Author: BTMBeta

Erica was currently chatting with several rich ladies, and she was making fun of Genevieve\’s downfall. The sharp-eyed Erica immediately noticed Genevieve when the latter returned to the banquet hall, and a cold smile appeared on her face. This woman is really pitiful! She has been humiliated like that, and she still has the courage to return.

Before Erica could say something to Genevieve, the woman who had poured wine on Genevieve earlier yanked the latter over. \”You slapped Ms. Hall a dozen times. Do you think we\’re going to let it slide? Go apologize to her!\” \”She\’s a mistress and deserves to be beaten. Why should I apologize to her?\”

Genevieve declared firmly and shook the woman\’s hand off. The current Genevieve was arrogant and confident compared to her pathetic state a moment ago. Erica did not understand how Genevieve regained her confidence after coming back from the restroom. Then, she said indignantly, \”Genevieve, we\’re friends. You\’ve done something improper, yet you want to slander me?\”

Armand had also stated that Genevieve was just his female companion. \”I\’m slandering you?\” Genevieve sneered coldly and moved closer to Erica. \”Do you dare to swear an oath to everyone here that you, my best friend, have never seduced my ex-husband and had a three-year-old child with him?\” Her bright eyes that carried a hint of coldness made Erica tremble. The latter pushed Genevieve away with force. \”Why should I make an oath for something I have never done?\”

Genevieve replied coldly, \”You\’re guilty, so you dare not give us your words.\” The other woman seemed to be siding with Erica and said, \”Genevieve, everyone here will not be fooled by you. You\’re the one who cheated on your husband first. You\’re a lowly and shameless woman. Moreover, I believe that Ms. Hall isn\’t that kind of person!\” \”Is that so?\” Genevieve raised her eyebrow and revealed a faint smile. \”I have an interesting video.

I\’ll play it on the projector screen for everyone to watch.\” As her words fell, the huge projector screen in the banquet hall lit up all of a sudden. Soon, a video began playing on the screen. The first scene was Cooper and Erica talking in the hotel. Their conversation was heard clearly by everyone present. \”You\’re really ruthless. You\’re not leaving even a penny to Genevieve. I heard her grandmother\’s medicine is quite expensive!\”

\”She\’s already that old. It\’s best if she is dead.\” \”Cooper, are you so ruthless? You even dare to harm your adoptive parents?\” Shortly after, the scene changed. Cooper drove his car to a mansion. Erica came out with a child, who ran up to Cooper and greeted sweetly, \”Daddy!\”

Although the video was just a few seconds, the contents were shocking, and half of the people present were stunned. Genevieve lifted her dress and walked up the stage one step at a time. She stood in front of the microphone and said, \”I believe everyone has seen the video on the projector screen. That\’s right. Cooper is the adoptive son of the Rachford family and the man I loved for over ten years.

Not only did he hook up with my best friend a long time ago, but he also framed me for cheating and forced me to divorce him without getting any property.\” When Cooper came to his senses, he immediately ordered people to turn off the projector. Although he still had a friendly smile on his face, his eyes were cold. Genevieve was left with nothing after the divorce. How did she have the capability to get this video?

Could it be… Cooper found Armand in the crowd, and he noticed that Armand was talking to another businessman beside him with an indifferent expression as if he was not the slightest interested in Genevieve and the current matter. Soon, Cooper thought he had overthinked. Someone like Armand would never be interested in Genevieve. \”What should we do now, Coop?\” Genevieve\’s sudden retaliation made Erica panic.

\”How did she know about these things?\” Cooper threw a glance at her, and Erica swallowed all the words she was going to say. \”Genevieve, are you trying to use these two edited clips to get back at me?\” Cooper raised his voice for all the guests to hear what he was saying. \”You claimed that I was involved in the death of your parents and had set you up so that we could get a divorce and you were left with nothing. Where are the proofs?

We lived under the same roof for twenty years, and I know your personality very well. You\’re wilful and stubborn. Now, you\’re just trying to tarnish my reputation and get back at me because we divorced.\” Soon, some guests began whispering among themselves. \”I heard when Genevieve went abroad for a business trip, she went to a bar to hire a male model to drink with her.\”

\”I don\’t think she can deal with businesses with that brain of hers. She must have gone abroad to enjoy herself.\” \”That\’s true.\” People felt that Cooper\’s words were more convincing, as there were videos of Genevieve meeting with a man in a hotel and another video of her hiring a male model in a bar when she was abroad.

Everyone felt that the video Genevieve had broadcasted was fabricated and that she had done so to get back at Cooper because of the divorce. In fact, Genevieve knew that Cooper would explain himself, and the guests would not believe her. A faint smile crept over her red lips.

\”I have already uploaded the video online. I believe an expert will be able to tell whether it has been edited or not. Cooper, I have already told you. I will make you pay for everything you have done to the Rachford family.\” Genevieve glared at Cooper, who was standing below the stage. Her gaze was firm and cold. \”There is plenty of time.\”

When Genevieve stabilized herself and stood up, she looked to the side. A man was seen standing silently, wearing a black suit with his hand in his pocket. His whole body exuded a cold aura. The man\’s appearance was like a sedative that greatly eased Genevieve\’s heart. She pursed her pink lips, about to speak, but she noticed a commotion breaking out around her.

A lot of people had gathered around and were gossiping with each other. \”Oh my goodness! That\’s Armand Faulkner!\” \”When did he come back? I can\’t believe he\’s here at the banquet!\” What? Genevieve looked at the cold man beside her again. Although the Rachford family was also wealthy, they were not comparable with the Faulkner family, which had been around for a hundred years.

The Faulkner family\’s businesses were out of these small businessmen\’s league, not to mention getting to know a member of them. Regarding the news of the Faulkner family, Genevieve had heard them all from her circle of friends. Apparently, the core business of the Faulkner family was currently handled by their second wife\’s son, Armand.

It was also rumored that Armand brought bad luck to his wives as his previous two fiancées had passed away. Both of them had passed away mysteriously each time their wedding dates were near. Genevieve was shocked to find out that he was Armand Faulkner! Somebody around them muttered, \”Did Mr. Faulkner just say that Genevieve was his date?\” \”Cooper was being so harsh when he slapped Mr. Faulkner\’s date in front of everybody.

