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!
