Sarah's eyelashes fluttered as she considered Professor Wells's words.If she hadn't married James, she would've become a practicing therapist by now. Even though her knowledge was still intact, could she really return to her field after all these years?Professor Wells sensed her hesitation. "There's no rush," he said kindly. "But if you're interested, I'm here to help.""Thank you, Professor." Sarah felt a wave of warmth. Despite her absence these past years, he still cared about his former student.After discussing his health and chatting for a while longer, he even invited her to stay for lunch. It was late afternoon by the time she left.With tomorrow's hunting trip in mind, she picked up her prepared gear and clothing.The next morning, Scarlett picked her up and drove them to the mountain lodge. They arrived early, finding only a few unfamiliar faces. Since the Reynolds family was hosting the event, it had drawn quite a mixed crowd. Sarah wasn't in the mood for small talk,
Taking the rifle from Zachary, Sarah couldn't help but note how striking he was.After Zachary changed and everyone got their gear, the instructors directed the hunters to their positions. Many guests who'd come just to catch a glimpse of Zachary Reynolds stayed back at camp to watch, including James and Charlotte.The Reynolds family had provided binoculars, refreshments, and even kept a small deer sanctuary nearby for entertainment. Still, most spectators were focused on the hunt, peering through their binoculars.James, remembering Sarah's earlier words, picked up a pair.The hunting ground opened into a vast field. Against the crisp morning sky, Sarah sat astride her horse as the wind whipped past her. She felt a surge of excitement, as if something long dormant inside her had finally awakened. Her eyes sparkled with life - the same spirited look she'd had in her younger days.Lowering his binoculars, James fell into a brooding silence. He'd never imagined that the quiet, unre
Sarah looked up to find a handsome man with bright, playful eyes. Though striking, his manner was gentle, with a boyish charm when he smiled.Sarah didn't recognize him, and Scarlett looked equally puzzled.Steven Miller made himself right at home, setting down the prepared goose with a friendly smile. "I'm Steven, Mr. Reynolds' chef. He asked me to prepare your goose specially for you ladies. Please, try some."Chef? Sarah raised an eyebrow. What chef wears a watch worth hundreds of thousands?"Steven," Scarlett blurted out, "do all of Mr. Reynolds' chefs wear such expensive things?"Steven grinned as he served them the goose. "Let's just say Mr. Reynolds pays well."Both women couldn't help but laugh.Their laughter carried over to where James sat, stirring something dark in his chest. From his angle, he could see Sarah delicately picking at her food, smiling as she listened intently to the handsome man beside her, her eyes sparkling.Suddenly, his own food turned tasteless i
The barbecue lasted well into the afternoon, with drinks flowing and laughter filling the air, creating the kind of warmth that makes strangers feel like old friends.Sarah slipped away during the festivities to claim her prize, accompanied by a staff member. As the winner, she had her choice of either the horse she'd ridden or any other animal from the estate's collection. Though drawn to the horses, she chose a young deer instead, believing horses weren't meant to be kept as pets.As she finished making her choice, a security guard approached. "Miss Sanders? Mr. Reynolds would like a word."There was only one Reynolds who commanded that kind of respect - Zachary Reynolds.Upstairs, she found him lounging by the window while Steven mixed drinks, purple liquid catching the light as ice clinked against crystal.Steven's eyes sparkled with mischief when he saw her. “You must be special - boss never shares his private collection with anyone."He wasn't even trying to hide what he wa
Though Steven had worked for Zachary for years, his mysterious role as private chef kept him out of James's social circle. He greeted Sarah and Scarlett warmly before brushing past the others. "It's getting cold out here. Let me give you ladies a ride home."Scarlett brightened immediately. Any chance to spite James and Charlotte was worth taking. "That's so sweet of you!" she gushed.Sarah couldn't help but smile, knowing that easy-going Steven wouldn't have offered without Zachary's instructions.As she followed Scarlett into the car, her gaze lingered on the shadowy building, remembering Zachary's request."Professor Wells tells me you're quite accomplished in psychology," he had said. "I have a patient I'd like you to help with."She'd refused immediately. Maybe if she hadn't married James, she would have become a successful therapist. But now, treating patients felt beyond her reach."I'm sorry, but I can't help. You should find someone more qualified."In the sunset light,
The house was part of James's divorce settlement, with the paperwork still in process. Even if he wanted to play the dutiful son by housing his in-laws, he should have asked for her consent first.Besides, this was the only home they'd shared before marriage.But it all came down to one simple truth: James had never seen her as a person worth considering.Not a person. Just a... pet.As the group excitedly discussed wedding plans, Mrs. Chancer spotted Sarah and her face darkened.The others turned to look.“Geez,” Lucy sneered. "What's she doing here?"Charlotte stepped forward smoothly, masking her discomfort. "What a surprise, Sarah. What brings you here?""Not a surprise at all," Sarah replied coolly, taking in their hostile faces. "I'm moving in."Mrs. Chancer stared at her like she'd lost her mind. "Have you gone crazy? James divorced you! This is Chancer property - you have no right to be here."“How shameless,” Lucy spat. "Still hanging around after the divorce."Thei