Do you think Mr. Faulkner will seek justice for her?\” Those within the industry who had interacted with Armand before all knew about the matters of the Faulkner family. They were all aware that Armand was ruthless. Now that somebody had slapped his date, it was equivalent to hitting Armand across the face as well. He would not let the person off the hook easily. Cooper and Erica were both in the business industry, so, naturally, they had heard of Armand.

At that moment, both their faces were not looking well. Eventually, Erica broke the silence by saying, \”Mr. Faulkner, we didn\’t know that Genevieve was your date. Mr. Sutton didn\’t slap her intentionally. She was being disrespectful first, so—\” \”You don\’t have to apologize to me,\” Armand interrupted Erica\’s continuous explanation. His gaze remained cold. \”She is just a date.\” Genevieve\’s heart sank when she heard those words.

Erica understood Armand\’s meaning in a second. Her anxiety vanished. Not just that, she even mocked, \”Genevieve, if you lack money, let me know. I\’ll consider our friendship and lend you some. Don\’t assume that you can seduce anyone you like just because you\’re the daughter of the Rachford family!\”

The crowd started laughing too. \”Genevieve is such a joke. Did she think she could show off just because she was Mr. Faulkner\’s date?\” \”Mr. Faulkner, you should be more careful. Don\’t fall into the trap of this kind of woman.\” Countless mockery targeted Genevieve. Despite that, Armand stood there coldly, not intending to say anything, and continued to let her be humiliated. Bearing all that, Genevieve was about to break down.

She pushed through the crowd and ran to the restroom in embarrassment. She splashed some cold water onto her face, easing her emotions that were about to fall apart. However, her eyes were still filled with tears. She did not expect the man to lecture Cooper and Erica or help herself seek justice. However, it was the fact that Armand had said publicly that she was just a date, and he did not stop Erica from bullying her. Did he invite me to the banquet so that I could be ridiculed?

\”Ms. Rachford.\” All of a sudden, Steven\’s voice could be heard as he knocked on the restroom door. Genevieve took some napkins and wiped the water on her face. She opened the door, saying hoarsely, \”I\’ll go back myself. There\’s no need to trouble you. Also, I\’ve dirtied the gown.

When I have the money, I\’ll—\” \”Ms. Rachford, you said you wanted revenge. However, look at you. You\’re too weak.\” Steven shook his head. \”You couldn\’t even stand those few words spewed by others.\” Genevieve lowered her gaze, pressing her lips together. \”Mr. Faulkner didn\’t help me…\” \”It\’s your own revenge. Naturally, you have to be the one to seek it.\”

Steven passed a phone to Genevieve. \”Mr. Faulkner has already said that you can only count on yourself.\” Genevieve vaguely recalled the exact phrase when she passed out at the mansion during those few days. Did Mr. Faulkner come back to the mansion during those days? There was no passcode on the phone.

Genevieve was able to access it easily. She wondered what Steven wanted her to see. Very soon, she found a video from the album. After she finished watching the video, she knew what she had to do. Her depressed feelings disappeared instantly.

Genevieve returned to the ballroom. She looked for a waiter, mumbled a few words, and shoved the phone into the waiter\’s hands along with some cash. The stack of cash moved the waiter. He swiftly turned around and left.

Even after hearing the malicious remarks from the people around, Genevieve only pursed her pink lips and took a glass of champagne from the pedestal round table.

She knew that it was Cooper who had designed the whole ordeal at the hotel. Given how the news had spread like wildfire online, she assumed Cooper had also assisted and fueled the flames in the background.

Perhaps the entire Jadeborough had heard of her glorious incident.

However, no matter how much she explained, nobody would believe the words that came from her mouth alone. It would be best if she pretended not to hear them.

Genevieve took two sips of the champagne. Her eyes scanned around the venue. She realized that it was a grand dinner banquet. Almost all the influential people in the business industry were there.

She was thankful that the man needed her. It implied that she was useful, which would lead to opportunities to negotiate with him.

However, she was not sure what Armand needed her help with.

Genevieve stood in a corner when she entered the ballroom. She intended to stay invisible. Despite that, many men came over with an unscrupulous gaze. Somebody even said he was willing to pay her to be his mistress.

That caused the women around to look at her and feel even more disgusted.

There was a woman who could not stand it any longer. She took a glass of red wine and splashed it on Genevieve’s face. \”You’re so disgusting! Get out of this place!\”

Genevieve closed her eyes as the cold wine was poured into them.

Since she was young, Genevieve had always been pampered and complimented as the precious daughter of the Rachford family. That was the first time she had been publicly splashed with red wine when attending a banquet.

Now, she had no more family. She was no longer the well-respected Ms. Rachford and had nobody to protect her.

Genevieve only stared at the woman. Without finding any fault with the woman, she turned to take some napkins from the table, and it was then she saw Cooper holding Erica as they walked in her direction.

Cooper had a straight posture and was wearing a black suit. There was a polite smile on his face, and he looked like a gentle fellow.

\”Mrs. Jones!\” Erica had attended plenty of banquets as such, so she could easily recognize Mrs. Jones. As she went over to greet her, she complimented, \”Your pearl earrings look really good on you!\”

Seeing that the woman was in a bad mood, Erica asked, \”What’s wrong, Mrs. Jones?\”

\”I’ve met somebody with a bad omen!\” Mrs. Jones glared at Genevieve, who had been splashed with red wine. \”She has thoroughly embarrassed the Rachford family. I don’t even know how she can make her way to the banquet!\”

Erica followed her gaze and saw the woman with a head full of wet hair. The woman was Genevieve!

When Erica thought of how Genevieve had slapped her in the shopping mall, she could feel the pain in her cheeks. She secretly glared at Genevieve with bitterness.

Not long after, Erica noticed that the gown Genevieve was wearing seemed to be an extraordinary one.

Enviously, she walked in front of Genevieve and glanced at her from head to toe. \”If I’m not mistaken, this gown is a limited edition from the fashion show by Haymes. Even celebrities couldn’t purchase this. Genevieve, how did you get this?\”

After pausing for a moment, she deliberately increased her volume and said, \”Although your boyfriend, the driver, drives a luxurious car for somebody, he can’t afford this gown, right?\”

Hearing Erica’s words, the women around looked at Genevieve disdainfully.

