Just in case,Wendy hired some handymen,errand boys,bought cameras and set them up in every corner of the estate.All of this could become evidence.Since Sandra was like a time bomb that could explode at any moment,she had to be ready.

After everything was arranged,Wendy picked up the divorce agreement and the estate’s contract of sale,then knocked on the study door.

Michael’s fingers were wet with orange juice.Meanwhile,a smile curled on his lips as he fed the fruit to Sandra,who sat on his lap.

When he saw Wendy,Michael looked away.A wave of nausea hit her,causing her to turn to get out.But footsteps came up quickly behind her.

Michael was breathing heavily,stopping in front of her.The collar of his floral shirt was slightly visible.There was a purplish red mark along the edge of his collarbone.He didn’t like eating strawberries.

“Sandra wanted oranges,but she was too lazy to peel them,so I fed her two extra.Wendy,you won’t be angry,right?”

Wendy remembered how he used to call her‘Wendy’whenever he wanted to apologize or flirt.Everyone said Mr.Goldman had mild mysophobia.The thing he disliked most was sticky fruit juice.

For her,Michael had always chosen the freshest oranges.He would peel them off himself,placing them in her mouth while he voraciously kissed her.He had given Wendy so much attention.

But now…

Wendy then told herself to stay calm.She then took out the contract of sale and placed it between them,creating distance.

“I want Annie to move out of this estate.Just sign this and buy an apartment.”

This was the first time she had ever asked Michael for something material.As expected,he froze for two seconds,then quickly nodded without hesitation.

Those three words sealed their marriage.He tossed the documents aside and smiled lazily.

“Wendy,you’ve gotten pretty busy recently.You haven’t even talked to me…”

“I’m on my period,so I’m not feeling well.”

She avoided him smoothly and picked up the documents.

Michael was passionate and often pulled Wendy along,no matter the place.Her husband had explored the bathroom,the kitchen and even every corner of her office.He was like a comet,bright and fiery.He filled her with light and warmth.

But comets were fleeting,disappearing quickly.

Michael paused,his smile fading.For a brief moment,there was doubt in his eyes.Because behind him,Sandra appeared,dressed in a white shirt.

“Wendy,I just remembered I have some work to finish in the study.I’ll do something first,then come back to you later.”

He cupped her cheek with his hand and kissed Wendy like someone whom he truly cherished.Meanwhile,she turned away impatiently and locked the door.

Nevertheless,the sound of bodies colliding then came from the study.

Wendy felt as if she wanted to vomit.Still,she pressed her phone to the crack of the door and recorded the scene.It would be her evidence for the divorce.

She went to City Hall and filed the papers.In six weeks,she would leave Michael forever.After thinking it over carefully,she dialed a secret number.

Gunfire roared in the background of the call.

A lazy,hoarse voice spoke in a low tone.

“What’s this?Miss Russell is finally asking me for a favor?”

“In six weeks,I’ll bring my sister to you.But I need you to make two death certificates for us.The more tragic,the better.”

Wendy wanted to vanish from Michael’s life completely and kill any reason for his revenge.

After settling the details with someone on the other end of the line,Wendy felt restless and uneasy.She checked the video again and searched the entire estate,but her sister was nowhere to be seen.

Her fingers twisted the edge of her clothes,her breath coming fast.

Ring!

Annie’s message appeared.

[Wendy,save me!]

Wendy ran through two red lights,going into the back garden of the estate.

The thick thorn bushes were marked with bloodstains.Annie was curled up in a corner.Her body was covered with bloody holes.A ball of paper was stuffed in her mouth.She looked at Wendy with tearful eyes and shook her head,warning her not to come closer.

Rage burst in Wendy’s chest.She stepped forward,but suddenly pain struck her back.And the smell of blood filled her nose.

Her vision spun,while she stumbled into the flowers.

A fresh cut burned along her arm.

“I’m a lawyer.Aren’t you scared that I’ll sue you again for this?”

