Chapter 4

Gabrielle hissed, "Do you think you can scam me out of that 100-million-dollar prize? I only wanted to take Freddie out to relax for a bit, and Cyril kept trying to stop us. Fine, whatever. But to lie to my face?

"Tell him that even if he is genuinely abducted, I won't let a scheming man like him drive Freddie away from me again!"

I was so furious that my head throbbed, and I shouted back at Gabriella, "Cyril was abducted! When you brought your people last time, they were in the middle of beating him. Did you already forget?"

Gabriella's eyes flickered for a moment. Then, she let out a cold, bitter laugh. "Oh, it was such a well-done performance, I nearly believed it myself. So what if Cyril got a little roughed up? Freddie lost his life!

"The fact that I got a second chance proves that I made the wrong choice the first time. I should have stood by the one who was truly worth keeping."

I chuckled bitterly. It was the kind of laugh that spilled over into tears without warning. Ever since Freddie showed up, Gabriella and Cyril had gone from passionate lovers to constantly arguing and fighting every other day.

They finally managed a short period of peace, and Cyril even agreed to take a break from work and focus on the family.

However, Freddie insisted on turning the company's year-end bonus event into a game, which threw all of Brightshire into fear and chaos.

Even Gabriella's old enemies, the ones she'd once silenced with brutal means, began crawling out of the woodwork. Then, just when we needed protection the most, the bodyguards assigned to protect Cyril abandoned their posts, tempted by the 100-million-dollar prize.

All because she wanted Freddie to be happy, Gabriella used both my life and Cyril's as playthings. She even humiliated me in front of everyone.

My heart turned as cold as ice. Through gritted teeth, I asked, "Since Freddie came into your life, how often have you even been home? Do you know how many death threats we've received since this game started? Cyril's been living in constant fear. His depression keeps coming back—"

Gabriella impatiently interrupted me, "I hired Dr. Jerome Manning to check on him and look after him 24/7. If Cyril insists on running out and getting himself into trouble, that's on him, not me!"

She added, "Your little script had holes from the start. He's surrounded by top security and world-class therapists. I don't care if he is my husband. If he's lying to me like this, I'm done with him!"

I was filled with resentment and hatred. "Then call the mansion and see if they're there today!"

Gabriella's expression gradually turned cold as she picked up the phone and dialed. After a sarcastic chuckle, she hung up and showed me the footage from the home surveillance cameras.

The footage showed Cyril surrounded by his bodyguards, receiving psychological counseling while a therapist gave him a massage.

She said through gritted teeth, "Is this what you call being tortured? He's living such a luxurious life, so what more could he want? Why does he have to scheme with you to drive Freddie away?"

Hannah's gaze toward me turned ice-cold. She kicked me in the stomach with disgust and spat, "I'd love to cut you open and see what kind of rotten garbage you've got inside! Gabriella thinks you're just a spoiled brat, but I say you're way past saving!"

I collapsed to the ground, my whole body shaking. Two of my ribs were broken, and the pain was unbearable. Sweat rolled into my eyes as I forced myself to look at the footage again.

"It's fake! Gabriella! That footage is fake!"

I noticed that it was drizzling steadily outside the large windows in the footage. However, I knew that the past week had been sunny.

Gabriella's face was cast in shadows as she shut off the surveillance without hesitation. "You think you can twist the truth with a few lies, Vance? I fell for your tricks once. Did you really think that I'd be stupid enough to fall for them again?"

I pleaded desperately, my elbows scraping bloody against the steps.