Sarah let out a soft chuckle. Everyone looked at her confused as she held up her phone. "I called the police while we were still outside. They'll be here any minute. And Henry isn't the only one who needs to face consequences."She fixed her gaze on Amy. Everyone must pay for their choices, she thought. Once you choose a path, you can't dodge responsibility when it's time to face the music.No one can escape justice, and no one can hurt others and walk away unscathed.Amy, who had been tense with fear until now, suddenly laughed as if a weight had lifted. "Sarah, I really admire you.""Oh? Why's that?" Sarah raised an eyebrow."You're truly beautiful - I thought so from the first photo I saw of you. When I was planning to frame you, I wondered if anyone would actually believe you'd be involved with someone like him. But I underestimated people's prejudices. Being rich already turned public sympathy against you. I expected you to lose your temper and lash out at me. But you didn't.
"Did you know about Dan's gambling?" Sarah asked abruptly, changing course."Gambling? No, I didn't.""He owes a million in gambling debts. He was waiting for you to get that money to pay it off. But his creditors ran out of patience. If he can't pay, he might end up dead." Sarah's face remained expressionless.Pain flashed across Amy's eyes. "Miss Sanders, why are you telling me this?""Do you know what the man you love did when faced with death threats? He told his creditors they could sell you and your child to cover his debt. They refused. Later, he made another deal - he'd get a million for exposing your scheme.""Oh. I see.""Maybe the young man you loved three years ago was still pure, full of hope, willing to build a life with you. But these three years turned him into something rotten. He couldn't provide for you or your child, and when faced with danger, his first thought was to sell you both. But Amy, do you remember Henry standing in front of everyone today, trying to
She'd warned her to get rid of that worthless man quickly, but she wouldn't listen, clinging to some naive teenage romance. Now all their efforts were ruined.Sarah was already suspicious, not to mention Zachary.She couldn't figure out how Scarlett had "coincidentally" delivered that video, or what methods were used to obtain it.Only when her assistant delivered the investigation report that afternoon did she realize how thoroughly Zachary had played her.He clearly loved that woman so much he'd even taken Vivian shopping that day to lower her guard. No wonder he'd been so unusually kind about shopping.At this thought, Vivian pulled out the bracelet from her drawer, threw it down and stomped on it furiously.After a moment, she calmed down and picked it up, carefully cleaning it with a handkerchief, checking for damage. She sighed in relief when she found none.She'd lost control again, all because of Sarah.If her grandfather saw her like this, he'd be so disappointed. A Wi
She took out her phone to call a ride, though in this weather it would probably be a long wait.Strangely, she didn't have to wait long. Within five minutes of requesting, she got a response. Must be a cab already in the area.A taxi pulled up, with what appeared to be a mild-mannered driver.Sarah got in and glanced at the driver's ID card, but the text was blurred.The driver, noticing her look, quickly explained: "Left my door open at the convenience store, then the rain came. Must have gotten wet then. Sorry about that, miss."Sarah shook her head, trying not to be paranoid. They were almost at Melvin's house, just one intersection away, when they reached the mountain road turnoff.Before she could react, the taxi suddenly swerved toward the mountain. Her face went pale as she heard the rear doors lock with a sharp click."What are you doing?" She forced herself to stay calm.The driver peeled off his disguise. "I just want to take you somewhere. If you cooperate, I won't h
On the mountain, Sarah regained consciousness feeling sore all over. The cold made her shiver repeatedly.The driver hadn't locked her up - there weren't any buildings here to shelter from the storm anyway.He'd just set up a crude rain shelter and tied her to a tree.She was forced to sit at the tree's base, tightly bound to it with rope.The rain-washed mountain paths were pure mud. She was soaked through.Exposed to the height and fierce storm, she sneezed several times.She tried to break free, but it was impossible.The kidnapper, wrapped head to toe in rain gear, watched her mockingly. "Don't waste your energy."He crouched in front of her, tapping a cold knife against her face. "Ever heard of a hangman's knot?"Sarah didn't answer, still trying to escape."Guess not. Stop struggling. Haven't you noticed the rope gets tighter the more you fight? Keep it up and you'll strangle yourself."Sarah froze in shock, not daring to move.Though there was a rain shelter above, b
”Melvin… you're back. I'll... I'll get you some drinks.” Sydney forced herself to stay calm.She grabbed a cup and turned toward the kitchen, but he caught her wrist in an instant.“Melvin, what are you…?”"Where is she?" Melvin's grip tightened until her wrist turned white.Sydney winced, trying to pull free. “Melvin! I don't know what you're talking about! Who's 'she'?""Stop playing dumb. I know you did this. I let it go when you stole the proposal for Wilson Industries, but do you think Sanders Group will forgive such a serious offense? Before I completely lose control, tell me what you've done." Melvin's eyes were cold.Sydney had never seen this frightening side of him before.Trembling, she backed away. “Melvin, you're hurting me. Please let go. I really don't know what you mean.""Melvin, what are you doing?"A deafening thunderclap jolted Melvin. In the flash of lightning, he saw his mother arrive.She rushed over and forced them apart. Sydney immediately hid behind
"Mom, you'd better stay out of this," Melvin told his mother.Mrs. Sanders looked gravely at her son. Though he always showed her respect, she knew their relationship had long been strained.She stepped aside. "Sydney, Sarah is part of the Sanders family. If anything happens to her, you'll be held responsible. Better to tell the truth now than have it discovered later.""Auntie, you too..."Melvin fixed Sydney with a cold stare. "Sydney, leaking company secrets is a crime, especially stealing confidential files. Do you want to go to jail?"Tears rolled down Sydney's face as she looked at Melvin in anguish. "I'll... I'll tell you."The front door opened again. This time it was Mia, just being dropped off.She walked in to find the three of them in a tense standoff."Melvin, where's Sarah? She should have been home two hours ago after work." Mia asked, puzzled."Mia, Sarah's... she's been kidnapped.""Kidnapped?" Mia's eyes widened.Melvin ignored her, turning back to Sydney.
