On the third day, my parents sensed that something was wrong.After contacting the manager of the overseas branch, they uncovered Harrison's plan and staged their own deaths to escape.But despite their efforts, when they returned to the country, they were too late.The first thing they saw was me—brought to our private estate by Cole, tortured beyond recognition and barely clinging to life.My mother fainted on the spot. My father, seething with rage, immediately ordered Cole to seize control of the Shelltower Group.Cole, however, calmed my father's fury. Harrison had covered his tracks well, leaving no evidence behind. Taking action without solid proof would be futile and unable to bring justice for me.Under domestic law, even if it were confirmed that my injuries weren't accidental, it would simply be classified as domestic violence—an offense that, at worst, could be settled through mediation. It was not a capital crime.But for what Harrison had done to me, he had to suff
All that remained was a devoted, heartbroken husband inheriting the Vingate family's fortune, struggling to survive in his grief.The funeral was a grand spectacle.Figures from the political and business worlds who had once interacted with the my family received invitations. Even the Trillion Group, which had openly challenged Shelltower Group, was invited.Dressed in a black dress, I descended the staircase, arm-in-arm with Cole, who was impeccably attired in a suit.My father sat on the sofa, his face dark with anger. But when he saw me, some of the tension eased from his expression."Irene… let us men handle this. Cole and I will go. You stay home and wait for us, all right?" he implored.Despite everything that had happened, he never once blamed me. When he spoke to me, it was always tinged with regret, as if he were at fault for not protecting me better."Dad, you and Mom have always protected me so well. But now your daughter has grown up. You should rest. Let me protect
I exposed Harrison's façade without hesitation.To my surprise, though, he had better control over his emotions than I had expected."Irene!" he shouted, eyes glistening with tears as he ran to me and wrapped me tightly in an embrace, right in front of everyone."If you want to live, you'd better play along," he whispered threateningly in my ear, his voice low enough that only the two of us could hear.It was then that I felt something cold pressing against me—a gun.The scene unfolded with him overjoyed at our reunion, while I was once again a captive.As we left, cameras flashing and guests watching, I twisted my ankle.Harrison muttered an insult under his breath, but his face remained concerned and caring.Seizing his momentary distraction, I rushed toward Cole, who was already scouting for a good vantage point to shoot from.If Cole fired, it would trigger an investigation. He had saved my family, and I couldn’t let him be dragged down.A gunshot echoed.Cole lunged tow
Before I could finalize my plans, Cole announced his departure from the company. We couldn't stop him."Ms. Vingate, I am grateful for the care your family has shown me over the years, but I have more important matters to attend to now. I hope you understand," he said, leaving the company in my hands.Watching him walk away with nothing but a small suitcase, my father stood behind me, letting out a long sigh."That boy…" he muttered.Soon after, both Harrison and Giselle were released from prison and promptly disappeared without a trace.Despite all my efforts, my people failed to locate them.Frustration grew as it seemed my plans were unraveling. Although the scars on my body had healed, the deep, gnawing pain inside remained, haunting me night after night with nightmares.Often, after spending long hours poring over the work Cole had left behind, I would end up falling asleep at the office.In one recurring dream, Giselle and Harrison crept toward me with knives, their malic
I was focused on studying a nutritional recipe when a sudden knock at the door startled me.It was probably the grocery delivery I had ordered half an hour ago."Just leave it by the door," I called out, opening the door and turning back inside without a second thought.The door slammed shut behind me."Are you Irene Vingate?" A woman's voice, filled with fury, erupted behind me.Confused, I turned around to see a woman dressed in a delivery uniform, her eyes blazing with hatred."Who are you?" I asked, realizing she had nothing in her hands and was not the delivery driver I had expected.As I noticed the closed door, a wave of fear washed over me.I spun around and rushed toward the kitchen, intending to grab my phone and call my husband, Harrison Maddox, for help.Before I could reach it, a strong hand yanked my hair, sending pain shooting across my scalp as I was thrown to the floor. She climbed on top of me and slapped my face so hard that stars burst in my vision."You s
