Ryann resolved to leave, only to wake up tied hand and foot to the bed, under the pretense of being "forced to rest properly."

She gnawed through the ropes with her teeth. Blood filled her mouth, with several teeth cracked and broken.

When Colby came back and saw her like that, he pulled her into his arms in distress, only for her to bite down viciously on his shoulder.

"If this makes you feel better, then go ahead," he said softly.

He let the blood soak through his shirt, still gently soothing her as if nothing was wrong.

On the day her mother was laid to rest, Suzanne appeared, her arm linked intimately with Colby's.

Ryann went insane, trying to rush forward and confront them, but the bodyguards restrained her tightly.

"I'm here to forgive the you all," Suzanne said hypocritically in front of everyone. "That way, you won't feel so guilty, Ryann."

Colby forced Ryann to apologize to Suzanne in front of her mother's memorial portrait.

After that, Suzanne became Colby's personal secretary.

She said she was afraid of the dark, so Colby moved into her place to keep her company.

She said her kidneys were damaged, and Colby forced Ryann to give her one.

He kept saying it was all to help Ryann atone. But anyone with eyes could see it—somewhere along the way, Colby had fallen for Suzanne without even realizing it.

To the outside world, Colby still gave Ryann her proper status. Everyone thought she should know when to stop pushing her luck.

After all, she had nothing left now—no family, no reputation, only a body stained with scandal. The fact that Colby was still willing to keep her should have been something to be grateful for.

Under the suffocating pressure of each passing day, Ryann slowly broke.

She lashed out at Colby again and again, attempting to escape over and over.

The closest she ever came to freedom, she had already cleared immigration. But Colby reported her to the police as her husband and had her stopped.

He went mad, imprisoning her in his arms, kisses falling like rain.

"You'll always be mine," he whispered hoarsely. "If you dare try to run again, I can't guarantee what'll happen to Charlee."

He locked her away in a sunless basement, declaring his ownership in the most intimate, brutal way.

Suzanne was far from satisfied and often came to provoke her.

The last time, Ryann pinned her to the ground and slapped her dozens of times, until Suzanne passed out.

No one understood why Ryann refused to behave herself.

Only she knew the truth. She was at the end of her strength.

Dazed all day, hair falling out in handfuls, pills became the only thing keeping her conscious.

Colby never knew any of this.

He didn't know his wife was on the verge of madness.

Her only way out was to escape that terrifying man.

The tide of memories slowly receded. Ryann stood outside the hospital as Colby drove up. Her thin clothes did nothing against the cold wind, but he didn't notice.

The old Colby would have prepared a thick coat in the car. He knew she cared about appearances and would rather freeze than put on extra layers.

Now, when she habitually opened the front passenger door, he reminded her impatiently, "Sit in the back. Don't close the window—the ice cream will melt."

Ryann froze mid-motion.

The seat that used to belong to her was now piled with childish plush toys and overly sweet snacks.

A cup of ice cream was placed carefully in the center, obviously meant for Suzanne.

She had grown almost numb to this kind of pain. After closing the door, she said softly, "I want to see Charlee."

Colby's expression cooled. "Why do you need to see him again?"

"Today's his birthday," Ryann said quietly. "You promised that every year, we'd be together on this day."

He drove steadily. After a long pause, he finally responded, "Mm."

The psychiatric ward was dim, lit only by a small window near the ceiling that let in a sliver of light.

Charlee was curled up in the corner, barely conscious. He didn't even notice when Ryann arrived.

She wrapped her arms around him and broke down completely.

"I'm sorry… I married the wrong man. I'm so sorry…"

Charlee's body stirred. Feeling her tears, clarity flickered briefly in his eyes.

He squeezed her hand and spoke with all the strength he had left, "Mom and Dad… left something for us."

From under the bed, he pulled out several yellowed pages. The first one was unmistakable—divorce papers.

Along with it were documents for two fake identities, one for each of them.

She remembered now.

It was the divorce papers her parents had forced Colby to sign the year she got married. The last escape route they had prepared for her.

Ryann immediately contacted the only lawyer she trusted. After carefully reviewing the documents, the lawyer nodded. "With this, you're legally free."

Tears streamed down Ryann's face.

That very day, she went through the procedures to cancel both her and Charlee's registered identities.

One month at most. Then, she would take Charlee and disappear far away.

From then on, she would never see that man again.

That afternoon, Colby informed Ryann that she was to accompany him to a jewelry gala.