Mrs. Jones mocked, \”She most likely got it by deceiving another man! It seems that she has put in a lot of effort just to come to this banquet.\”

\”And she calls herself the daughter of the Rachford family? She’s such a disgrace to Mr. Rachford!\”

\”Gosh, I feel so sorry for Mr. Sutton. He thought he had married a good wife. Who would’ve expected his wife to be that kind of person?\”

Genevieve ignored the gossip. She wiped her face and the stains on her gown with a napkin. When she was about to leave, a tall figure blocked her way.

Cooper asked flatly, \”This is an exclusive banquet. How did you get in here?\”

\”It’s none of your business.\” Genevieve’s tone was a cold one.

Her pathetic look fell within Cooper’s observation. With her half-wet hair falling on her slender shoulders, she looked weak. No longer was she bright and glamourous as before.

Cooper felt delighted, but he felt a tinge of emotions in his heart at the same time.

Genevieve felt that her wrist was about to break. She glared at Cooper and said with resentment, \”Cooper, this is a banquet. There’s nothing between us anymore. Are you going to hurt me?\”

\”I don’t want anybody who isn’t supposed to be here to sneak in.\” Cooper then shouted for a waiter. He was about to ask Genevieve to leave.

Beside him, Erica could not help but utter, \”Coop…\”

Noticing the aggrieved look on her face, Cooper understood what was on her mind. He held Genevieve’s wrist tightly and said, \”Errie told me she met you in the shopping mall this morning, and you slapped her! You should apologize to her for how many times you’ve slapped her! If you don’t, I’ll ask her to slap you back.\”

Genevieve could feel the eyes of the busybodies on her. Her body trembled as the light shone on her pale face.

A year ago, she had married Cooper in the same ballroom.

Now, a year later, in the same ballroom, she was humiliated by the same man and his mistress under the eyes of many.

\”She insulted my late parents first. Why do I need to apologize?\” Genevieve bit her tongue and remained calm. After a while, she chuckled coldly. \”A b*tch and a son of a b*tch… Both of you are indeed a match made in heaven.\”

Cooper’s eyes darkened. He gave her a slap across the face.

Genevieve did not manage to lift her hands to block him in time. She staggered a few steps back after the slap and was about to fall over when a hand stretched out and held her waist.

\”Mr. Sutton, what are you doing to my date?\” The man’s monotonous voice sounded from above her head.

\”Finding a parking spot took me quite a bit of time,\” the man explained. The man was none other than Steven. \”Ms. Rachford, do you have your eye on any of the clothes here? If not, we’ll visit another shop.\”

On the floor, Erica endured her pain and hollered, \”Don’t be deceived by her looks! Your girlfriend is no good! She’s dirty!\”

Steven did not spare a glance at her as he faced only Genevieve. \”Let’s go, Ms. Rachford.\”

Soon after that, they left the boutique.

When Erica saw both of them leaving just like that, she was so angry that she felt like screaming. Subsequently, she whipped out her phone and called the police.

Alas, she was told that the deputy police chief was currently outstation, and the surveillance cameras at the boutique were not operating. This meant that there were no actual recordings of the incident, and the police couldn’t do anything to Genevieve without proof.

Do I just let her leave like that?

The more she thought about it, the more upset she became, and eventually, she ditched her friends and went to Specter Corporation.

Cooper was going through some documents when he heard a knock on the door. When he raised his head, he saw Erica. \”Why are you here?\”

\”Coop,\” Erica whined. She walked over to him and sat on his lap. \”I saw Genevieve just now in the shopping mall. I talked to her, but she did this to me…\”

Erica removed her mask and revealed a swollen face. Even though she had tried an ice compress on it, it was still inflamed, and she looked terrible.

Cooper frowned. \”She did this?\”

Erica nodded. \”Do you remember the last time I told you there was someone who bailed out Genevieve from the police station? I found that that man is someone’s driver. He’s about thirty years old… Don’t you think she shouldn’t resort to such methods even if her family is gone?

\”I gave her money because she’s my friend. I wanted to dissuade her from doing those kinds of things so that she won’t betray her deceased parents’ expectations. But not only did she not take my money, she even slapped me and yelled at me!\”

A cold glint flashed across Cooper’s eyes as he listened to her recount.

Although Cooper had said nothing, he had tacitly consented to how Erica visited Genevieve’s grandmother and said something to aggravate her sickness until she died. Additionally, he had also acquiesced to Erica sending people to torment Genevieve in the police detention room.

The Rachford family had owed him too much, so much that they couldn’t repay him in full even after dying. He did not want Genevieve to live a comfortable life either.

However, when Erica recounted how far Genevieve had fallen, such as submitting herself to an old man because she wanted to be posted on bail, Cooper felt a twinge of agitation.

At that instant, Erica felt the hand grabbing her shoulder increase in strength.

She could not help but call out to him, \”Coop, you’re hurting me.\”

\”Apply some ice packs on your face to reduce the swelling,\” Cooper said coldly as he let go of her shoulder. \”There’s an exclusive banquet tonight at eight. You go with me. The attending guests are influential people in the business world, so don’t embarrass me.\”

\”Okay.\” Erica tactfully stopped whining when she saw that the man wasn’t in a good mood.

At seven o’clock at night, a Maybach stopped in front of the Lovely Heart Hotel.

Lovely Heart Hotel was the only six-star hotel in Jadeborough. It was where banquets for receiving international guests, parties, and even weddings were held.

Before the car even reached the hotel, Genevieve could already recognize that this was the hotel where she and Cooper had had their wedding banquet.

As the images of her past surfaced, she felt her chest tighten. It was suffocating.

Subsequently, she suppressed her raging emotions. Pursing her lips, she questioned, \”Is this the place Mr. Faulkner said the banquet would be held?\”

Steven had received a call from his employer when they were about to return home after picking up her clothes. Armand’s orders were to notify Genevieve that he wanted her to attend a banquet with him tonight.

Therefore, Steven had accompanied her to pick up her formal dress and do her hair before sending her here.

\”Yes, it’s Ballroom 3.\” Steven handed over the invitation card to Genevieve. \”Mr. Faulkner is currently busy with his work in the office, and I need to pick him up. So please enter the ballroom first, Ms. Rachford.\”

What a coincidence… It’s Ballroom 3.

