Chapter 9

Even as Fiona stood by the door, more guests were hurrying inside the banquet hall.

"That's strange—who's that woman? Who is she to Mr. Zimmer that we're all invited to her birthday party?"

"Who cares? Norman has no sons and only one daughter. And we all know said daughter is hopelessly in love with Mr. Zimmer. He'll take over the company before long—or what, are we supposed to suck up to Fiona Starr instead of him?"

"True, but do you think Fiona knows about this party?"

"Hah! So what if she does? She's been chasing after Mr. Zimmer for too long that she'd disembowel herself if he so much as frowns. Look to the future—the Starr family is no more! Just look at what that woman is wearing—Mr. Zimmer has spared no expense on her at all!"

Fiona frowned as she listened to the insolent talk and noticed that even the client who she was supposed to meet had joined the crowd too.

She was furious, but she was not about to make her family a laughing stock.

Still, she quietly went upstairs without anyone noticing.

She waited, intent on interrogating Mark when he came upstairs, but only for Sue to show up instead, smiling smugly and fearlessly as she planted herself on the couch.

Fiona glared at her coolly for a moment but simply whipped out her phone and used it instead.

Sue had expected Fiona to attack her physically and was disappointed for a second that she didn't.

As such, she started to take off all of Fiona's jewelry and threw it in front of Fiona, gloating. "All I had to do was ask, and Mark sent me all these clothes and jewelry. Here you go, since you've come all this way to get them back!

"And by the way, how was that homeless bum? Did you like him? I mean, I can get you someone more exciting if you like… such a shame I couldn't be there to see it when it happened. Mark was just going to lock you up in the basement, so I had to pay off that bum to screw you. I mean, you're hot—it would be a shame for him if he didn't, right?"

Fiona stiffened, her eyes narrowing darkly as she clenched her knuckles. "You're really crazy for Mark Zimmer, aren't you?"

She should've known—Sue was a complete nutjob, considering how she had killed herself on the day Fiona married Mark in her past life.

Sue giggled in turn, clearly not offended at all. "Oh, but I can go even crazier, Ms. Starr. In fact, I'll show you right now, so your response had better not be disappointing!"

Fiona frowned, but before she realized what was happening, Sue had pulled out a pair of scissors and cut herself.

Even as Sue bled rapidly all over Fiona's tailored dress, she didn't hesitate to run and straddle on the handrail!

As Fiona's eyes widened in shock, she ran toward Sue to pull her back, only for Sue to push her away and fall.

"Sue!!!" Mark was yelling as he saw what happened and came running, with Noris, Boris, and Yannick right behind him.

And when Mark scooped her up in his arms, he suddenly looked up, glaring at Fiona murderously and sending her stumbling backward.

It was the same anguish and despair she had felt before!

Still, Mark didn't pause to ask questions as he rushed outside with Sue still in his arms.

-

The next day, during Fiona's actual birthday party, Mark, Noris, Boris, and Yannick never showed up.

And since they didn't, the business partners whom they were close with didn't show up either, only sending some subordinates to bring Fiona presents.

Even the others whom Fiona's father sponsored only stopped by briefly before bailing, leaving the banquet hall laughably empty.

That was not the worst, as Fiona's assistant suddenly came running to her, yelling, "Ms. Starr! We have a problem—quick, check your phone!"

Fiona quickly did so and soon saw videos and photos of that homeless bum assaulting her plastered all over the internet.

Her phone dropped from her grasp with an audible thud, while her cheeks were drained of all color.

And that was when the doors were kicked open, with countless journalists swarming toward her, their blinding camera flashes seemingly stripping her naked and bringing her back to that dark moment.

"Ms. Starr! As a victim of such a scandal, how were you able to recover?"

"Ms. Starr! No offense, but do you think Mr. Zimmer will still marry you?"

"Ms. Starr! You're supposed to marry Mr. Zimmer soon, but after what happened, is your father going to force him to marry you anyway? Isn't that basically blackmail?"

"Ms. Starr, please respond!"

"Yeah, say something!"

They cornered Fiona and shoved their mics at her face, hungry like a demon.

All she could see just then was the memory of her father dying horribly, while she was dragged up and down a mountain road repeatedly while pregnant… until all that was left of her legs were bloody stumps.

But just as Fiona was about to step, a strong arm pulled her firmly to safety, and she felt her face pressed against a muscular chest while the man hid her distraught face.

At the same time, Yves Warren's voice boomed, "I'm afraid there's been a mistake here—Fiona isn't marrying Mark Zimmer. She's marrying me!"