LOGINBang!A crash sounded behind them.The black car had forced a lane change and slammed into another vehicle but recovered fast, closing the distance again.Jonathan checked the mirror and confirmed it beyond doubt: they were being tailed.He almost swerved lanes on instinct, then hesitated and slowed instead.He hit the car's voice command and dialed Kevin."Sir?""Someone's on us," Jonathan said."Get your team to Central Avenue. Now."Kevin's voice spiked. "What? Sir, are you okay?""On my way hold on!"Jonathan hung up and glanced in the rearview at Claire.Regret was written all over her face regret at ever getting into Jonathan Reid's car tonight.But even mid-panic, one of her hands had instinctively locked over her stomach, protective.Whatever she felt about her not-quite-devoted husband, the pregnancy clearly mattered to her deeply.Given how pale and sick she looked, morning sickness was probably compounding the terror.Jonathan knew this speed wasn't sustainable not with a p
Nathan rushed forward and caught Vanessa as she fell.She reached back to touch her head, then looked at her hand smeared red.Vanessa immediately dissolved into distress. "Nathan... it hurts so much..."Even so, she gripped his collar and "explained" on Claire's behalf, all sympathy and understanding."Don't blame her.""This is my fault.""I just wanted to explain things to Claire, but she got so angry...""Nathan, it's on me.""If this eases things for her... a little blood is a small price to pay..."With that, Vanessa's eyes rolled shut and she went limp.Nathan, wrecked with guilt, clutched her tight like something precious had nearly slipped away."Vanessa!""Vanessa!! Don't you dare scare me like this.""This is my fault. I shouldn't have treated you so coldly, doubted you. I knew you'd never do something like this and I still didn't believe you.""Somebody help her, now!"Medical staff pulled Vanessa away for treatment. Nathan stood there, gutted, like his whole world had jus
Pete: "He's a close friend of Nathan's Jessica threw herself at Lucas first, and Lucas passed her off to someone else.""Then Lucas vanished.""As for everyone else especially Vanessa they were all too busy saving their own skin to worry about her.""The guy who ended up with Jessica goes by Zhou. Reputation for being ruthless violent temper, obsessive streak.""He and Jessica holed up in a hotel room upstairs all night.""I bribed a staff member to eavesdrop for a while. Said the noise coming out of that room sounded genuinely bad."Zhou?Claire's mind flashed instantly to a face.She knew exactly who that was Zhou Ling, the notoriously reckless youngest son of the Zhou family.She'd never actually spoken to him, but he'd always looked at her with barely concealed contempt, plainly aware of her real background.I never expected those two to end up together, of all outcomes.Claire didn't for a second believe she'd been the one who genuinely poisoned Jessica.The dress she'd changed
"Mr. Wade the baby's been saved. But your wife..."Nathan's face went white, his whole body swaying.Lucas, who'd just arrived with Jessica trailing behind, shoved past Nathan entirely."What happened to Claire? Why save the baby first save the mother!""You quack if you let anything happen to her, I will burn this hospital to the ground!"Lucas grabbed the director by the collar, angrier than Nathan appeared to be.Nathan gave him a long, strange look.Vanessa, meanwhile, let out a visible breath of relief. "Thank god the baby's okay."Nathan turned and stared at her, ice-cold.He said nothing, but Vanessa felt the temperature drop like a bucket of cold water had hit her.*What does that look mean?*"You still don't believe me?""I already told you I never touched her!"Vanessa broke down, sobbing openly.Nathan turned his face away. "I just never expected you could be this cold."Vanessa pressed a hand to her own chest, stunned. "Me? Cold-blooded?""Nathan, how could you say that to
Vanessa was so blindsided by the scene unfolding that she nearly went unhinged.She clutched her head. "This isn't happening. This isn't real!"Claire looked up at Nathan, eyes brimming with pain, fear, and calculated weakness.Every ounce of composure she'd maintained over the past few days seemed to crumble in that instant.She lifted a blood-streaked hand toward him, helpless."Nathan, she tried to kill our baby...""Why because I wouldn't back down from her?""But the baby's innocent in this...""Nathan...""Please. Save our children. I can't lose them..."Claire's agonized cries sent Nathan into full panic.He rushed forward, wrapped her in his arms, gripping her hand, and looked up at Vanessa with something raw anger tangled with disbelief."Vanessa. Why would you do this?"Vanessa stared back at him, shattered. "You don't believe me either?""Everyone just saw it," Nathan said. "You attacked her."Vanessa's panic became total.If Nathan won't believe me, who will?She could onl
Claire: "No rush. Wait for my signal."She hung up on Pete and stepped out of the car in a fitted black dress.When she appeared at the entrance to the ballroom, Nathan stood beside Vanessa, playing gracious host, laughing with mutual friends. A lively little scene.The moment they spotted Claire, the noise died down."She actually came."One of Vanessa's friends spoke with a sneer barely concealed under polite tone."If it weren't for what she did to you back then, you'd never have been forced overseas. And she still has the nerve to show up here?""Seriously! You and Nathan were the golden couple back in school. Everyone assumed you two would marry right after graduation. Then this happened..."Vanessa's two closest friends were unremarkable in status, but they glared at Claire like a personal enemy.Nathan's own circle was better mannered several of them stepped forward."Sister-in-law.""You made it."Nathan frowned at the sight of her, gift in hand. "Why are you here? Who invited







