Something felt off about the whole incident - first Mia's dress gets stained, then she's lured out here.Without her having to explain, Zachary had already ordered security to check the cameras."I know. Don't worry, I'll find who's responsible. Let's get you inside - it's cold out here."Sarah felt warmed by his jacket, still holding his body heat. He always appeared when she needed him most, like a ray of light in darkness. She unconsciously moved closer to him.Her heart was still racing, the terrifying incident now transformed into anger, mixed with the warmth of Zachary's protection.She nodded, walking beside him. "Thank you. I owe you another favor."Zachary's eyes remained cold, still angry about the incident. Her sincere gratitude made him uncomfortable. "You're my guest. Your safety is my responsibility. This isn't about favors."When they returned to the ballroom, no one knew what had happened in the garden, except for two pairs of anxious eyes watching them.Lucy ha
Zachary's face darkened. "Who did this waiter interact with during the party?""He was serving drinks, sir. He probably contacted most guests.""No need to search further. I know who did it."A familiar voice made Sarah and Zachary turn around as Steven approached."Where were you earlier?" Sarah asked curiously."If I hadn't been late, I wouldn't have caught this." Steven held up his phone.He showed them a photo.It captured a man in the garden with a woman holding champagne, speaking to him.The man was Sarah's attacker, and the woman was Lucy!Sarah's eyes sharpened. Lucy had harassed her repeatedly, and now stooped to this level.Steven swiped to another photo, scoffing: "She’s not the only one involved.”The photo showed the earlier scene with Mia protecting Sarah. Behind them, a waiter carrying a tray of drinks was stumbling - someone's foot had deliberately tripped him.That's why the tray tipped, spilling wine on Mia's dress.The owner of that foot was now chattin
"Oh my!" Mia exclaimed. "How clumsy of you, Charlotte. You should have moved when I offered you a drink. Now everyone will think I did it on purpose!""It's fine, Miss Reynolds. My fault entirely." Charlotte's face was strained.A crowd had gathered, just as they had when Mia's dress was ruined earlier.Mia feigned sympathy. "How unlucky - the same thing happened to my dress earlier! Fortunately, I have several spare dresses upstairs. Let me lend you one?"Before Charlotte could answer, Lucy jumped in. "Yes, that would be wonderful! Thank you."She hoped this might help them get closer to Zachary.Charlotte, unaware of Lucy's motives, had no choice - her stained dress was unwearable. She nodded politely. "Thank you, Miss Reynolds."Upstairs, Mia laid out several gowns on the bed. "Take your pick."Charlotte’s eyes flickered with envy. She recognized many of these gowns as exclusive haute couture pieces from brands that weren’t available to just anyone. Even having money wasn’t
Lucy’s mind was spinning as she walked toward the stairs. The thought of the necklace Mia mentioned—a piece worth billions—made her heart race. Was Zachary really planning to give it to her? Surely, he must have realized she was far better than Sarah.Her heartbeat quickened as she approached the far-left room on the second floor. The idea of meeting Zachary alone left her both nervous and thrilled. She lightly knocked on the door, her face flushed with excitement, but before she could knock again, the door swung open on its own. She stepped inside, and the room was pitch black, with no lights on.“Mr. Reynolds?” she called out tentatively.Silence greeted her. The darkness felt oppressive, and a sliver of fear began creeping in.“Bang!” The door slammed shut behind her, plunging her into total darkness.“Mr. Reynolds! Are you there?” Her voice trembled as she pressed her hands against the walls, searching for a light switch, but all she felt was the cold, hard surface.Then, w
"Lucy, you've crossed the line one too many times, but this time, your actions are truly malicious," Sarah said, her tone ice cold. "Do you really think the Chancer family will always have your back? What if this time, not even they can save you?""I'm part of the Chancer family! Of course my brother will stand by me. And you! What right do you have to talk down to me? Aren’t you the one relying on Zachary Reynolds to shield you? I’ve done nothing wrong, so stop accusing me!" Lucy's voice was sharp, shrill enough to pierce through the air.Zachary's gaze, cold and piercing, locked onto Lucy, making her squirm. "Miss Chancer, you should know what happened in the garden earlier. Why did you do it?""Mr. Reynolds! You have to believe me—it wasn't me! It was her!" Lucy pointed a trembling finger at Sarah. "That man must have been someone she arranged to frame me! I had nothing to do with it!"Meanwhile, Charlotte had just finished changing out of her stained dress in one of the upstair
Mrs. Chancer pointed a trembling finger at Sarah, her face livid with rage. "You! How dare you do such a thing! At the Reynolds event!!”She turned to Zachary, her voice filled with righteous indignation. "Mr. Reynolds, Sarah set someone up to hurt my daughter! You have to see the truth!"Sarah let out a derisive laugh. "Oh, how convenient to play the victim.""I'm telling the truth!" Lucy shrieked, her voice sharp enough to cut through the tension.James stepped forward, his tone steady but forceful. "Why don't we let Mr. Reynolds’ grandfather decide? He’ll judge fairly."Zachary didn’t object and immediately instructed someone to invite his grandfather, along with a few other influential guests.The gala hadn’t even officially begun, yet it was already rife with conflict. When Mr. Reynolds arrived, his face bore a trace of displeasure. From his perspective, this seemed like Chancer family drama involving James's ex-wife, now unnecessarily involving the Reynolds.He listened a