"Mum,” Charlotte quickly intervened, "Sarah was James's wife after all. We shouldn't treat her like this. We have spare rooms - she could stay if needed."The security guards looked at Sarah's modest outfit with barely concealed disdain. Just another gold-digger, they probably thought, clinging to a wealthy family."No need," Sarah said firmly, ignoring their looks.As she wheeled her suitcase away, the sky opened up without warning. Perfect timing, Sarah thought wryly, glancing at her phone's dying battery. Just her luck.With nothing but trees around and no shelter in sight, she was quickly soaked to the bone, standing helpless in the downpour.A Porsche Cayenne pulled up quietly beside her. Zachary stepped out, black umbrella in hand, every bit the knight in shining armor. "We meet again, Miss Sanders."In a moment like this - caught in the rain, rescued by a handsome man with an umbrella - most women's hearts would skip a beat.Sarah's did, but only briefly. "Since it's such
Zachary was quiet for a long moment. When Sarah thought he wouldn't answer, he finally said softly, “A friend."Something in his tone made her change the subject quickly. "If you don't mind, could you tell me more about your sister's condition?""She has severe reactions to blood. Episodes of memory loss. Panic attacks around unfamiliar men - severe enough to cause physical symptoms. In certain situations, she completely breaks down."His professional demeanor returned as he spoke, creating distance.Sarah considered this carefully. Classic signs of severe trauma. Whatever happened must have left deep psychological scars.Before she could respond, Mrs. Maggie returned with clothes. "The shower's ready, dear. These should fit - they're Mia's."Sarah thanked her, but after showering and changing, she realized she'd caught more than just rain. Her face was flushed, her eyes glassy with fever.Zachary noticed immediately, touching her forehead with a frown. "You're burning up."Thr
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.
In the office, through the clamor, Dean Larson finally understood the situation and gave Sarah a meaningful look.Sarah understood, stepping out briefly with her phone.No matter what Henry's parents said, Amy remained silent, smiling at the dean while occasionally shooting venomous glances at Henry."Professor Letito, is what Ms. Gabble said true?" Dean Larson frowned.Henry didn't try to hide anything, nodding. "It's all my fault. Amy bears no responsibility.""This appears to be a criminal matter. If Ms. Gabble agrees, we should involve the police. And of course, the school cannot keep a professor like this - Professor Letito will be dismissed," Dean Larson said calmly.Henry's parents froze, not expecting such serious consequences.“No! This is all a misunderstanding. My son didn't break any laws. They were legally married - he's not some criminal!" Henry's mother pleaded.Sarah spoke up, "Ma'am, I must inform you that forcing a woman through violence or coercion is rape. A
Henry's parents looked panicked. "Don't make things up!""You threatened to tell everyone what Henry did to me if I didn't agree to marry him. How else could I have refused?" Amy shouted in rage.Sarah finally understood why Amy had said Henry wasn't fit to be a teacher. But even knowing her story, it didn't justify hurting others.What mattered more to Sarah now was whether Amy would reveal Vivian's involvement.The situation had become a complete spectacle, especially compared to Amy's aggressive behavior days ago.The most shocking twist was how the original victim had become the villain, while the supposed villain was now revealed as the true victim.Sarah remained silent, unsure what to say as she watched people trying to get past Henry to grab Amy, while he desperately held them back.Behind him, Amy swayed unsteadily, clutching her child, suddenly inspiring sympathy in those watching. People seemed to have forgotten her recent actions.Henry's mother slapped him twice, b
Henry's father grew impatient. "What are you waiting for? Pull him away!"Several relatives tried to remove Henry and take Amy away, but Henry, usually so gentle, suddenly exploded with strength, pushing two men down and returning to Amy's side.Sarah noticed Henry's eyes were red, as if he was about to cry.Amy glared at him with hatred, screaming hysterically. "Get out, Henry! Get out of my life forever! Just go!"She screamed as if with her last breath, her rage so intense that even Sarah felt her desperation."I'm sorry, Amy." Henry slowly turned, giving her one last look - the way someone looks at their love for the final time.Sarah watched this strange scene. Henry should be the angry one, so why was he the one feeling guilty?What had happened between them?As she pondered this, several people in the crowd erupted again."I'm the one who wronged Amy! I'm the one who hurt her!" Henry burst into tears."Amy never had an affair! She never betrayed me. I'm the one who vio
None of the watching students dared intervene. They just stood there, most filming with their phones.Professor Letito had been absent during the earlier incidents, but now he stood face to face with Amy.The scene was deeply ironic. Just days ago, Amy had been the aggressive one, playing the victim while painting Henry as the villain.Now the tables had turned, yet Henry looked at Amy with a mix of sympathy and guilt.Something about that look struck Sarah as odd. This situation seemed more complicated than it appeared.The woman's eyes were filled with despair and resignation, nothing like her previous aggressive behavior.Gone was her hunger for money - she seemed to have accepted her fate.Henry's mother continued, "Henry, she wronged you and the whole family. We won't let someone like her get away with this. Your father and I saw the interview - she took your house, our life savings were in there. We're getting everything back, plus compensation!"The woman remained silent