Smiling bitterly, Genevieve received the invitation card. \”Okay, stay safe on the road.\”

She got down from the car and entered the hotel.

When she reached the entrance of the ballroom, she couldn’t stop herself from recalling the past. Images of the time during her wedding banquet flitted through her mind.

Amid the crowd’s cheering, she remembered how she had a blissful smile on her face when she kissed Cooper.

When the server noticed Genevieve’s pale face and staggering gait, he couldn’t help but ask, \”Miss, are you all right?\”

\”I’m okay.\” Genevieve shook her head.

As she remembered her dead parents and grandmother, and Cooper’s cold gaze, she pursed her lips tightly and walked into the ballroom in large strides.

All the bliss that existed during her time with Cooper was replaced with hatred now.

People were holding drinking parties in the ballroom, and the atmosphere was vibrant and lively.

During this period, Genevieve had gotten thinner. But being born into a wealthy family, she knew how to carry herself with elegance. Coupled with her good looks that accentuated her overall beauty, she stole the attention of almost half the people on the floor with her back tube top and slitted dress.

The banquet lights shone on her shapely shoulders and her dipping yet long lashes, all of them creating an impression of a fragile flower.

As she stood there silently, her beauty shone.

All the men in the ballroom stared at her in a daze. They couldn’t help but mutter, \”She’s so beautiful…\”

\”What’s the point of being beautiful?\” a woman exclaimed sarcastically. \”She should have been contented with being married and not cheat on her husband!\”

\”That’s right! It makes you wonder how a woman like her is a daughter of the Rachford family.\”

When she woke up the next day, Genevieve hurriedly descended the stairs only to find the driver, Steven, on the first floor. Armand was nowhere to be seen.

\”Morning, Ms. Rachford,\” Steven greeted. \”Mr. Faulkner told me to bring you to buy some clothes later before he left.\”

\”Okay.\” Genevieve nodded, but she was puzzled inside. If the man is not interested in my body, why is he so nice to me?

After breakfast, Steven drove Genevieve to the city’s largest shopping complex.

He dropped Genevieve off to shop on her own as he looked for a parking space.

Alas, Genevieve was still reeling from her grandmother’s death. She was in a daze as she walked inside the mall.

\”Miss, these are the latest designs. You can try it on.\” A sudden voice was heard next to her, shocking Genevieve from her stupor.

Without realizing it, she had walked into a luxury boutique and stood next to a rack.

At that instant, she recalled her purpose for coming here, which was to buy some clothing for herself. She forced herself to feel perky and was about to take the snow-white silk dress off the rack when a hand suddenly darted in and snatched the dress away from the rack before she could.

The owner of the hand did not think she was being rude as she offered the dress she snatched to the person beside her.

\”Erica, look at this! It’ll look beautiful on you!\”

Genevieve turned around sharply at the source of the sound and saw a few women choosing some clothes next to her.

Erica, who was surrounded by two women, was wearing the latest maxi dress from Desiree and holding a Hermayze bag in her hand. She looked flashy and extravagant.

\”Hmm… This is nice,\” Erica praised her friend’s good eye before she felt a piercing stare directed at her. She turned around and found Genevieve standing not far away.

Genevieve looked pale and seemingly unwell.

Ever since Genevieve was posted out on bail, Erica had secretly investigated the man and discovered he was someone’s driver.

She would have never thought the driver was this capable. Moreover, he even had the money to sponsor Genevieve’s trip to a luxury boutique!

As Erica thought of Genevieve’s fall from grace, she felt pleasure at the latter’s misfortune. With a smug smile on her face, she walked over to Genevieve. \”What a coincidence meeting you here, Genevieve.\”

Genevieve stared at Erica with hatred. She was so angry that her hands balled into fists, and her fingernails dug into her palms.

She wished she could end Erica then and there!

However, she had nothing now. She was even rejected by the man cruelly the day before, so she couldn’t defeat Erica.

As she thought of that, her eyes dimmed. Then she turned to leave.

Seeing that Genevieve looked depressed, Erica knew she couldn’t pass up the opportunity to bully her.

\”Genevieve\”—Erica blocked her away—\”I know you’re still sad about your grandma’s passing. Here, take this. There are five hundred thousand deposited on the card. Since we were classmates, I’ll give this to you.\” She took a card from her bag and tried to stuff it to Genevieve.

\”I don’t want it!\” Genevieve yelled and swatted Erica’s hand away.

One of Erica’s friends scoffed, \”Genevieve, how could you do this to Erica? Erica was worried about you! She gave this money to you because she was afraid you’d go hungry! Everyone knows you’ve slept with some random man. Do you think anyone would want you in their company?\”

The other chimed in, \”Heh, I don’t think she needs to work since she has that pretty face. She only has to spread her legs in any club, and she’ll get loads of money!\”

\”Haha, you’re so mean!\”

As Erica’s friends mocked Genevieve, Erica watched on with a smirk and did nothing to stop them.

Erica used to be a nobody next to Genevieve. She was jealous of how others admired Genevieve, envious of Genevieve’s family background, and eventually wanted everything Genevieve had.

And finally, her wish had come true! Their positions had changed!

Erica tried to stuff the card to Genevieve again and said gently, \”Stop being so proud, Genevieve. Take the card. I think your departed parents and grandma wouldn’t want you to wallow in misery…\”

Genevieve endured her sarcasm—or at least tried to. When she saw how arrogant Erica was being as she kept mocking her family members, she couldn’t stand it anymore and grabbed Erica’s collar, slapping her on both sides of her face.

Genevieve slapped her again and again, all with considerable force.

Immediately, Erica felt her cheeks burn with pain and tried to push Genevieve away. However, Genevieve managed to grab Erica’s outstretched hands and slapped Erica even harder.

\”Genevieve, what are you doing?\” Alarmed, Erica’s two friends tried to help Erica.

But after Genevieve glared murderously at the duo, they stood rooted to the spot out of fear.

This woman is too scary!

\”I am still a Rachford even if I have lost everything!\” declared Genevieve while she kept slapping Erica. \”For as long as I live, I swear I will revive the Rachford name! As for you… even if you cover yourself with branded goods, the foul countryside stench you emit cannot be masked!\”

Soon after, a large crowd formed due to the commotion in the store.