Sarah maintained an air of calm confidence, as if none of what had just happened involved her. William couldn’t help but give her a second glance. In contrast, he cast a look of disdain at Lucy, whose schemes seemed too much for someone so young. The Chancer family was truly in shambles, he thought.“This won’t do! We can’t involve the authorities! Lucy’s future will be ruined!” Mrs. Chancer’s face flushed with panic. Desperate, she turned to Sarah. “Sarah, you can’t do this to Lucy! After all, you were once her sister-in-law. Don’t be so heartless! Besides, you weren’t really hurt, were you?”Sarah’s gaze hardened as she stared at Mrs. Chancer. Her tone was sharp. “Did Lucy think about how well I treated her when she decided to do this? She made her choices, and I’ve already given her chances to stop.”Sarah’s unwavering determination sent a wave of panic through Lucy. She hadn’t expected her actions to be exposed so quickly or that Sarah would have recorded evidence. Tears streame
"Who's uncomfortable? I've never thought of her as...""Lucy, I understand you're upset and saying things you don't mean, but since Miss Sanders is ready to call the police, it's better for you to admit your mistake now." Charlotte quickly interrupted Lucy, cutting off her words.Lucy shot her a venomous glare but understood that Charlotte was giving her an out. Reluctantly, she looked at Sarah, her expression defiant even as she muttered, "Fine. It was my fault."Sarah could see through her act; Lucy's apology was anything but sincere. But given this was Zachary's event and she was here as his guest, Sarah didn’t want to blow things further out of proportion—especially since it was clear Old Mr. Reynolds was already displeased with the commotion."Since Miss Chancer has admitted her wrongdoing, I won’t pursue this for now. But let me make one thing clear: stay out of my way. If you provoke me again, this video will be handed over to the police," Sarah declared firmly.Zachary’s s
"I don't want to go to the hospital. Some painkillers will do," Sarah protested.Zachary's knuckles whitened on the steering wheel. "Has it always been this severe?""No, it usually doesn't hurt this much. I just skipped lunch and had too much coffee today," Sarah admitted sheepishly."You should have known better." His voice carried gentle reproach.She paused. "I did. I just got caught up in work and forgot to eat."The hospital's emergency entrance was quiet at this hour - no lines, just the on-call staff. Luckily, the gynecologist was available and quickly prescribed pain medication."Take these after meals, and don't skip any doses," the doctor instructed.Sarah nodded obediently. She wanted to explain that it wasn't usually this bad - skipping meals had just been a mistake.During the drive to her apartment, Zachary remained silent, his expression taut. Once they arrived, he grabbed the medication bag and strode toward the elevator.Sarah stared for a moment before hurry
The day before the competition, Sarah was busy at school all day.She worked with the events and planning teams to decorate the auditorium, even Professor Wells stayed late out of concern."Are the competition questions secure?" Professor Wells asked.Sarah nodded. "They're locked in the counseling room's safe, and I’m the only one with the key."Professor Wells looked relieved. "Good."After he left, Sarah double-checked all the auditorium equipment.By the time everything was ready, it was already 11:30 p.m. She let out a tired sigh. No matter how exhausting, as long as tomorrow's competition went smoothly, it would all be worth it.Back at the counseling room, she was gathering her things when her phone rang. "Mia?"Mia's concerned voice came through. "Sarah, why aren’t you home yet?""Don’t worry, I’m just wrapping up and heading back now. It’s late—go to sleep. You need to be ready for the competition tomorrow," Sarah said, her voice hoarse from fatigue.Mia yawned sleep
“Who said I wouldn’t participate in your university’s psychology competition?” A familiar voice rang out.Sarah’s eyes widened in shock as she turned around.The office door swung open, and Jane walked in with her assistant.Lucy Chancer stared in disbelief. “Jane… Jane Lawrence!”Jane ignored the stunned faces and walked up to the dean, shaking his hand. “Hello, I’m Jane Lawrence.”“Ma’am, what brings you here?” Sarah asked, still frozen in place.“We’ll discuss this later,” Jane replied, her attention shifting to Mrs. Chancer. “Madam, I’ve now confirmed that I will be attending the competition as a judge. This should no longer be considered an oversight, correct?”Mrs. Chancer’s face darkened. She exchanged a baffled look with Lucy. How had Jane Lawrence been convinced? Could it have been Mr. Reynolds pulling strings again?“Ms. Lawrence, you’re really agreeing to be a judge for the competition?” The dean asked, barely hiding his surprise.Jane nodded. “Yes, it’s confirmed.”
