat two senior partners from the family's law firm.Old Lady White sat with a dark expression, while Mrs. Blanco stood tearfully beside Amanda. Sydney stared at Sarah with wild eyes.Shawn stood to the side, his expression grave. Melvin positioned himself next to Sarah, watching her protectively.The senior lawyer spoke first. "This situation is
In the sitting room, Mia studied the new therapist. Something about him seemed different from the others.After a long silence, he spoke. "Hello, Miss Reynolds. I'm your new therapist."Mia gave the butler a look, and he tactfully left.She studied the man curiously, keeping her tone polite but distant. "Look, I know my grandfather sent you to treat me, but I should tell you - I already have a therapist. Don't waste your time. Keep your fee, but you can't help me. I'm beyond that."Unlike the others, this therapist didn't get angry. Instead, he looked at her with interest. He'd heard about the difficult Miss Reynolds before coming. Her file showed they'd tried every known treatment method with little success. Her current stability was credited to that famous Decker Competition champion."Miss Reynolds, I understand your position, but hear me out. Your grandfather clearly has reservations about Miss Sanders, or he wouldn't have brought you home and gone to such lengths to find you
Amanda seemed satisfied. Now that Shawn had promised to handle it, she could relax.At Sanders Group headquarters, a woman in a dress walked into the elevator. Oddly, no one stopped her.The elevator went straight to the 35th floor. She used her fingerprint to open an office door and walked in. “Melvin.”Melvin turned to face Sarah. "Sasa, what brings you here?""Can't I visit my dearest cousin?” Sarah glanced at the Sanders Group stock prices on his screen."Sasa, I heard about yesterday," he said worriedly. "Did Grandmother and Aunt make a scene at home today? Don't worry about them. Benjamin had no right to touch you - and when he gets out, he'll have me to deal with!""I'm fine, really."Sarah told him everything that happened. "But I need your help with something.""Name it."Sarah stood on tiptoe, whispering in his ear.Melvin smiled. "Look at my clever sister!""I'm counting on you!" Sarah beamed."Don't worry." A cold glint passed through Melvin's eyes. "I won't go
With reddened eyes, she clutched Old Lady White's arm. "Mother, how could Sarah be so vicious at such a young age? Sydney's grown up by your side, always such a good girl. You must stand up for her!""Hmph!" Old Lady White glared at Sarah. "Nonsense! Get Benji released immediately and apologize to your cousin!"A cold glint flashed in Sarah's eyes. "Releasing Benjamin? Not happening. And I won't apologize. If Sydney won't admit it, Benjamin will - there are ways to make him talk."Mrs. Blanco jumped up in outrage. "You'd force a false confession? Touch one hair on Benji's head and the whole White family will come after you!""Is that a threat?" Sarah's eyes narrowed.The tension froze as a strong voice cut through, "What's going on here?"Sarah’s uncle, Shawn, walked in frowning, taking in the scene - Sarah surrounded, Old Lady White's blazing eyes, Sydney's theatrical tears, and Sarah standing her ground."What happened?"Amanda quickly pulled her husband aside to explain.He
“Benjamin harassed me in public. I did what anyone should’ve done. What exactly did I do wrong?” Crash! Old Lady White slammed her teacup onto the floor, shattering porcelain across the polished surface. “You’ve certainly got a way with words!” she spat. Mrs. Blanco hesitated, then quickly chimed in, “Maybe Sarah just never liked Benjamin and decided to hit him. Now she’s turning the whole thing around, accusing him of harassment.” “That must be it!” Sydney echoed, eyes gleaming with malice. Sarah let out a cold laugh. “He’s already in custody. If you really believe he’s innocent, then go find the evidence. I won’t stop you.” “Enough with this nonsense!” Mrs. Blanco snapped, face twisted with fury. “You’re going to go down to the station right now and tell them to release him! Or do you want to turn this whole situation into a public scandal? You shameless, ungrateful thing!” “You’ve got it all wrong,” Sarah said, voice low and sharp. She met Mrs. Blanco’s glare
“Miss, this isn’t a cheap watch. If you want it repaired, it’ll cost quite a bit. Do you want me to just fix the strap and the glass, or should I work on the case too?” The case only had a few minor scratches—nothing obvious unless you looked closely. Sarah’s index finger still throbbed faintly. “Fix everything,” she said. “How long will it take?” The shop owner hesitated before replying, “This is a German Lange watch. Some parts need to be ordered from Germany. Even here in East Coast, you won’t find replacements easily. Best case, a few weeks. Worst case… it might take a few months.” Sarah nodded. “Money isn’t an issue.” She pulled a check from her handbag, placed it on the counter, then turned to leave. She wasn’t entirely sure why she cared enough to fix the watch. But today, she’d finally figured out one thing. Those eyes… They looked just like Steven’s. And Steven was Scarlett’s boyfriend. ---As soon as Sarah stepped out of the car back home,
The boutique owner instructed an attendant to bring out several dresses. Sarah examined them one by one before selecting one and stepping into the fitting room. The fitting room was small and dimly lit, with heavy curtains blocking the window. These dresses all looked similar on the hanger; she needed to see how they fit on her. Layer after layer, the process was tedious. By the time she peeled off her original outfit, sweat dotted her forehead. She slipped into the dress, the silky fabric cool against her skin. Just as she reached for the ties— The curtain behind her was yanked open. Sarah gasped. “Who’s there?!” She instinctively crossed her arms over her chest, stepping back until her hand found the door handle. “Don’t move.” The voice came from behind her. Her heart raced. She turned her head just enough to see a man standing there. He wore a mask and gripped a knife, the blade glinting faintly in the dim light. “Who are you?” she demanded, tryin
Sarah tilted her head slightly, her smile laced with mockery. “All I know is that he somehow tripped and knocked himself out. You weren’t even here, yet you immediately assumed I did it. Why is that, Sydney?” “You—!” Sydney’s face turned red with anger. She scoffed. “So, you’re saying he harassed you, failed, and then somehow managed to knock himself unconscious?” Sarah beamed. “That’s exactly what happened.” Sydney opened her mouth to argue, but then—her eyes darted to a shadow in the corner. Someone was there. “Who’s there? Show yourself!” The moment Zachary stepped into the light, Sydney’s breath hitched. Of course she recognized him. “Mr. Reynolds…? Why are you here?” Zachary ignored her, his expression unreadable. “I have things to do. I’ll be leaving now.” Sydney's eyes flashed, and she quickly stepped forward. “Mr. Reynolds, can you help me take my cousin to the hospital?” Her voice was soft, almost pleading. A face like hers—pale as sno
"Ah!" Sydney let out a shriek, immediately crossing her arms over her chest to cover herself. She shot Sarah a furious glare, her face burning with humiliation. Then, she turned to Benjamin, looking utterly flustered. "I-I need to go to the restroom." She had barely taken two steps before twisting her ankle, nearly collapsing to the floor. Benjamin reacted quickly, grabbing her just in time. "Here, wear this." He shrugged off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders. Sydney practically melted into his arms, sneaking a glance at Sarah as if embarrassed. But beneath her expression, there was a glint of something cold and calculating. "Benji, I'll go fix myself up. You stay here and keep Sarah company, alright?" Her voice was delicate, laced with hidden meaning. Benjamin’s gaze flickered darkly. “Alright, go on then.” The moment the door clicked shut, Sarah calmly took a sip of tea. Benjamin wasted no time. He moved closer, his fingers deliberately brushin