“Sandra,this isn’t a place without a law.You-”

A sharp slap cracked across her cheek.

Even so,Wendy still held Annie’s trembling hand.

“You’re only a pawn for someone’s revenge.What right do you have to reason with me?So what if you’re a lawyer?Don’t lawyers have to pay their way,too?”

Sandra snapped her fingers.Servants carried over trays filled with syringes.Hundreds of tranquilizers gleamed under the light,the silver needles as thick as arms.

“Psychopaths need drugs to keep calm.Wendy,tell me…what will happen to that little bitch if I inject all of these into her?”

No!

Wendy’s eyes turned red.She lunged forward,but the servants grabbed her arms and held her tight.

“Get away from her!Don’t touch her,Sandra!”

The more Wendy struggled,the more excited Sandra became.

“Wendy,save me!Don’t let them touch me!”

Broken glass syringes pierced Annie’s arms one by one.She screamed,resisted,then slowly grew quiet.Her eyes went dull,while she collapsed into the thorn bush like a lifeless doll.

“Annie!”Wendy’s voice tore the air as tears streamed down her face.

Her fingers pressed the hidden button on her collar.

On her way here,she had thought of many dangers.She had already prepared a hidden camera to record Sandra’s crimes.But she had never imagined Sandra would be so vicious.Sandra wanted both her and Annie destroyed!

Wendy had to fight back now!

She then snatched a syringe from the ground.Her eyes were burning with fury.She aimed at Sandra’s chest and stabbed hard.

“Wendy!Are you insane?”

Wendy saw Michael striding toward her.Gritting her teeth,she pushed the needle in deeper.Michael shoved her aside like a madman.His eyes flicked to her bloodstained clothes,tightening for just a second,then darkening again.

His voice came sharp with anger.

“Sandra is innocent.If you want to fight,come at me instead!”

Innocent?Wendy’s chest ached.Her eyes were filled with tears.

“She hurt my sister and injected her with tranquilizers!I was only paying her back for what she did.How is that wrong?”

“If you don’t believe me,I have evidence!”

Her hand trembled in the air,gripping the camera.

But then Michael’s cold voice cut through her hope.

“I only believe what I see.”

Her hand went limp.The camera dropped to the ground with a sharp clack.She stared at him,stunned.

From the corner of her eye,she caught Sandra smiling faintly.

“Michael,it’s my fault.I only wanted to make peace with Annie.But she pounced on me,trying to kill me and I got covered in wounds.Out of fear,I pushed her.Wendy saw it and misunderstood…”

Sandra wept and buried herself in Michael’s arms.He stiffened but didn’t push her away.Then,his eyes turned to Wendy,filled with disgust.

“You’re a lawyer.You should know the law.Annie is mentally unstable.Using a tranquilizer was necessary.”

“I’ll forgive her for today.But if she acts out again,don’t blame me for being harsh.”

Michael bent down and lifted Sandra into his arms.From start to finish,he never once asked about Annie’s injuries.As soon as they left,Annie’s face turned deathly pale.Her whole body shook violently.

No,she must have overdosed on tranquilizers!

Ignoring her own pain,Wendy carried Annie to the emergency room.But a nurse blocked her way.

“Sorry,the emergency room is busy treating Miss Johnson.You’ll have to go to another hospital.”

But Sandra was only bleeding a little,while Annie was close to seizure.

And there were no other hospitals nearby,

“Michael!Annie is dying!Please call a doctor-”

Wendy’s hair hung loose while her legs grew weak as she pounded the window with her fists.She was begging for someone to save her sister.Her pale face reflected in the glass.

“Michael!Have you forgotten your promise to me?Are you going to kill me?”

Michael froze,his brows drawn together.After a pause,he finally strode toward her.But before he could reach them,the nurse’s horrified scream split the air.

“Oh no!The patient is in seizure!”