The documents on Jane’s bedside table, which she reviewed more thoroughly this time, included a detailed outline of the upcoming psychological knowledge competition, complete with proposed discussion topics. Her curiosity was piqued—perhaps engaging with this new generation of students could offer unexpected surprises.Meanwhile, back home, Sarah stared out her window, lost in thought. Jane’s words replayed in her mind. She had to admit, Jane was right. After years of studying abroad and participating in cutting-edge psychological research, Jane had become a trailblazer in the field. Her return to host forums in East Coast wasn’t just about solving academic problems; it also focused on analyzing and dissecting unique psychological cases, making her time exceptionally valuable.To persuade Jane to participate, Sarah would need to offer something even more valuable than Jane’s current priorities—something she didn’t have. With that realization, she knew she had to let it go.The next
Jane Lawrence gave a helpless smile. "Miss Sanders, I thought I made it very clear—I don’t have the time and won’t be attending the competition."Her assistant stepped in, blocking Sarah. "Miss, Professor Lawrence’s time in the country is limited. All her activities are pre-scheduled, and there’s no way to change her commitments to accommodate your competition.""Did you get a chance to review the files I gave you?" Sarah asked hopefully.Jane hadn’t expected her persistence. She nodded. "Yes, I’ve reviewed them. I must admit, the work from Adams University’s students is impressive. There are some very interesting ideas."Sarah’s eyes lit up, but Jane quickly tempered her expectations. "However, Miss Sanders, those files alone aren’t enough to justify altering my schedule. I returned to the country to participate in a symposium with East Coast’s psychology experts. Every issue we address there could provide crucial solutions for patients struggling with similar mental health challe
"Miss Sanders, this is a serious matter. Perhaps you should try to gather more information first. After all, there are still a few days before the competition," Dean said hesitantly. Although he was the dean of the universityl, the board of directors held the ultimate authority."I understand, Sir,” Sarah replied, her expression heavy with concern. The Chancer family had really pushed her into a corner this time.After leaving the principal’s office, she headed to the psychology consultation room, where Mia was waiting for her."Sarah, I’ve already heard everything. What should we do now?" Mia asked, worry written all over her face.Sarah gave a bitter smile. "The only thing I can do is try contacting Jane Lawrence again."She had included one of her own research papers with the materials she’d submitted to Jane, aligning with Jane’s latest research direction. But what if Jane hadn’t seen it?At 3 p.m., Lucy sat smugly in front of her computer, pleased with the heated discussions
“You—!” Lucy raised her hand in anger, ready to strike.Sarah took a step back, her tone calm but firm. “I’d think twice if I were you. Last time, I let you off the hook and didn’t call the police. If you dare lay a hand on me now, I’ll settle both old and new scores with you.”Lucy hesitated, her hand hovering mid-air, before finally lowering it. “The Chancer family does not welcome you!”Bang!The door slammed shut in Sarah’s face. She glanced at it briefly before turning to leave.Her next stop was to replace her lost phone. After getting a new SIM card and purchasing a new device, she immediately checked the school forum. The chaos sparked by that phone call was evident. The psychology students, practically fans of Jane Lawrence, were already planning to print banners to welcome her.Sarah tried calling Jane’s assistant again, only to receive the same response: “She doesn’t have time.”Even the academic papers she had submitted to Jane seemed to have vanished into thin air,
Sarah had a few suspects in mind. Lucy and Mrs. Chancer hated her the most, and while James seemed unlikely to stoop to such levels, she couldn’t rule him out completely. He had proven capable of shattering her past impressions of him.After the chaos at the party, Lucy had taken the day off and stayed home. Without hesitation, Sarah decided to head to the Chancer house.The maid who opened the door looked startled to see her, likely because Lucy and Mrs. Chancer had been bad-mouthing Sarah nonstop at home.“Miss Sanders, what brings you here?” the maid asked.“I’m here to see James,” Sarah replied directly.“Mr. Chancer isn’t home. Perhaps you can come back another day,” the maid suggested.A soft voice floated out from inside. “Who is it?”Charlotte appeared and froze for a moment when she saw Sarah. Unsure of how to react, she let out an awkward laugh. “Oh, it’s you. What brings you here?”“I don’t have time for small talk,” Sarah said bluntly. “I lost my phone at the party
"Alright," Sarah said, walking over immediately.Scarlett tossed her a carefully selected outfit and grumbled, “That scumbag! You’d better never see him again. The nerve to accuse you of cheating during your marriage!”“I feel like I’m finally seeing him for who he really is,” Sarah replied, her gaze hardening.Sure enough, Sarah's hunch was correct. The next day’s news didn’t mention anything about the birthday party. Instead, it only briefly touched on Lucy’s harassment incident, conveniently skipping over the rest.When Sarah arrived at school, she couldn’t find her phone anywhere.Just as she was about to go searching for it, Professor Wells appeared. “Sarah! I can’t believe you really managed to invite Jane Lawrence! Did you meet her already?”“What?” Sarah was baffled. “Professor, I saw her yesterday, but I didn’t get a definite answer!”Professor Wells frowned deeply. “How can that be? I called you this morning, and you told me yourself!”Impossible. Her phone had been m