The reply came instantly. "How did you hurt your hand?"

I snorted, "It's nothing. Just a paper cut while handling some files. Hannah went to Erick's company. Is there a new collaboration between the Blake Group and the Harrison Group?"

That one was quick-witted and surely understood the implication behind my words. "Not that. Hannah's personal life has been wild during her time in Whyae."

"How could that be? Doesn't she love Erick the most?"

"There's some love, but not much. She loves his looks, status, power, and wealth. But these don't stop her from having fun with other guys."

My fingers paused. I hadn't expected him to disclose Hannah's affairs so openly.

Erick always believed that she had suffered a lot in Whyae.

But even when I had to send her there, she indulged in even more outrageous escapades than she had back home.

She feigned pity because it was her way of making Erick feel even more sorry for her. While she continued to play around with other guys in Whyae, she could keep Erick as her backup.

"Oh, Erick! You treat her like the apple of your eye and remember every little thing she does. It's astonishing how she can easily manipulate you into willingly being her backup with just a bit of acting." I mocked him in my mind.

I had learned such shocking news but wasn't planning to expose Hannah just yet.

I intended to reveal everything to Erick after leaving him.

I ended the conversation and deleted the record. Then I got up as if nothing had happened and returned to the CEO's office.

Erick and Hannah had just finished their intimate activities.

He glanced at the bandage on my hand from the corner of his eye and seemed to see nothing. "Why are you taking forever? Haven't you cleaned up the stains on the floor?"

I nodded in response. "Yes, Mr. Blake."

Hannah's lips curled as she looked at me with a challenging gaze. "Kimberly, I'm sorry, but I'll handle the cleaning."

She stepped in front of me and whispered in a voice only we could hear, "Kimberly, you'd better protect your precious hands well. Otherwise, how will you perform surgeries on patients in the future?"

Hannah was fully aware that I used to be an excellent surgeon.

She understood how important my hands were to me.

That was precisely why she deliberately caused my hand to get injured twice.

I lifted my gaze and stared at her. My gaze was cold enough to make her shiver involuntarily.

Erick saw her get up to help me and thought Hannah was considerate and kind-hearted. "Hannah is always so kind and considerate of others." He said to me, "Let the janitorial staff handle it."

I scoffed inwardly. Erick was not only blind but also stupid.

...

The day before our wedding anniversary, Erick personally drove his sports car to the villa to pick me up for the rehearsal to ensure everything would go flawlessly on the very day.

I didn't get into the car immediately and instinctively glanced at the passenger seat. "Hannah isn't in the car?"

Erick narrowed his eyes slightly as he looked at me. "I try to avoid having you both in the same place to prevent you from making a fuss over nothing."

My gaze turned icy instantly.

Erick wasn't worried about anything else. He was just afraid that I'd bully Hannah.

In his mind, I was nothing but a ruthless villain.

Although it was just a rehearsal, many important guests came to support us. Erick held me in his arms all the time and offered me lavish gifts like an island, rare collectibles, and even naming a star system after me.

"Are you happy now? Oh, and you haven't seen Paige in a while. I've arranged for her to be here. She's over there. So when I go to mingle, you and she can catch up."

As he finished speaking, Erick pointed to a spot not far away.

Just as I was about to speak, Hannah appeared at the entrance. She looked timid in a high-end custom dress.

Erick's expression turned gloomy. "Didn't I arrange for you to enjoy a full treatment at the villa? Why did you suddenly come here?"

Hannah's voice was choked with sobs. She looked thoroughly aggrieved as she said hesitantly, "I...I brought a gift to congratulate you..."

My voice was cold and detached. "It's not necessary. You're not welcome here."

"Watch your words." In the next instant, Erick had already instructed the security to arrange VIP seating for Hannah and whispered to me. "Since Hannah genuinely came to congratulate us, you should show the grace of Mrs. Blake. Where are your good manners? Don't embarrass us in front of the guests."

It was supposed to be the rehearsal for our wedding anniversary, yet Erick spent the entire time tenderly accompanying Hannah.

I stood in the corner and watched Erick hold Hannah affectionately. I felt utterly mocked. My blood went numb.

"Erick, I regret falling in love with you and marrying you.

You make me sick."

The phone notification suddenly chimed.

