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.”
When Wendy woke again,her whole body throbbed with pain.It was sharp and unbearable.She felt as if she were being torn apart.
A sudden thought frightened her.She quickly checked her clothes.When she confirmed everything was still in place,she let out a small sigh of relief.
The faint smell of cake drifted into her nose.Step by step,she walked forward slowly with each movement felt heavy.
In the kitchen,Michael stood carefully decorating a cake with buttercream flowers.His eyes were fixed with intense focus.Meanwhile,Sandra hugged him from behind like a sweet newlywed wife,not caring if anyone saw their closeness.
When Wendy appeared,Sandra pretended to panic and pulled away.
“I’m sorry.Michael insisted on celebrating my birthday,saying it was to make up for all the suffering I’ve gone through.”
“Wendy,you don’t mind,do you?”
Wendy glanced at Michael,who looked nervous.She remained silent.Since the moment he had brought Sandra into their home,Wendy had already understood the truth.
He didn’t care whether she or her sister lived or died.
“By the way,Michael also said he’d buy me a gift.Wendy,will you come with me?”
“If you refuse,it means you still haven’t forgiven me.Then,I’ll just leave…”
She turned as if to walk away,but Michael stopped her.
Annoyance flickered in Wendy’s cold eyes.
“Wendy,don’t get upset.”
The car sped down the road.Wendy lowered her gaze to her bruised wrist,her chest aching.Just earlier,Michael had forced her into the car.
He had forgotten her injured wrist and ignored her cries of pain.
Michael could overlook everything just for Sandra.
The auction hall glowed brightly.Wendy sat in a quiet corner,watching in silence as Michael lit a sky lantern for Sandra.
As long as Sandra wanted something,he gave it without hesitation.
“Isn’t that Miss Russell?Their relationship looks perfect.He’s almost buying up the whole auction for her.”
“Shh,don’t stare.That’s the Johnson Family’s daughter,just out of prison…”
Before the words finished,Michael shot them a glare.
The once loud hall turned instantly silent.
“Everyone here is a respected figure.The court ruling back then was wrong.That so-called bullying was a misunderstanding.If anyone dares spread rumors again,don’t blame me for being merciless!”
With just a few words,he overturned Sandra’s past and defended her openly.
But who would ever defend Annie?
Wendy’s body shook,her breath quick and sharp.She stood,ready to speak.
However,in the next instant,gasps filled the hall.She froze as countless eyes turned toward her.Her ears buzzed,her mind went blank.
How could her video appear here?
On the large screen,her body lay on a bed.She was completely still with her eyes closed as though dead.Her clothes had been stripped away,exposing everything.
“Turn it off!Turn it off now!”
Wendy’s breath grew fast and uneven.She curled into a corner with her hands clutching her head.She was terrified.
“Wendy!”
Michael pushed through the crowd.He covered her head with his coat.His breath was brushing her cheek.
“I’m sorry.I don’t know how this video got out…”
His voice was deep,heavy like thunder.It was shattering her last thread of calm.This meant the video had been taken by him after she fainted from the milk.
The secretary rushed over,panting.
“Mr.Goldman,I found it.Someone hacked into your phone and stole the video on purpose.”
Snap!
Michael pressed a hand to his face,pretending shock.Wendy’s eyes turned blood-red,veins ready to burst.
“You drugged me.You filmed me.Do you want to ruin me completely?”
“No,I would never!”
Michael’s heart raced.He reached to hold her,desperate.But she shoved him away.
The grief in her gaze cut deeper than any blade.
“I hate you forever!”
Without another word,Wendy ran.She didn’t look back.Meanwhile,her phone lit up.
A message from City Hall appeared.
[The divorce certificate has been processed.You may collect it anytime.]
Her eyes darkened.She immediately contacted the man who had faked her death,asking him to erase her tracks again.She took Annie straight to the nearest helipad.
“Miss Russell,I’m Mr.Harrow’s aide.Once you get on the plane,your car will explode.Nothing will remain.”
Her face sank with her voice becoming low as she said,“Good.”
Flames rose into the sky as the plane lifted off in the distance.The anger and betrayal in her heart turned into burning hatred.From this moment,her family was only her younger sister.
Wendy would never meet Michael ever again!