Wendy couldn’t help but clasp her trembling hands tightly in the ward.At first,she refused to believe it.But she still made prayers.

The doctor said Annie had suffered severe mental trauma.Combined with the heavy sedatives,she would likely have lasting damage.Wendy only prayed that her sister would not suffer anymore,that she could live the rest of her life in peace.

The ward door opened.Michael entered,holding the medical report,wanting to speak but hesitating.

“Wendy,I’m sorry.I didn’t think a little sedative would cause such a big accident and almost kill Annie.”

“I swear,I’ll try to fix it up for you.Just ignore Sandra,alright?”

“Wendy,don’t get mad at me.”

He pressed his head against her neck with his soft hair brushing her skin.

In the past,Wendy would have forgiven him.

But not this time.

“Do you still remember the promise you made to me?”she asked softly.

Michael froze,then fell into silence.

When he first chased Weny,he learned she had only Annie to rely on.He bought her double gifts,cheered her up when she was sad and showed thoughtfulness in every detail.

On their wedding day,Michael promised in front of everyone that he would take care of her and Annie,that no one would ever hurt them.

“Wendy,I’m not only your husband.I’ll be your anchor,protecting you from storms and supporting your family.”

But when the tide fell,he himself became the storm.

“I’ll find treatment for Annie,”Michael said at last.

He pulled out a paper and signed his name neatly.

“Whatever you ask,I’ll give you.”

“Money,power,career…Wendy,this is how I apologize to you.”

She curled her lips into a cold smile but said nothing.

Instead,she wrote one word,‘Divorce’.And then slipped it into her briefcase.

“There’s also a surprise that I prepared.It’ll be mailed to your office in six weeks.Remember to open it.”

Michael let out a quiet sigh of relief.

In the days after,he came to the ward every day,bringing boxes of supplements.Then,Michael claimed he was busy with work and left in a hurry.Once he was gone,Wendy calmly handed the gifts to the nurses’station.

Wendy didn’t want even a cent of his things.

When she walked down the corridor,Wendy glanced into the ward beside hers.She then stopped with her blood rushing to her head.

Sandra was seen untying Michael’s tie with her finger and pulling him down.His loose suit hid their movements,but he sat without hesitation.The ring on his finger slipped off,rolled across the carpet and left a mark.

Even if it turned to ash,Wendy would still recognize it.

It was their wedding ring.The one Michael had personally chosen.Three hundred craftsmen had worked for six months to create it.

Her hands shook as she dialed his number.

“Wendy…I’m with a client.I’ll call you back later.”

Before Wendy could respond,she heard noises over the line.It was the sound of struggle,Sandra’s moans leaking into her ear.

“Michael…you come to see me every day.Aren’t you afraid that Wendy will find out and get angry?”

The taste of blood rose in Wendy’s throat,but she forced it down.

She then pressed the record button.

Michael’s voice came low,mocking.

“You wanted it.You even asked me to drug her and do it in front of her.Now you’re embarrassed?Hmm?”

“I’ve been pretending for two whole years to get back at her.You’d better make it worth it.”

The sounds continued.Wendy then returned to her ward,while her hands were shaking uncontrollably.

Two years of love and trust now seemed like nothing but a cruel joke.Without delay,Wendy finished Annie’s discharge procedures and took her back to the estate.She changed the locks and stayed close by her side.

But soon Michael knocked again,carrying milk.

Wendy’s heart sank.

“You’ve worked hard.I brought this milk from New Zealand just for you.Be good,drink it.”

Michael’s eyes darkened slightly.His smiling lips made Wendy shiver.Then,she turned to look at Annie.

Suddenly,Wendy remembered.After Annie had once eaten a milk pudding,she had slept far too long.Her expression changed sharply.

“Did you give it to her,too?”

Michael hadn’t even spared her sister.Wendy stared at him for a long moment.Then,all at once,she laughed.She laughed at herself for believing him.

She laughed at the choices she never truly had.

“I’ll do as you wish.”