To avoid arousing suspicion, she had no choice but to agree.

But when she arrived at the venue alone, she saw Colby with his arm around Suzanne, introducing her to the crowd with unmistakable tenderness.

"This is my secretary, Suzanne, and also my closest confidante," he said warmly. "After joining the company, she personally designed the blueprints for our new jewelry line. She's indispensable to me at work."

The ruby crown resting on Suzanne's head was one Colby had personally bid for at auction not long ago, which was worth well over a hundred million.

By comparison, Ryann looked like a complete nobody.

Everyone present had their own thoughts, yet their faces were filled with praise and flattery directed at Suzanne.

Blushing under the compliments, Suzanne smiled shyly and leaned into Colby's arms.

"It's all thanks to Colby's guidance," she said softly. "Without him, I wouldn't be who I am today."

Someone in the crowd couldn't resist teasing, "Miss Price and Mr. Willis are inseparable. Sounds like wedding bells aren't far off. Don't forget to send us invitations."

Suzanne's face flushed even deeper as she glanced at Colby nervously.

The next second, her gaze unexpectedly met Ryann's calm eyes.

The room fell into instant silence.

Colby turned toward Colby, his manner polite and gentle as always in public. "You're here already. Why didn't you tell me so I could come get you?"

Ryann replied coolly, "If I'd spoken up, wouldn't I have interrupted your good moment?"

Colby remained composed as he reached out and pulled her hand, smoothly shifting her position with Suzanne.

Ryann instinctively tried to pull away, but his grip tightened. Leaning closer, he murmured in a low voice, "If you don't want anything to happen to Charlee again, cooperate."

Ryann lifted her head to look at him. She should have kept enduring it, but she was so tired of it.

"Colby, if you want my cooperation, let Charlee out. Otherwise, I'd rather die," she said steadily.

His hand tightened briefly. In the end, he seemed to sigh. "You've always been willful since you were little. Only I can put up with you."

On the spot, Colby ordered someone to bring Charlee out. Only then did Ryann comply.

Laughter filled the air. Glasses clinked.

After meeting several important clients, Ryann was no longer of use. Only then did Colby finally release her.

She wanted to sit alone for a while, but someone couldn't stand to see her at peace.

Surrounded by admirers, Suzanne walked over, her eyes full of malice.

"Mrs. Willis, they say that your brother used to be a piano prodigy," she said pointedly. "I wonder how your talent is. The pianist scheduled to open tonight can't make it. Why don't you fill in?"

She knew perfectly well that Charlee was Ryann's deepest wound. This was meant to provoke her, to make her lose control in public.

Ryann took a deep breath, forcing down the anger in her chest.

"Suzanne, that's putting Mrs. Willis in a difficult position. Everyone knows you're the best pianist here. If not for that accident back then, you'd probably be studying music at Harrison Conservatory right now," one of Suzanne's close friends chimed in smoothly.

Suzanne forced a timid smile. "Don't say that. Mrs. Willis grew up in one of the wealthiest families—smart, cultured, and talented in everything she does. Honestly, she might even outshine me."

Another friend added mockingly, "Probably just all show and no substance."

Harrison Conservatory. That was Charlee's dream school.

"I'll play," Ryann laughed.

She looked at Suzanne meaningfully. "Just don't regret it."

She sat down at the piano, her long fingers dancing across the black and white keys.

A cool, restrained melody flowed out, quietly tugging at everyone's heartstrings.

Faces grew mesmerized. People unconsciously gathered around her.

Suzanne gritted her teeth.

Why was it that whenever Ryann appeared, everyone else disappeared from view?

When the final note fell, applause erupted in waves.

"No wonder she was once the top socialite in Harrington. This level is master-class!"

"Her grandfather was the country's greatest pianist. Of course his grandchildren would be this gifted!"

Even Colby froze for a moment, a trace of nostalgia flashing through his eyes.

Before he could stop himself, he walked forward. "Ryann, your playing is still as moving as ever."

That single sentence shattered Suzanne's composure. Her eyes reddened instantly.

"Mr. Willis," she said tearfully, "Mrs. Willis really is amazing. Unlike me… I finally qualified for a conservatory evaluation, only to lose everything because of an injury. I'm so useless."

Colby's expression darkened at once.

But by the time he tried to pull Ryann down from the stage, she was already stepping off on her own.

