Brent looked down at me, his eyes brimming with cold contempt.
"She only bought me that cake to curry favor with the Stephens family! I never wanted it!"
"Now hurry up and sign! Stop wasting time!"
His gaze turned vicious as he pressed a hand down on my shoulder, forcing me to look at my parents, trembling in terror beneath the strapped-on bombs.
I stared at the explosives on their bodies, counting down their final three minutes, and clenched my teeth.
"Brent, if my parents hadn't called in every connection and resource they had to clear out those uncles of yours, do you think you'd be sitting safely in the CEO's chair at Stephens Group right now?"
Brent's eyes swept over my parents' aged faces, his expression full of disdain.
"They flattered and fawned over me for one reason only—to keep you in your seat as Mrs. Stephens."
The words froze something in my chest. I curled my fingers tight into my palms, my voice forced out from between my teeth.
"Fine. I'll sign!"
Only after he got the answer he wanted did Brent finally smile in satisfaction, turning to the bodyguard at his side.
"Let them go!"
Then Brent shot me a warning look.
"I'll post this release agreement all over the internet. Don't even think about filing a second suit!"
With that, Brent immediately wired me ten million dollars.
"Consider this compensation for your sister. Don't ever come looking to give Tabitha Henson trouble again!"
I looked at the long string of zeros in the text on my phone and pressed the return button without a second's hesitation.
"You can keep this blood money. After all, I'm not the victim's family!"
The moment Brent heard me, his face went ashen.
"Bella, what does your sister's death have to do with me? Don't let me catch you cursing my sister behind my back, or I will never let you off!"
With that, Brent took the freshly signed release agreement and walked out without looking back.
The instant he was gone, the fear caught up with me, and I threw myself into my parents' arms.
My mother looked at me, her heart aching.
"Bella, you used every resource you had to pave his way, to get him to where he is today. Was it really worth it?"
A flicker of cold passed through my eyes as I lifted my gaze to her.
"Mom, tell Grandpa to cancel every partnership with Stephens Group. I want a divorce!"
Brent had only beaten out those uncles of his because my grandfather backed him from the shadows.
If he was tired of the CEO's chair, then someone else could take it.
I looked at the injuries on my parents and, with no time to think any further, took them straight to the hospital to be checked.
Thankfully they'd only suffered a bad scare and needed a few days of rest and recovery in the hospital.
I had just finished the admission paperwork when I saw Brent walking this way, supporting Tabitha on his arm.
Tabitha leaned weakly against Brent, her eyes brimming with self-pity.
"Mr. Stephens, ever since the accident, the second I close my eyes I see all that blood and torn flesh. The doctor says I have severe depression and need to be hospitalized for treatment, but every room here is taken!"
Brent's gaze immediately fixed on the room behind me, his eyes turning cold.
"Bella, go tell your parents to give up their room for Tabitha."
I stared at him, unable to believe it.
"Brent, you had my parents kidnapped, they've got injuries all over their bodies, and now you want them to give up their room to Tabitha, the murderer?"
At my words, a flicker of scorn crossed Tabitha's eyes.
"The accident was just that, an accident. Besides, hasn't your family already taken Mr. Stephens's money? Or do you think it wasn't enough, and now you're trying to use your parents to squeeze another payout out of him?"
The onlookers gathered around began pointing fingers at me and my parents.