The suffocating feeling hit me like a wave, triggering my survival instinct.I thrashed desperately, but Giselle pinned me down with relentless force."Irene, at least I'm kind enough to let you die knowing why. For years, you forced yourself on my man, making me, his true love, live in the shadows. Today, we settle this!" Giselle hissed.Just as I thought the water would claim my last breath, Giselle yanked me up by my hair."We, the ones who truly love, are destroyed by people like you wealthy types. Don't think you'll die so easily!"With that, she dunked my head under the water again, repeating the torture until I was limp, too weak to resist.When my fight had completely drained away, she picked up a fruit knife from the nearby cutting board.Her eyes glistened with malice as she met my horrified gaze. "I'll ruin that pretty face of yours so that even your corpse makes him want to vomit!"The knife slashed down, and my skin tore, sharp pain searing through me and stealing
Harrison was not supposed to be like this. We were not supposed to end up like this.He was the son of our family's nanny, and we had grown up together on the same estate.Back then, with no friends of my own, I would follow Harrison, who was two years older, calling him "Bro".He was always kind to me, never raising his voice or bullying me."Irene is my little princess. I'll always protect her," he would say softly.Everything changed when I was in middle school…The housekeeper told me that Harrison's mother had tried to seduce my father, and my parents had terminated her employment.I ran out, crying, and clung to Harrison, who stood in the rain, drenched and looking defeated."Harry isn't a bad person! You can't send him away!" I wailed.Seeing my parents hesitate, Harrison stepped forward and knelt at the gate. "Mr. and Mrs. Vingate, please, let me stay and watch over Irene as she grows up. Just give me a chance, will you?"He swore to sever ties with his mother and pro
Before I could finalize my plans, Cole announced his departure from the company. We couldn't stop him."Ms. Vingate, I am grateful for the care your family has shown me over the years, but I have more important matters to attend to now. I hope you understand," he said, leaving the company in my hands.Watching him walk away with nothing but a small suitcase, my father stood behind me, letting out a long sigh."That boy…" he muttered.Soon after, both Harrison and Giselle were released from prison and promptly disappeared without a trace.Despite all my efforts, my people failed to locate them.Frustration grew as it seemed my plans were unraveling. Although the scars on my body had healed, the deep, gnawing pain inside remained, haunting me night after night with nightmares.Often, after spending long hours poring over the work Cole had left behind, I would end up falling asleep at the office.In one recurring dream, Giselle and Harrison crept toward me with knives, their malic
I exposed Harrison's façade without hesitation.To my surprise, though, he had better control over his emotions than I had expected."Irene!" he shouted, eyes glistening with tears as he ran to me and wrapped me tightly in an embrace, right in front of everyone."If you want to live, you'd better play along," he whispered threateningly in my ear, his voice low enough that only the two of us could hear.It was then that I felt something cold pressing against me—a gun.The scene unfolded with him overjoyed at our reunion, while I was once again a captive.As we left, cameras flashing and guests watching, I twisted my ankle.Harrison muttered an insult under his breath, but his face remained concerned and caring.Seizing his momentary distraction, I rushed toward Cole, who was already scouting for a good vantage point to shoot from.If Cole fired, it would trigger an investigation. He had saved my family, and I couldn’t let him be dragged down.A gunshot echoed.Cole lunged tow
All that remained was a devoted, heartbroken husband inheriting the Vingate family's fortune, struggling to survive in his grief.The funeral was a grand spectacle.Figures from the political and business worlds who had once interacted with the my family received invitations. Even the Trillion Group, which had openly challenged Shelltower Group, was invited.Dressed in a black dress, I descended the staircase, arm-in-arm with Cole, who was impeccably attired in a suit.My father sat on the sofa, his face dark with anger. But when he saw me, some of the tension eased from his expression."Irene… let us men handle this. Cole and I will go. You stay home and wait for us, all right?" he implored.Despite everything that had happened, he never once blamed me. When he spoke to me, it was always tinged with regret, as if he were at fault for not protecting me better."Dad, you and Mom have always protected me so well. But now your daughter has grown up. You should rest. Let me protect