"No matter what I've endured," Ryann said calmly, "I'm still Ryann Fowler. I don't need any man to define my worth. From now on, please call me Miss Fowler."

Suzanne's eyes overflowed. She covered her face and broke down crying, "Yes, I was born poor. I can't compare to someone as lofty as Miss Fowler. I deserved to be stabbed, deserved not even to have the right to play piano here."

Hearing her words, Colby could no longer hold it together.

"You know perfectly well Charlee ruined Suzanne's life. And you still humiliate her like this in public?" he barked.

Ryann's voice was steady. "Colby, I've said it before. My brother is innocent."

Colby shook his head in disappointment, shoved Ryann aside in anger, and chased after Suzanne.

Pitying looks fell on Ryann from all around. She didn't care.

After all, she would be leaving soon.

But that very night, just after she got home, a news alert popped up on her phone, "Brother of Willis Group CEO's wife goes berserk in public, viciously harasses young women—circumstances severe."

There was no need to think twice about who had done it.

Ryann bit her lower lip so hard that the metallic taste of blood filled her mouth before she finally let go.

Her eyes stared blankly at the news on her phone.

With this incident, there was no way Charlee would ever get out of the psychiatric hospital. All her previous efforts felt wasted again.

She wiped her tears and slapped herself hard. "Pull yourself together, Ryann. Colby just wants you to bow and apologize. What's more important than your brother's life?"

She carefully reapplied her makeup before getting up and heading out.

Willis Group CEO's Office

Ryann pushed the door open.

Suzanne was perched on Colby's desk, her shirt unbuttoned at the top, hair slightly disheveled, cheeks flushed—a clear sign of an intimate encounter just moments ago.

All three of them locked eyes.

The air hung heavy for a few seconds.

Suzanne reacted first. She slowly buttoned her shirt, slid off the desk, and stepped onto the carpet barefoot, a mocking smile playing on her lips. "Well, Mrs. Willis, what brings you here?"

Ryann ignored her and fixed her gaze on Colby. "The news about Charlee. Did you do it?"

Colby placed a blanket on the sofa and looked calm. "He got himself into trouble. What does that have to do with me?"

"He's locked in a psychiatric hospital. Nobody would let him out. There's no way he could, except for you. Who else could it be?" Ryann's voice trembled.

"Maybe the hospital staff were negligent," he replied coolly.

Colby sat behind his desk and picked up a file. "I have work to do. You should go."

"Colby!" Ryann slammed her hands on his desk, stepping closer. "What do you want from me? You want me to kneel and beg? Fine, I'll kneel—"

"Ryann," Colby raised his eyes, impatience flickering in them. "Stop making a scene here."

"Making a scene?" Ryann laughed, tears spilling as she did. "Colby, if anything happens to Charlee, I will never forgive you!"

"Really?" Suzanne's voice cut in, light and mocking. "When Charlee tried to hurt me, did he ever think about whether I'd forgive him?"

Ryann spun around, eyes blazing. "Suzanne, you know perfectly well he never touched you!"

Suzanne tilted her head, stepped close, and whispered so only Ryann could hear, "Yes. I framed him. But so what? Do you have proof? Even if you do, would Colby believe you?"

Ryann's pupils constricted sharply.

The next second, she swung her hand violently at Suzanne's face.

But her wrist was grabbed mid-air.

Colby had stood up silently, gripping her wrist with a force that nearly felt like it could crush bone.

"Ryann!" His voice was low and cold. "Have you lost your mind?"

Ryann's eyes were red as she looked at him. "She just admitted it! She admitted she framed Charlee!"

Suzanne immediately cowered behind Julian, tears streaming, voice quivering. "Yes, yes, it was me! I framed your brother! I shamelessly seduced Colby! It's all my fault, okay?! Are you happy now, Ryann?"

Crying, Suzanne's face streaked with tears, Colby instinctively stepped in front of her, shielding her with a protective arm. His gaze toward Ryann was full of disappointment.

"Suzanne has a good heart. You've pushed her to the point of risking her own reputation, admitting to things she didn't even do. Ryann, what more do you want? You want to save Charlee? I'm telling you, it's absolutely impossible!"

Ryann opened her mouth, but no sound came out.

The man only cast a cold glance at her before taking Suzanne and leaving the office.

The door closed.

Ryann stood frozen, her body shivering from the cold.

She slowly sank to the floor, hugging her knees and burying her face.

There was no sound of crying.

Only her shoulders trembled.