I took out my phone and turned it on. I glanced at the countdown reminder in the notes.

I would "die in a car accident" on our wedding anniversary tomorrow.

At that moment, Hannah coyly mentioned her fondness for a newly released limited edition handbag. As soon as Erick heard it, he left the scene to buy it for her.

She haughtily walked up to me and raised her eyebrows with a cold smile. "Kimberly, are you still unaware? The gifts Erick plans to give you for the anniversary are something I've rejected. Even though Erick came with you to rehearse for the anniversary, he still needed my approval. Since meeting you, his phone has been continuously connected to me..."

Hannah provocatively put her phone on speaker, and the next moment, Erick's voice came through the receiver. "Sweetheart, I got the handbag for you. After the rehearsal, I'll make it up to you tonight."

In the next instant, she ended the call.

I had given up hope on Erick already. "What do you want?"

Hannah said, "I will keep you beneath my heel, always."

"Take your time." I looked at Hannah emotionlessly. "I'll give the position of Mrs. Blakely to you."

While I wasn't sure how much she believed, Hannah suddenly turned around. As she brushed past me, she whispered in a voice only she and I could hear, "I won't forgive either of you."

I had no intention of responding to Hannah's provocation. I was about to step out onto the balcony for some fresh air when a loud noise erupted behind me.

I instinctively turned around to see Hannah raising her hand to slap Paige Hughes with all her might. Before Paige could react, Hannah kicked at a nearby stack of props. The rack tilted under the force.

Erick rushed over just in time to see the rack about to crash down on Hannah. He kicked it aside with force and pulled her into his embrace tightly to protect her.

"Paige!" Erick was furious. "I let you come here because you are Kimberly's friend. But you tried to kill Hannah when I wasn't around?"

"Not that..."

"Not that? What do you mean? I saw it clearly."

He grabbed Paige's neck in a tight grip. Veins bulged on his hand. "I've warned you before that Hannah is the most important one in my life. If you or Kimberly dare harm her, I'll make you face the consequences."

Hannah wiped her tears with a look of grievance. "It's okay... I'm fine... After all, Paige is Mrs. Blake's friend..."

"I'm here to protect you. What are you afraid of?" Erick whispered tenderly and then kissed away her tears. "I've told you many times that you can do whatever you want. No matter what happens, you don't have to worry about anything. Don't be too kind-hearted and let others bully you. Today's lesson for Paige also serves as a warning for Kimberly."

With that, he ordered his bodyguards to restrain Paige and grabbed a stick from nearby. He handed it to Hannah. "She almost had you crushed by the props. Now, beat her with full force."

Hannah pretended to be scared. "No. I don't dare..."

Erick held her hand and swung the stick hard at Paige.

"This is to teach you to protect yourself."

They swung the stick twice.

"And this is to teach you not to be too kind-hearted."

They swung it again and again.

"Ugh!" Paige was in such pain that she felt dizzy. A metallic taste rose in her throat before she coughed up blood.

It wasn't until the air was thick with the scent of blood that Erick stopped.

The guests murmured among themselves in hushed tones. "Oh my, that woman must be miserable..."

"Who can she blame? She tried to crush Hannah with the prop rack..."

Erick handed the stick to a bodyguard and then gently blew on Hannah's palm with concern. "Your hand must be numb. Let me help with that."

As the bodyguards released Paige, she collapsed to the floor unconsciously. Her body was battered and bruised.

Erick scooped up Hannah in his arms and cast a cold glance at me as I rushed over. He left a curt remark. "As my wife, you'd better behave well. Manage your friend and think about what you've done."

"Alright."

"Well, Erick, do you think I'll stay here for you?" I sneered inwardly.

He seemed surprised by my compliance but didn't dwell on it before leaving without another word.

"Paige!" I got down in a panic to check on Paige. My eyes were filled with guilt and pain, and my hand was trembling uncontrollably as I reached out. "Paige!"

She didn't respond. My voice cracked with fear as tears streamed uncontrollably down my face.

I took deep breaths and tried to suppress the terror in my heart. I wiped my face haphazardly before dialing the emergency number.

In the hospital, from the moment Paige was wheeled into the operating room, every second felt like torture to me. I stood helplessly at the door and felt as if every breath was painful.

