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.

Ryann didn't know how much time had passed before she finally got to her feet and headed straight for the psychiatric hospital.

It was still the same room.

At the end of the hallway, the iron door was tightly shut.

She pushed against it, nothing. Just as she was about to knock, the door swung open from the inside.

Two men in white coats stood there, expressionless.

"Miss Fowler, please come in."

She stepped inside, only to find Charlee wasn't there.

"Where's my brother?" she demanded, panic rising.

One of the men smiled faintly. "Don't worry, Miss Fowler. Once you're fully recovered, you'll be able to reunite with him."

"I'm not sick!" Ryann's heart sank, and she spun around to leave.

"Every patient says that," the other man replied, picking up a document from the desk. "This is a court-approved involuntary examination order signed by Mr. Willis. Miss Fowler, please comply."

She tried to push past them, but one man grabbed her, and handcuffed her to the chair.

The next three days and nights became the darkest memories of Ryann's life.

She was bound to the chair, interrogated nonstop. The men worked in shifts twenty-four hours a day. The moment she closed her eyes, a jolt of electricity would shock her awake.

They grinned cruelly, forcing her to admit crimes she didn't commit.

"Tell us, are you jealous of Miss Price?"

"Is Charlee insane?"

"Did your parents deserve to die?"

Ryann gritted her teeth, biting herself until her mouth was raw, but she refused to admit anything.

By the third night, her mind was hazy, and even lifting her head felt like a struggle.

The door opened.

Colby walked in.

He was dressed in a perfectly tailored suit, hair immaculate, utterly out of place in the filthy, dim room.

He glanced at Ryann, brows furrowed, and said to the men behind him, "Take her out."

Her restraints were removed.

Her legs gave way, and she nearly fell, but Colby caught her.

His hand was warm, yet Ryann flinched as if it burned.

Colby didn't speak. He draped an arm over her shoulders and led her out.

The hallway lights stabbed at her eyes.

Leaning against him, her voice barely audible, she whispered, "Charlee… let me see him…"

Colby paused, silent.

"Please… let me see him," she begged softly. "I know I was wrong. As long as he's safe, I'll do whatever you want…"

After a long moment, he sighed and led her to another building.

Ryann practically crawled into the room. It was smaller, darker, and even more cramped, the air carrying a faint stench.

Charlee crouched on a straw mat in the corner. Hearing her, he slowly lifted his head.

When he saw her, his hollow eyes flickered with recognition.

"Ryann…" he murmured.

Ryann threw herself at him, tears pouring. "Charlee… I'm so sorry…"

Charlee's hand weakly patted her back. "Go, Ryann… don't worry about me…"

"No!" she hugged him tightly. "I'm taking you with me. I promise…"

"I can't go… I'm ruined… but you can still run. Don't bother with me…"

"Don't say that!" Ryann wiped her tears and forced herself to stay calm. "Listen to me. Just hold on a few more days. I'll come back for you. Wait for me, okay?"

Charlee looked at her and nodded slowly.

A knock sounded on the door. "Time's up."

Ryann held Charlee one last time and whispered in his ear, "Wait for me."

She stood and walked out of the room.

As the door closed behind her, she heard his faint voice, "Please… be happy."

Outside the building, her legs buckled, and she almost collapsed.

A pair of hands caught her.

Colby supported her limp body. Leaning into his chest, Ryann finally broke down, crying uncontrollably.

She pounded his chest with her fists repeatedly, but her strength faded. In the end, all she could do was clutch his jacket and bury her face against him, trembling with sobs.

Colby stiffened for a brief moment.

The woman in his arms was so thin, so light, sobbing like a child.

Memories surged back. Years ago, Ryann had cried like this too, clinging to him after they lost their first child. Back then, she had treated him as something more important than life itself.

Instinctively, he tightened his arms around her, patting her back gently.

"That's enough…" His voice softened. "Stop crying."

Ryann looked up at him through tear-filled eyes. They were swollen and red, her nose flushed, looking fragile and pitiful.

"Colby…I was wrong…" she choked. "I won't make trouble anymore. I'll behave. Just… please let Charlee go, okay? I can divorce you… or not divorce you… whatever you want. I'll do anything. I'm begging you."

Something in Colby's chest loosened slightly.

"I never considered divorce," he said, his tone noticeably gentler. "As long as you stay with me and don't stir up trouble, Charlee will be fine."

Ryann nodded frantically. "I won't… I really won't…"

Colby raised a hand and wiped her tears away. It wasn't tender, but he did hold back his strength.

A thought flickered through his mind—maybe this wasn't so bad.

Ryann was too stubborn. Without suffering a little, she would never bend.

And now, she was finally showing that familiar dependence again.

He even found himself enjoying the moment—her softness, her obedience, the way her eyes held only him.

"Let's go home, " Colby said. "Take a bath and get some sleep."

Ryann nodded obediently, letting him guide her into the car.

---

Over the next few days, Ryann became noticeably more "well-behaved."

She stopped mentioning divorce, stopped asking to see Charlee, and even ignored Suzanne's repeated provocations.

Colby was pleased and finally agreed to bring Charlee home to recover.

Ryann let out a quiet breath of relief. The moment Colby left for the office, she made a discreet phone call.

At the banquet that night, someone had secretly slipped her a business card—Cason Moore, Colby's biggest competitor.

"Mr. Moore," Ryann said softly, "it's me. I have evidence of tax violations across five Willis Group subsidiaries over the past five years. I also have full audio recordings and transfer records proving Suzanne bribed witnesses and fabricated psychiatric reports."

There was a brief silence on the other end.

"Your terms?" the man finally asked.

"Help me get my brother out. I've already finalized the divorce papers and prepared fake identities. I just need you to get us out. And... " Ryann paused, ""Before 3 p.m. tomorrow, release the evidence in stages. Especially Suzanne's part. I want her completely ruined."

Carson chuckled, "You hate her."

"Yes," Ryann admitted it without hesitation. "But I hate Colby more. That said… right now, I just want to leave."

"Deal," Carson replied. "Give me thirty minutes to mobilize my people. Send the files now. Stay reachable. My car will be at the back gate of the Willis residence within half an hour. Once you're gone, I'll release everything."

"Thank you."

"No need," Carson said. "Mutual benefit."

After hanging up, Ryann sent the encrypted files, then deleted every trace.

She waited quietly. Colby had promised to bring Charlee home today, but she hadn't expected Suzanne to arrive before they did.

Suzanne strode into the living room, chin lifted. When she saw Ryann, she curled her lips into a sneer. "I heard Colby's bringing your brother over today?"

Ryann ignored her.

Suzanne wasn't satisfied. She stepped closer. "I suggest you know your place. When Charlee gets here, he'd better kneel and apologize properly. Otherwise... "