05
My heart felt like it had plunged into an icy abyss as a terrifying thought took root in my mind.
I trembled uncontrollably, memories of my time with Sean flooding my mind.
Sean’s deliberate pursuit, the calculated ways he made me fall in love with him, and even that fire and the loss of my child…
All of it suddenly seemed part of a sinister plan.
From the very beginning, Sean’s target hadn’t been me but the inheritance from my late parents.
I shook violently, my body drained of all strength.
My vision blurred with tears, and my breathing became labored.
I didn’t even feel the pain as my nails dug into my palms.
For years, I had been deceived. Now, I lay battered and broken in a hospital bed while Sean shamelessly brought Judy into my home.
He had killed my beloved Kiwi, desecrated my belongings, and shown no remorse.
I yanked out my IV and stumbled toward the door, my vision blurred with fury.
I needed answers. I wanted to ask Sean why he had done this to me.
11:03 AM
Had I not given him everything he ever wanted?
Had I not been the perfect partner, standing by him as he lived in comfort while I toiled to keep Sanders Group afloat?
I had never wronged him. I knew I hadn’t.
And yet he had planned my death, all for my inheritance.
But just as I reached the door, I forced myself to stop.
What would confronting him now achieve?
If I went to him recklessly, he might come up with another way to harm me.
I turned back, forcing myself to calm down.
I wasn’t the naive girl I used to be. Running a company as massive as Sanders Group had taught me how to handle threats strategically.
I had to make a detailed plan.
If Sean wanted to destroy me, I wouldn’t let him go unpunished.
My first step was to ensure Sean walked away from this marriage with nothing.
He had taken too much from me, my baby, my beloved Kiwi, and my trust.
Now, I didn’t love him anymore.
My heart burned with the pain of one–sided love, but the fire of determination surged stronger.
I would protect what my parents had left me, no matter what.
While I was in the hospital, Sanders Group employees worked on edge, afraid of competitors taking advantage of my absence.
Despite my injuries, I forced myself to manage company affairs, reviewing documents in a haze of exhaustion.
One day, as I sat in my hospital bed, I was shocked to see my childhood rival, Nathan, standing at the door.
Nathan had always been my nemesis. He inherited his family’s business just as I inherited mine.
Whenever we crossed paths, he’d tease me relentlessly.
Over time, our grudges deepened.
Even our companies became direct competitors.
Though I disliked him, I couldn’t deny his brilliance.
In just a few years, he had elevated his family’s company to new heights.
He was a born leader, a powerhouse in the business world
He was the same age as me, yet while I was married, he never even been linked
to
a
girlfriend.
I had once joked that perhaps he was just incapable.
Expecting him to mock me now, I was surprised when he scanned me from head I to toe, his face dark with disapproval.
“Trish, look at yourself. What have you become?” he snapped.
I opened my mouth to fire back, but his next words stopped me cold.
He stepped closer, gripping my hand tightly.
“You’ve made me question if every decision I’ve ever made was
I frowned at his words, unable to understand.
What mistake?
Besides, it was weird for him to hold hands with me.
Yet his grip tightened as I tried to pull away.
“Trish, Sean is no good. Divorce him,” he said firmly.
a
mistake,” he said.
Normally, I hated being told what to do, but something about Nathan was rather abnormal.
Somehow, I couldn’t turn him down.
Feigning my usual flippancy, I quipped, “If I divorce him, are you going to marry me?”
To my shock, Nathan met my gaze, completely serious.
“I will.”
I blinked, expecting a joke, but his expression was genuine.
My heart skipped a beat as the implications hit me.
“Don’t you want to make Sean pay for what he’s done? Be with me. I’ll help you destroy him.”
I couldn’t remember how I responded.
But from that moment on, Nathan’s attitude toward me changed entirely.
He no longer hid his feelings and practically moved into my hospital room.
I couldn’t bring myself to doubt his intentions. Nathan was too successful.
11:03 AM C
Even as his rival, I had to admit that he was a brilliant man.
Right now, he couldn’t possibly have any ulterior motives toward me.
The Sanders Group was in shambles. It would be a liability to anyone who tried to take it over.
That was why I felt so confused.
After all these years of rivalry, what did Nathan really want?
Did he truly like me?
After two months in the hospital, I was finally well enough to be discharged.
you.”
On the day of my release, Sean made his first appearance in weeks, but only to escort Judy for her own medical checkup.
He barely glanced at me, even with Nathan standing by my side.
To Sean, our long–standing rivalry meant he thought Nathan and I could never be anything more than enemies.
As Judy walked past me, she sneered.
“Trish, you look awful. Your skin is terrible. Do you know that? Maybe spend some of that money on a spa day? I still don’t know what Sean ever saw in
Her words barely fazed me.
I no longer cared what Judy said, nor did I care what Sean thought.
Now, only one thing mattered.
Those who had hurt and betrayed me would pay dearly.
.