Under the surprised gazes of the onlookers, Erica, who was being slapped until her cheeks were swollen and red, couldn’t release herself from Genevieve’s firm grasp no matter how hard she tried.

After a full three minutes, Genevieve stopped slapping. Then, she looked coldly at Erica before saying, \”The one who should be afraid now is you! One day, I’ll come back for my revenge! You’ll pay for what you did to my grandma!\”

The deep hatred in her eyes scared Erica. She shuddered involuntarily, and traces of terror flashed in her eyes.

Impossible! You’ve lost everything! You can’t come back from this!

This thought allayed Erica’s fears. When she raised her hand and tried to return the slap, a hand emerged from her side, grabbed her wrist, and flung her away.

Erica couldn’t help but release a cry of pain as she was sent to the ground.

\”Call…\” Genevieve revealed a string of numbers, pressing her nails on the woman’s neck.

The latter’s legs went weak. Immediately, she turned and shot Erica a pleading glance.

\”G-Genevieve, don’t be reckless!\” Panic-stricken, Erica never expected Genevieve to do such a thing. \”You don’t even have a home now. Who else can you contact for help?\”

She was Genevieve’s friend for several years, so she knew very clearly about Genevieve’s social circle. On top of that, she had already bribed Genevieve’s friends who had a good family background.

There’s no way she could get anyone to come to her aid!

\”You better… call that number!\” Genevieve said that through gritted teeth. Her nails already pierced the woman’s neck. The latter’s legs trembled in fright with her mouth agape.

Erica’s face fell. She was afraid that the woman would call out her name by accident. Gnashing her teeth, she reluctantly called the number mentioned by Genevieve.

Soon enough, the call got through. \”Hello?\”

Hearing that familiar voice, Genevieve was on the verge of tears. Gulping down a mouthful of bloody saliva, she mustered up her strength to say, \”I’m Genevieve… Come to the police station… in Yaleview.\”

As long as she could get to the hospital to see her grandmother, she would not mind giving up her own life if the man decided to claim it.

Her own dignity paled in comparison to her only kin in the world.

In a flash, the policemen rushed over to the source of the commotion.

Nevertheless, the moment they saw that Genevieve was gripping the other woman’s neck, seemingly intending to perish together with her, the policemen dared not barge in rashly.

Time ticked by. Erica did not see anybody coming.

She figured that Genevieve had to be bluffing, so she wanted to instigate the policemen to subdue Genevieve. Yet, the next second, a man who was around thirty years old was seen striding toward the detention room in a hurry.

When Genevieve saw that man, a sliver of hope flashed across her eyes. She pleaded pitifully, \”Bail me out… Please! I need to go to the hospital.\”

Wearing a grim countenance, the man nodded and spun on his heels very quickly.

Within a minute, not only did the man return, but he also brought along the chief of police.

When the man stepped in to help Genevieve out, the chief even asked in a courteous manner, \”Mr. Sullivan, do you need me to arrange for someone to get you two to the hospital?\”

\”No, it’s fine.\”

Erica gawked at the man leaving with Genevieve in his arms. She was beyond astonished. \”Chief, Genevieve’s suspected of murder! How could we release her?\” she questioned the chief.

\”Since we have no concrete evidence, we can’t detain her here any longer.\” The chief was rather impatient as he added, \”Just leave if you have nothing else to report!\”

No words could express Erica’s rage at that time. Yet, she had no choice but to do his bidding.

She knew Cooper was quite close with the deputy chief of the police station in Jadeborough. Because of that, she could easily arrange for somebody to deal with Genevieve.

Never in a million years would Erica expect that Genevieve could summon a backer to bail her out of the police station.

After arriving at the hospital with Steven, Genevieve staggered all the way as she dashed toward her grandmother’s ward. Coincidentally, she bumped into the nurse who had been taking care of her grandmother.

The nurse felt sorry for Genevieve. \”Please accept my deepest condolences, Ms. Rachford.\”

Following that, Genevieve caught a glimpse of the hospital bed behind the nurse. The patient lying in that bed had been covered by a sheet of white cloth from head to toe.

At that juncture, her blood ran cold, and her whole body froze. A suffocating sensation overcame her.

\”G-Grandma?\” With a stiff gait, she limped toward the hospital bed and raised her quivering hand. \”I-I’m sorry… that I took so long to get here… I’m Vivi…\”

She struggled hard to spit the words out as she called out to her grandmother. Alas, she would never receive a response.

Lifting up the white cloth, she saw her grandmother’s cold, pale face. Her knees became feeble, and she kneeled down on the spot. Letting out an agonizing scream, she began to cry her lungs out.

\”Grandma…\”

Winifred had been her sole motivation to keep moving forward in life. However, even her only family was gone forever.

At that moment, she felt aggrieved.

If she had ditched that so-called dignity of hers the other day and followed Steven to the mansion, she would not have been tricked by Cooper and sent to jail. Her grandmother would have been alive.

Genevieve hugged her grandmother’s body all day and night, crying her heart out till she had no more tears left to cry.

The day when Winifred was buried, the sky above Jadeborough turned as gloomy as ever. It was drizzling.

Being absent-minded, Genevieve watched the workers handling the ashes of her grandmother’s remains.

Even after everyone had left, she was still standing in front of her grandmother’s grave, drenching herself wet in the rain.

From that moment onward, she knew she would be all on her own.

After Winifred’s funeral, Genevieve followed Steven and returned to Swallow Garden. Locking herself up in the room for three days, she did not even touch any food that was served to her at the door.

Steven feared that something bad might happen if Genevieve continued to be like that. Hence, he called Armand directly.

That very night, Armand came to the mansion.

He used the spare key to unlock the door and entered the room, only to find that every window and any hole that could transmit light had been covered. It was pitch black. Then, he could hear the intermittent murmurs of a woman, who was seemingly crying in her sleep.

\”Mom, I’m so scared… Take me with you all, please…\”

Armand made his way toward the night lamp and turn it on. A woman all huddled up in bed instantly came into sight.

It had only been a few days, but Genevieve was all skin and bone. Her slender fingers gripped the bedsheet with all her might. They were so thin that the veins popped up all over the back of her hands. Worst still, utter despair was written all over her already pale face. Traces of her tears were evident on her cheeks.