"She? That woman won't know.""Yes, I understand."Sarah spoke up suddenly. "Give me the phone. I want to talk to her."The man hesitated. "Miss, she wants to speak with you."Sarah continued, "I know who you are. You had me kidnapped but you're afraid to talk to me?"Her voice carried clearly through the phone.A soft laugh came from the other end. "Let her speak."The man frowned, holding the phone to Sarah's ear. "Behave yourself."Shivering with cold, Sarah forced her voice to remain steady. "I know who you are, Vivian Wilson. What's all this really about?""Don't stay silent. You have me watched so closely - are you afraid I'll tell Zachary?""You don't need money, so why demand three hundred million from Melvin? Besides the money, what else are you planning?"After a moment of silence, the voice finally responded. "Sarah, I must say you're clever, figuring out it was me so quickly. Or is it just that in all of East Coast, I'm the only one who wants you dead?"Sarah la
"After all that, you still haven't said what you really want," Sarah's tone turned icy.Vivian laughed coldly. "Sarah, you still haven't learned. All you can do now is be the fish on the chopping block. Behave yourself, and maybe I'll be generous enough to let you live.""Miss Wilson, you just said yourself - if I die, Zachary will remember me forever. You won't let that happen."The line went silent, and after a long pause, all she heard was the dial tone.The kidnapper took back his phone, glaring at Sarah. “How dare you talked to Miss Wilson like that."On East District Road, Melvin kept his cold gaze fixed on Sydney.Terrified, Sydney kept redialing the number again and again. She'd specifically told them to maintain contact after capturing Sarah, but despite calling dozens of times, she couldn't get through.“Melvin, I... I can't reach them," she said, trembling.Melvin looked at her incredulously. "Why not? Keep trying! We're almost at the factory."Ten minutes later, th
"She? That woman won't know.""Yes, I understand."Sarah spoke up suddenly. "Give me the phone. I want to talk to her."The man hesitated. "Miss, she wants to speak with you."Sarah continued, "I know who you are. You had me kidnapped but you're afraid to talk to me?"Her voice carried clearly through the phone.A soft laugh came from the other end. "Let her speak."The man frowned, holding the phone to Sarah's ear. "Behave yourself."Shivering with cold, Sarah forced her voice to remain steady. "I know who you are, Vivian Wilson. What's all this really about?""Don't stay silent. You have me watched so closely - are you afraid I'll tell Zachary?""You don't need money, so why demand three hundred million from Melvin? Besides the money, what else are you planning?"After a moment of silence, the voice finally responded. "Sarah, I must say you're clever, figuring out it was me so quickly. Or is it just that in all of East Coast, I'm the only one who wants you dead?"Sarah la
"Mom, you'd better stay out of this," Melvin told his mother.Mrs. Sanders looked gravely at her son. Though he always showed her respect, she knew their relationship had long been strained.She stepped aside. "Sydney, Sarah is part of the Sanders family. If anything happens to her, you'll be held responsible. Better to tell the truth now than have it discovered later.""Auntie, you too..."Melvin fixed Sydney with a cold stare. "Sydney, leaking company secrets is a crime, especially stealing confidential files. Do you want to go to jail?"Tears rolled down Sydney's face as she looked at Melvin in anguish. "I'll... I'll tell you."The front door opened again. This time it was Mia, just being dropped off.She walked in to find the three of them in a tense standoff."Melvin, where's Sarah? She should have been home two hours ago after work." Mia asked, puzzled."Mia, Sarah's... she's been kidnapped.""Kidnapped?" Mia's eyes widened.Melvin ignored her, turning back to Sydney.