Images of Paige being brutally beaten flashed through my mind. My eyes widened in horror.

I reached for my phone and contacted the owner of that number. The call connected instantly. "Paige has been severely injured. Please arrange for her to be taken to the safest place within your territory."

"Alright."

I didn't breathe a sigh of relief until Paige was wheeled out of the operating room by the nurses. After repeatedly confirming with the doctor that she was not in danger, I accompanied the security and medical team as we helped her onto a private jet. Only then was I truly relieved.

Tears began to blur my vision. Something was taking root inside me.

Without a moment's hesitation, I hurried towards another private jet nearby.

As the bodyguards helped me into the cabin, that guy was already waiting for me.

Seeing me looking drained and my hands clenched into fists, he was about to speak, but I stopped him.

Choking back my emotions, I said, "I'm fine. The nightmare is finally over."

It was indeed completely over.

Years ago, Eric had given me a dazzling beginning to our relationship.

And now, he had personally severed the bond between us.

I looked at that guy seriously. "To what extent are you willing to go for me?"

He kissed my eyes gently and then solemnly got down on one knee before me. "Back then, you saved me from the clutches of death. From that moment, I fell in love with you for having courage and strength. I am willing to do anything for you, even if it costs me my life. I wouldn't hesitate for a second. The entire family and organization will follow your orders, my empress."

I paused for a few seconds, took out my phone, removed the phone card, snapped it in half, and threw it in the trash before replacing it with a new international card.

Although I couldn't fully trust this guy, Hannah dared to use Eric to injure me, even gravely injure my best friend. Then I had to use everything I had to take revenge.

After the jet took off, I uploaded the full recording of Hannah stealing the Blake Group's core secrets, including Erick's attempts to cover up her criminal actions after he learned the truth. I exposed everything online.

"Erick, I will make sure you feel every ounce of my pain." I swore.

...

On the wedding anniversary, in the CEO's office of the Blake Group.

Erick sat in his chair, sipping coffee, when his heart suddenly skipped a beat. Something incredibly precious seemed to have been lost forever in that moment.

He instinctively looked towards the door, but I didn't appear.

Erick frowned and felt a little annoyed.

The banquet was about to begin soon. What was going on?

These days, Hannah had been clinging to him tightly, and he had indeed neglected me.

But hadn't I already been compliant and considerate?

How dare she presume favor and act so recklessly once more?

With that thought, Erick put down his coffee cup, pulled his tie forcefully, and picked up his phone to call me.

The phone rang for a long while, but no one answered.

He was very displeased. "How dare she ignore the call now? She is truly getting bolder."

He thought I was just trying to get his attention and deliberately provoking him.

In his eyes, Hannah and I were secretly competing for his favor. It was nothing more than a ploy to catch his eye.

He figured buying a gift would surely appease me.

Erick dialed the secretary's internal line and said, "Buy the latest limited edition."

The secretary hesitated for a few seconds before asking, "Mr. Blake, should it be for both Mrs. Blake and Miss Harrison?"

Erick paused for a moment and replied, "Of course, for Mrs. Blake."

After hanging up the internal line, Erick grabbed his car keys, got up, and left. He drove from the office back to the villa.

As he pushed open the door, the villa was pitch black inside. Not a single light was there.

He froze for a few seconds and couldn't believe his eyes. He repeatedly confirmed and then believed that the villa was indeed empty.

Erick felt a bit panicked. "Kimberly, stop these mind games."

Erick's face turned dark instantly. He then searched every corner of the villa.

But the villa was eerily silent. He could hear a pin drop.

His facial muscles tightened. "Kimberly, stop messing around. Come out now, and I'll promise to spend more time with you. I've told you that Hannah is my relative's adopted daughter and that I love you the most."

No matter how long Erick spoke, the only response was the deathly silence.

I had never left without a word. In the years of marriage, I had always answered his calls immediately.

But now I disappeared without a trace?

With this thought, Erick frowned more tightly.

He casually tossed his suit jacket onto the sofa and thought that my disappearance was just another way to get his attention.

But then... Erick inadvertently glanced at the gift box on the table. His heart suddenly skipped a beat, and panic gripped him.

He stepped forward, trembling, and picked up the box and slowly opened it.

Erick's pupils contracted sharply, and the first thing that came into view was a notice of death.