If this woman still doesn’t fill her stomach, she might not even wake up tomorrow!

A hint of displeasure erupted within Armand’s heart. He picked up the bowl of oatmeal that he had brought in earlier and drank a mouthful of it. Then, he leaned over to the woman and locked his lips on hers. Forcing open her mouth with his, he fed her the oatmeal through her teeth and down her throat.

Perhaps Genevieve was too famished that she instinctively swallowed the oatmeal even in her slumber.

Just like that, she was fed one mouth after another. In a matter of minutes, her stomach was filled with that bowl of oatmeal. Armand’s bunched-up brows also relaxed on that note.

He tried to withdraw his hand from the back of Genevieve’s neck, yet she clenched his hand and placed his palm on her cheek.

\”Mom…\” muttered Genevieve. It was as if she had found someone to rely on. Her warm tears soon wetted the man’s hand. \”I missed you so much… Bring me along with you…\”

Hanging his head low, Armand watched the woman quietly with an impassive gaze. \”Genevieve, only you can save yourself.\”

He forcefully retracted his hand and left the room.

In Genevieve’s dream, she saw her long-gone parents. They came back to her just to reproach her for falling head over heels for Cooper and letting him swindle her out of their company.

Their interrogation overwhelmed and hurt her so much that she could not even breathe. Sobbing miserably, she pleaded with them to take her with them.

While she was in a daze, she heard someone telling her in her ear that only she could save herself.

Her eyelids snapped open out of the blue, and all she could see was the white ceiling.

Winifred could have been fine. It was Erica who had gone to the hospital and told Winifred that her only granddaughter was a murderer. That was how Winifred got agitated and kicked the bucket.

Genevieve vowed to reclaim Specter Corporation and avenge her parents. Cooper Sutton! Erica Hall! They must pay with their blood!

Her teary eyes became ice-cold and resolute. Grabbing her dress from the chair, she changed her clothes and stepped out of the bedroom.

After she went downstairs, she saw a man sitting in the dining room.

He was clad in a light gray vest and shirt, appearing to have just gotten off from work. Putting on an indifferent look, he was enjoying his dinner while listening to Steven’s report.

\”Ms. Rachford.\” Steven first noticed Genevieve and flashed a faint grin. \”Are you feeling better?\”

Genevieve nodded. \”How long have I been asleep?\”

\”A week.\”

\”That long?\” Genevieve was taken aback.

Even so, she was baffled, for she was not starving at all despite the long, deep sleep.

The housekeeper headed into the kitchen to fetch a plate and a set of cutlery before placing them right in front of Genevieve.

Genevieve sneaked a peek at the man sitting opposite her. She wanted to get something out of her mind, but seeing that Steven was reporting some matters to him, she lowered her head and took her meal in silence.

Very soon, Armand finished his dinner. He got up from his seat and went upstairs straight away. Genevieve, too, put down her fork and spoon.

She trailed behind Armand and walked into his bedroom. He was undoing his vest and making his way toward the bathroom. Biting her lip, Genevieve mustered up all her courage and walked up to him.

\”L-Let me help you with that.\” The man was so tall. Genevieve had to lift her hands all the way just to land her hands on the button of his shirt collar.

Armand did not budge. He merely lowered his gaze and stared at her.

The two of them were only a few inches apart. Genevieve could sense the chilling vibe emanating from the man’s body. Sadly, her hands were shivering involuntarily, and she could not even undo the button of his collar.

Wearing a nonchalant visage, Armand shoved her hands away. \”What are you doing?\”

\”I…\” Genevieve pursed her lips. \”Thank you for getting someone to get me out of the police station.\”

If it had not been for him, she would have been detained at the police station and then summoned to court. Moreover, Winifred’s funeral matters were also arranged by him.

Now, I’m left with nothing. All I have is… this.

Thinking of all that, Genevieve unzipped the dress on her back, and the dress fell to the floor.

As she exposed her fair skin to the air, her body shuddered slightly.

Armand was standing face to face with Genevieve, so of course, it was inevitable for him to witness it all. His breath quickened a little.

Noticing his gaze, Genevieve felt uneasy. Placing her hands on her chest, she appeared to be covering something. \”Please help me. I’m begging you. I need to take back Specter Corporation,\” she said, her voice thick with bitterness.

Specter Corporation is the legacy my parents have left for me. I have to get it back no matter what!

\”And so you strip in front of me?\” Shooting her a piercing glare, Armand sneered, \”Even the women in the brothel would try to flirt with the guests to seduce them, but you… You look totally like a zombie standing right before me. The only difference is your fairer skin!\”

Genevieve did not anticipate any of that. She surrendered to him the last bit of dignity she had, only to be bombarded with such a nasty criticism in return. The sudden surge of humiliation made her cheeks flush as red as a tomato.

At that moment, Armand’s phone rang.

\”I’m not interested in zombies. Put on your clothes and go back to your room.\” As the man dropped the words, he paced toward the window and answered the call.

Genevieve, in turn, hurriedly put on her dress and scurried back to her room, keeping her head low the whole time.

Slamming the door behind her, she slipped down against the door and sat on the floor. As she thought of what he had just said to her, she felt ashamed yet upset as she buried her head between her arms.

She had no idea who that man was exactly, but he seemed to know every single thing. He could even ask the chief to personally send her out of the police station. That alone was sufficient to prove that he was no ordinary man.

She had thought that he wanted to bed her. Besides, she could offer him nothing else but that.

Still, she was utterly rejected by him a while ago.

Genevieve’s head, neck, and arms were covered in bandages when she woke up. She hissed in pain every time she moved slightly.

She was detained at the police station.

When one of the policemen came to bring her food, he said, \”You’re suspected of the attempted murder of Cooper Sutton, the CEO of Specter Corporation. Wait patiently for your court summons!\”

At that moment, she really hated herself for not keeping an eye on that car and letting Cooper escape!

She did not want to wait idly there, for she could foresee her predicament, so she called out to the policeman, \”I want to make a call to get a lawyer.\”

The policeman sneered and ignored her.

After missing for the whole day, the policeman reappeared at night unexpectedly and brought two women into the detention room. Then he uncuffed them.

Genevieve noticed them casting her hostile glances. She inched backward and kept her guard up.