”Melvin… you're back. I'll... I'll get you some drinks.” Sydney forced herself to stay calm.She grabbed a cup and turned toward the kitchen, but he caught her wrist in an instant.“Melvin, what are you…?”"Where is she?" Melvin's grip tightened until her wrist turned white.Sydney winced, trying to pull free. “Melvin! I don't know what you're talking about! Who's 'she'?""Stop playing dumb. I know you did this. I let it go when you stole the proposal for Wilson Industries, but do you think Sanders Group will forgive such a serious offense? Before I completely lose control, tell me what you've done." Melvin's eyes were cold.Sydney had never seen this frightening side of him before.Trembling, she backed away. “Melvin, you're hurting me. Please let go. I really don't know what you mean.""Melvin, what are you doing?"A deafening thunderclap jolted Melvin. In the flash of lightning, he saw his mother arrive.She rushed over and forced them apart. Sydney immediately hid behind
On the mountain, Sarah regained consciousness feeling sore all over. The cold made her shiver repeatedly.The driver hadn't locked her up - there weren't any buildings here to shelter from the storm anyway.He'd just set up a crude rain shelter and tied her to a tree.She was forced to sit at the tree's base, tightly bound to it with rope.The rain-washed mountain paths were pure mud. She was soaked through.Exposed to the height and fierce storm, she sneezed several times.She tried to break free, but it was impossible.The kidnapper, wrapped head to toe in rain gear, watched her mockingly. "Don't waste your energy."He crouched in front of her, tapping a cold knife against her face. "Ever heard of a hangman's knot?"Sarah didn't answer, still trying to escape."Guess not. Stop struggling. Haven't you noticed the rope gets tighter the more you fight? Keep it up and you'll strangle yourself."Sarah froze in shock, not daring to move.Though there was a rain shelter above, b
She took out her phone to call a ride, though in this weather it would probably be a long wait.Strangely, she didn't have to wait long. Within five minutes of requesting, she got a response. Must be a cab already in the area.A taxi pulled up, with what appeared to be a mild-mannered driver.Sarah got in and glanced at the driver's ID card, but the text was blurred.The driver, noticing her look, quickly explained: "Left my door open at the convenience store, then the rain came. Must have gotten wet then. Sorry about that, miss."Sarah shook her head, trying not to be paranoid. They were almost at Melvin's house, just one intersection away, when they reached the mountain road turnoff.Before she could react, the taxi suddenly swerved toward the mountain. Her face went pale as she heard the rear doors lock with a sharp click."What are you doing?" She forced herself to stay calm.The driver peeled off his disguise. "I just want to take you somewhere. If you cooperate, I won't h
She'd warned her to get rid of that worthless man quickly, but she wouldn't listen, clinging to some naive teenage romance. Now all their efforts were ruined.Sarah was already suspicious, not to mention Zachary.She couldn't figure out how Scarlett had "coincidentally" delivered that video, or what methods were used to obtain it.Only when her assistant delivered the investigation report that afternoon did she realize how thoroughly Zachary had played her.He clearly loved that woman so much he'd even taken Vivian shopping that day to lower her guard. No wonder he'd been so unusually kind about shopping.At this thought, Vivian pulled out the bracelet from her drawer, threw it down and stomped on it furiously.After a moment, she calmed down and picked it up, carefully cleaning it with a handkerchief, checking for damage. She sighed in relief when she found none.She'd lost control again, all because of Sarah.If her grandfather saw her like this, he'd be so disappointed. A Wi
"Did you know about Dan's gambling?" Sarah asked abruptly, changing course."Gambling? No, I didn't.""He owes a million in gambling debts. He was waiting for you to get that money to pay it off. But his creditors ran out of patience. If he can't pay, he might end up dead." Sarah's face remained expressionless.Pain flashed across Amy's eyes. "Miss Sanders, why are you telling me this?""Do you know what the man you love did when faced with death threats? He told his creditors they could sell you and your child to cover his debt. They refused. Later, he made another deal - he'd get a million for exposing your scheme.""Oh. I see.""Maybe the young man you loved three years ago was still pure, full of hope, willing to build a life with you. But these three years turned him into something rotten. He couldn't provide for you or your child, and when faced with danger, his first thought was to sell you both. But Amy, do you remember Henry standing in front of everyone today, trying to
Sarah let out a soft chuckle. Everyone looked at her confused as she held up her phone. "I called the police while we were still outside. They'll be here any minute. And Henry isn't the only one who needs to face consequences."She fixed her gaze on Amy. Everyone must pay for their choices, she thought. Once you choose a path, you can't dodge responsibility when it's time to face the music.No one can escape justice, and no one can hurt others and walk away unscathed.Amy, who had been tense with fear until now, suddenly laughed as if a weight had lifted. "Sarah, I really admire you.""Oh? Why's that?" Sarah raised an eyebrow."You're truly beautiful - I thought so from the first photo I saw of you. When I was planning to frame you, I wondered if anyone would actually believe you'd be involved with someone like him. But I underestimated people's prejudices. Being rich already turned public sympathy against you. I expected you to lose your temper and lash out at me. But you didn't.