On the third day, my parents sensed that something was wrong.After contacting the manager of the overseas branch, they uncovered Harrison's plan and staged their own deaths to escape.But despite their efforts, when they returned to the country, they were too late.The first thing they saw was me—brought to our private estate by Cole, tortured beyond recognition and barely clinging to life.My mother fainted on the spot. My father, seething with rage, immediately ordered Cole to seize control of the Shelltower Group.Cole, however, calmed my father's fury. Harrison had covered his tracks well, leaving no evidence behind. Taking action without solid proof would be futile and unable to bring justice for me.Under domestic law, even if it were confirmed that my injuries weren't accidental, it would simply be classified as domestic violence—an offense that, at worst, could be settled through mediation. It was not a capital crime.But for what Harrison had done to me, he had to suff
Harrison shifted uncomfortably, rubbing his nose. "Letting her die like that would be too easy."He then asked, "But Gigi, I only told you to push her down the stairs. What happened to her face?"Giselle pouted, leaning against him and tugging at his arm playfully. "Harry, I just wanted to help you vent your anger."Vent his anger?How could our family's heartfelt kindness and financial support have caused him such pain?He had had every chance to decline, yet he had chosen to accept our kindness and sincerity, only to drag them through the mud and crush them underfoot.Their original plan had been to kill me, but now they intended to let me live.I had hoped that my parents, away on their trip, would sense something was wrong and come back for revenge. But now… I couldn't allow myself to entertain such thoughts.This was all my fault for being so stubborn and blind. I had not only ruined myself but had also implicated my parents.-Fearing complications, Harrison hastily arr
Harrison was not supposed to be like this. We were not supposed to end up like this.He was the son of our family's nanny, and we had grown up together on the same estate.Back then, with no friends of my own, I would follow Harrison, who was two years older, calling him "Bro".He was always kind to me, never raising his voice or bullying me."Irene is my little princess. I'll always protect her," he would say softly.Everything changed when I was in middle school…The housekeeper told me that Harrison's mother had tried to seduce my father, and my parents had terminated her employment.I ran out, crying, and clung to Harrison, who stood in the rain, drenched and looking defeated."Harry isn't a bad person! You can't send him away!" I wailed.Seeing my parents hesitate, Harrison stepped forward and knelt at the gate. "Mr. and Mrs. Vingate, please, let me stay and watch over Irene as she grows up. Just give me a chance, will you?"He swore to sever ties with his mother and pro
The suffocating feeling hit me like a wave, triggering my survival instinct.I thrashed desperately, but Giselle pinned me down with relentless force."Irene, at least I'm kind enough to let you die knowing why. For years, you forced yourself on my man, making me, his true love, live in the shadows. Today, we settle this!" Giselle hissed.Just as I thought the water would claim my last breath, Giselle yanked me up by my hair."We, the ones who truly love, are destroyed by people like you wealthy types. Don't think you'll die so easily!"With that, she dunked my head under the water again, repeating the torture until I was limp, too weak to resist.When my fight had completely drained away, she picked up a fruit knife from the nearby cutting board.Her eyes glistened with malice as she met my horrified gaze. "I'll ruin that pretty face of yours so that even your corpse makes him want to vomit!"The knife slashed down, and my skin tore, sharp pain searing through me and stealing
I was focused on studying a nutritional recipe when a sudden knock at the door startled me.It was probably the grocery delivery I had ordered half an hour ago."Just leave it by the door," I called out, opening the door and turning back inside without a second thought.The door slammed shut behind me."Are you Irene Vingate?" A woman's voice, filled with fury, erupted behind me.Confused, I turned around to see a woman dressed in a delivery uniform, her eyes blazing with hatred."Who are you?" I asked, realizing she had nothing in her hands and was not the delivery driver I had expected.As I noticed the closed door, a wave of fear washed over me.I spun around and rushed toward the kitchen, intending to grab my phone and call my husband, Harrison Maddox, for help.Before I could reach it, a strong hand yanked my hair, sending pain shooting across my scalp as I was thrown to the floor. She climbed on top of me and slapped my face so hard that stars burst in my vision."You s