She tried to stay awake, but she could not make it and gradually dozed off in the early hours of the morning.

Suddenly, she felt someone pinching her injured arm with force. She opened her eyes in pain but realized her mouth was stuffed with something, preventing her from making noise.

\”Don’t blame us! Someone paid us money to do their dirty deeds for them!\” one of the women said as she gave Genevieve a tight slap. She continued with malice, \”The person said we could torture you however we want. We just need to keep you alive!\”

Cooper wants to take my life!

Hatred overwhelmed her, and her eyes reddened. She struggled with all her might.

She bent her knee and kicked the woman in the abdomen, causing the latter to stoop over, barely able to get up due to the pain.

Before Genevieve could get up from the ground, she felt a stinging pain at the back of her head. The other woman had grabbed her hair and given her a few more slaps. She was pressing into Genevieve’s wounds with two of her fingers.

\”Ugh!\” Genevieve was in so much pain that she fainted.

Ever since the two women were brought into the same detention room as her, the policeman, who was supposed to patrol every few hours, was nowhere to be seen. Every time, the policeman would only come over and place the food on the ground, and he totally ignored Genevieve, who was lying on the ground.

In just a few days, Genevieve was tortured to the point that she was almost unrecognizable.

Her torso was covered in blood-soaked bandages that had dried and turned sticky. The two women even used toothbrushes to assault her throat.

She could even taste blood when she swallowed her saliva. In the end, she could not even speak.

That day, Genevieve was tortured by the two women the whole day until her vision became slightly blurry.

As she lay on the ground, she vaguely heard a pair of high heels clicking on the ground.

\”Who struck Ms. Rachford with such force that her face swelled?\” The woman squatted down, and her hand reached to caress Genevieve’s cheek before pinching it violently.

\”Hmm…\” Genevieve curled into a ball from the pain, trembling.

Erica felt utter joy seeing Genevieve on the verge of dying. \”Didn’t you ask me why I treated you this way? That’s because…\”

She leaned closer to the metal gate and whispered, \”I hate you! I hate that you are born with privilege and get to enjoy all the glory and wealth. I hate that you have such a blissful family! You’ve nothing now! Even the man you love belongs to me! We even have a child! We are the blissful family now! Ah!\”

When Erica was engrossed in her speech, Genevieve bit her finger.

She bit with all her strength.

The two women in the detention room quickly dragged Genevieve away and slapped her. Erica finally managed to pull her hand out. However, her finger was bleeding profusely.

\”Genevieve, you’re insane!\” Erica took out a tissue from her bag to stop the bleeding.

After her finger stopped bleeding, she leaned closer to the metal gate again. \”Today is Coop’s birthday. I feel that I have to let you celebrate it too, so I’ve gotten a present for you.\”

She took out a photo from her bag and held it out for Genevieve to see.

It was a photo of Winifred. Her hand was placed on her chest, and her widened eyes were unfocused. She seemed to have passed.

Genevieve stared at the photo and started to struggle. Her gaze was filled with misery.

\”That’s right! Your grandmother’s dead!\” Erica even extended her hand across the metal gate so that Genevieve could see the picture better.

\”When she found out you were suspected of attempted murder and sentenced to death, she was so shocked that she suffered a cardiac arrest and passed away. See, I’m so nice. I asked someone to take a photo before your grandma died so I can bring it to you.\”

\”You’re lying!\” When Genevieve spoke, blood flowed out of the corner of her mouth.

She remembered that Winifred was recovering well before she left the hospital the other day. There was no way her grandmother had died.

Erica scoffed coldly. \”I never joke with you.\”

No! No! It’s impossible!

Genevieve suddenly recalled the phone number Steven gave her, and a glimmer of hope ignited in her heart. After breaking free from the two women with all her might, she grabbed one of them, gripped the latter’s neck, and exerted force on her fingers.

She knew that the neck was the weakest part of the body!

When the workers finished rummaging through everything, the formerly glorious mansion was in a dilapidated state. Even the rosewood doors had been removed by them.

An old housekeeper dragged a box, limping into the house. There were a few pieces of clothing and expensive jewelry inside the box. \”Ms. Rachford, I kept some of your favorites in this box when I saw them coming.\”

Genevieve glanced at the housekeeper’s leg and knew it was done by those workers. Her eyes reddened as she said, \”Maria…\”

Maria was the housekeeper that her mother had brought over and also the person who had accompanied her since she was young.

As Maria was afraid that those people would return, she asked Genevieve to drive them to her place. There were two bedrooms and one living room. She left the cleaner room for Genevieve.

\”When I started working for your mother, she made the down payment of this house for me. Unfortunately…\”

Hearing that, Genevieve smiled bitterly.

Even a housekeeper knew how to repay one’s kindness. Despite all of Genevieve’s help and support, Erica decided to turn her back on her!

Genevieve arranged her parents’ memorial plaques properly.

Besides the jewelry pieces her mother left her, she handed over the rest of the jewelry in the jewelry box to Maria. \”Maria, I’ll put my parents’ memorial plaques at your place for now. I still have some unsettled matters.\”

Maria replied, \”I heard Old Mrs. Rachford is sick. Why don’t I go to the hospital to take care of her?\”

\”Grandma has nurses to look after her. You should stay home and rest, since your leg is not in good shape.\” After bidding farewell to Maria, Genevieve drove to the hospital.

She was lost in her thoughts while driving.

I’ve nothing now. How do I even take revenge? How do I regain the ownership of Specter Corporation?

Suddenly, the image of a man’s cold face appeared in her mind.

She shook her head to dismiss the thought from her mind. She decided to visit her grandmother first before coming up with other ideas.

At that moment, a Bentley drove past her.

The backseat window was partially rolled down, and she caught a glimpse of the person in the car from her peripheral vision.

It was Cooper!

She stomped the gas pedal to catch up to the Bentley in front. When she recalled how cruel Cooper was and how her parents’ memorial plaques were smashed to the ground, her eyes flared with rage and hatred.

It was the perfect opportunity to kill him.

If she could kill him and avenge her parents, she would not need to beg that man and could keep her last shred of dignity.

The Bentley in front of her changed lanes frequently, and Genevieve almost lost sight of it many times.

When she finally caught up to the Bentley again, she smiled viciously before she stepped on the gas pedal, aiming straight at the Bentley.

The black Bentley was rear-ended and sent flying into the air. It turned a few times before landing upside down.

Meanwhile, Genevieve could not control the steering wheel due to the impact, and her car crashed into the barricade before overturning. Glass shards were lodged in her, who was seated in the driver’s seat, and her head was bleeding.

She panted and looked at the Bentley, which had caught fire not far away. A satisfied grin appeared on her face.

She finally sought justice for her parents!

Before Genevieve could feel relieved, she saw Cooper walking toward her, unscathed. Her eyes widened at the sight of his unwrinkled suit.

\”Genevieve, we lived together for twenty years. I know you like the back of my hand. I noticed you were chasing after my car. Therefore, I got someone to drive another car over, and I got into the other car while waiting for the red light to turn green.\”

\”Cooper…\” Genevieve gritted her teeth in hatred. Before she could finish her sentence, she fainted with her head resting on the steering wheel.

Cooper looked at her bloodied body and pale countenance. He recalled how she had used to cling to him and call his name in a sweet voice, and his cold gaze was tinged with a hint of warmth.

Just as he was about to extend his hand, the sound of an ambulance grew closer. The paramedics rushed down from the ambulance.

How did the ambulance arrive so quickly?

However, he did not think further as he saw the paramedics coming closer. He got on the Bentley and instructed coldly, \”Call the police and sue Genevieve for attempted murder! I want to send her to jail!\”

Soon, Erica, who was with her son at home, received a call from her informant. The informant told her that Genevieve had wanted to kill Cooper in a car accident but had been sent to the hospital instead.

Upon hearing the news, Erica was delighted.

The previous time Genevieve came to the mansion to cause trouble, her son had fallen down and had been unconscious for one whole day. Thinking about it still made her feel fearful.

Erica said with a tone full of hatred, \”Send two people in there to take care of her!\”

Genevieve approached me during our university days of her own accord. She brought me to travel and bought me many clothes and bags. All those things just made me realize that life is not fair. It’s Genevieve’s fault for not having a good eye for people. Initially, I wanted to let her go, but she almost had my son killed! There’s no way I’ll forgive her!

Just when the car was about to hit Genevieve, someone emerged and pulled her away.

The car brushed past them and disappeared in no time.

\”Ms. Rachford, it’s not worthy of dying for a man.\” The one who saved Genevieve was Armand’s driver, Steven. He continued, \”Who will take care of your grandmother if you end your life here?\”

The devastated Genevieve finally came to her senses. That’s right! Who is going to take care of my grandma if I die?

Soon after, a car stopped right in front of them. Steven opened the car door to the backseat for her. \”Mr. Faulkner would like to see you. He can give you whatever you need.\”

\”He can give me whatever I want, but what can I give him in return?\” Genevieve smiled bitterly.

She was not a fool to think that the man would help her unconditionally just because he had slept with her by accident.

Not only had her reputation been ruined, but she had also lost everything at the moment.

Gripping her arms, Genevieve responded in a low voice, \”Thank you for saving me. Also, I give my thanks to Mr. Faulkner, but I don’t want to lose my last shred of dignity.\”

Seeing Genevieve’s reaction, Steven didn’t say anything else. Holding out his hand with a business card between his fingers, he uttered, \”Ms. Rachford, here’s my contact number. Just give me a call if you need anything.\”

\”All right.\” Genevieve took the business card absent-mindedly and left.

Not long after, Steven returned to Swallow Garden. When he saw Armand, he relayed what Genevieve had said to him. Following that, Steven added, \”Mr. Faulkner, that car seemed to speed straight toward Ms. Rachford.\”

Armand’s expression darkened. \”Investigate this matter and assign someone to follow her in secret. Just make sure she is safe.\”

That woman needs to learn how to lower her pride.

Genevieve went to the hospital.

Winifred had been in bed for a few days ever since her last cardiac arrest. She no longer needed an oxygen mask.

Although Winifred was still unable to get off the bed, her complexion had improved.

Genevieve forced a smile and walked into the ward. \”Grandma, how are you feeling?\”

\”Much better.\” At first glance, Winifred could tell that Genevieve had cried not long ago. The former immediately frowned and asked, \”Did Cooper bully you when you saw him?\”

Genevieve shook her head and walked over to grab her grandmother’s hand. \”No. I’m just worried about you. Grandma, you have to stay healthy.\”

Perhaps because Genevieve had put on a perfect act, Winifred did not doubt her words. \”Vivi, find time to divorce Cooper. That man is an ungrateful person. Since he has seized the company, I’m sure he won’t go easy on you.\”

\”All right…\”

Winifred was still unaware that Genevieve had long fallen for Cooper’s trick and lost everything. She had even learned the truth behind her parents’ death.

Genevieve had been staying in the hospital with her grandmother over the past few days. She had broken the television in the ward, not letting her grandmother watch the news. Not only that, but she had also forbidden the hospital staff to bring over the newspapers.

Seeing that her grandmother was recovering gradually, Genevieve finally managed a smile and felt that she was still alive.

One day, a housekeeper called Genevieve. \”Ms. Rachford, there are a lot of people at home moving things around—\”

Before the housekeeper could finish speaking, the call was disconnected.

Genevieve took a cab and rushed to Southwood Mansion. The whole scene was a mess when she got there. Several men were seen packing some expensive antiques.

The men, who were casting around for valuables on the second floor, threw the unwanted items downstairs for the sake of convenience.

Shortly after, two memorial plaques were thrown downward.

Genevieve immediately lunged toward them, but still, it was too late. Cracks were formed on her parents’ memorial plaques right after they smashed to the ground.

She held the memorial plaques in her arms. Her eyes reddened at once.

Genevieve looked up at the worker. Her eyes were filled with hatred. \”How can you throw away someone’s memorial plaques? Aren’t you afraid of divine retribution?\”

\”The boss told us we could take care of the unwanted things.\” The worker was terrified by her and immediately walked away.

In a trembling voice, Genevieve murmured, \”Dad, Mom, I’m sorry…\” She wiped away the dirt on the plaques as her tears dropped on them.

\”Cooper Sutton, what a cruel man you are! You killed my parents, and now you even want to destroy their memorial plaques.\”