In his dimly lit private study, Richard stood before a massive window that looked out over the shimmering city lights. Rhythmic footsteps approached before finally coming to a halt behind him.
"Sir, we have confirmed which bank Frederick Jackson William used to store those documents," the guard reported in a low voice.
Richard turned slowly, his eyes piercing. "Good. But do not make another ridiculous mistake. That girl was released two months ago, yet you are only finding her now!" Richard's voice suddenly thundered, shattering the silence of the room. His rage peaked at the thought of the wasted time.
"We are truly sorry, Sir. We will ensure this does not happen again," the guard said, bowing deeply, not daring to meet the Chairman's gaze.
Richard took a long breath, attempting to suppress his emotions. He sat back down in his leather chair. "And what about Leo?"
"Young Master Leo married the girl only to torment her, Sir. At least, that is what I heard from Axel," replied Lucas, Richard's most trusted guard.
Richard narrowed his eyes, resting his chin on both hands. "Are you certain that is true?"
"Yes, Sir. From our observations, Mr. Leo treats the girl very poorly. The marriage is nothing more than a prison for Celine," Lucas stated firmly.
Richard remained silent for a moment. A thin, cold smile that was difficult to decipher curled at the corner of his lips.
"I must see for myself whether your report is true or merely a fairy tale," Richard said in a low tone thick with cunning. He swirled the whiskey in his glass, watching the golden liquid sway.
"If Leo truly intends to destroy that girl's life, then I have no objection to stepping in to help him," Richard added. His eyes glinted as the wicked plan began to take shape in his mind.
***
The following day.
Celine woke just as dawn began to break. She had slept alone all night. Where Leo had spent his evening, Celine did not care. her mind was fixed on only one thing: her mother's surgery. As she hurried down the stairs, she was startled to see Leo already standing tall at the bottom, looking immaculate and authoritative.
"Are you ready?" Leo asked flatly.
Celine paused. "Are you... intending to come to the hospital?"
Leo did not answer. He simply turned and walked toward the front door, where a line of cars stood ready in a neat formation.
"You can come, but do not let my mother see you," Celine said, quickening her pace to keep up with him.
Axel opened the door for Celine, while Leo circled around to sit beside his wife. Martin and Axel immediately took their seats in the front. As they departed, a black SUV followed behind, carrying three additional guards who were fully armed.
Celine felt that something was wrong. Why is he bringing so many guards just for a trip to the hospital? she whispered to herself.
Inside the silent cabin, Celine's anxiety reached a breaking point. The image of her mother about to undergo surgery made her breath feel tight. To calm herself, she clasped her hands in front of her chest, closed her eyes, and began to pray fervently.
"God, please let Mom's surgery go smoothly." She repeated the words like a mantra in her heart.
However, when the car reached a major intersection and turned in the opposite direction of the hospital, Celine's heart stopped.
"Where are we going?" Celine asked, her eyes widening as she looked at Leo.
Leo only gave a silent, crooked smile, as if he were savoring every second of the panic beginning to consume her.
"Axel! Did you forget the way to the hospital?" Celine screamed in a panic.
Axel remained motionless, his hands gripping the steering wheel with a terrifying consistency. He only stared straight ahead.
"Leo! What are you planning?" Celine lost all control. "Let me out right now! I have to get to the hospital!"
Celine lunged for the door handle, trying to force it open even though she knew it was impossible.
Click. Click. Click.
The doors were electronically locked from the central console. Celine knew her efforts were in vain. With trembling hands, she reached into her bag for her phone to call Betty. But before she could press the call button, Leo's strong hand snatched the phone away.
At that exact moment, their car stopped in front of a grand, modern mansion that Celine had never seen before. This was the lair of the Chairman, Richard Alexander.
The moment Axel engaged the automatic unlock, Celine burst out of the car, trying to run with all her strength. She did not get far. Three giant guards from the follow car had already surrounded her, seizing her roughly.
"Let me go! I have to get to the hospital!" Celine struggled with everything she had, her body twisting in a futile effort to break free from those iron grips.
"If she continues to resist, just drag her," Leo commanded in a voice as cold as ice, as if he were not talking about his wife, but a piece of junk.
Hearing that, Celine's defenses crumbled. She stopped fighting. Her body went limp, causing the guards' grip to loosen slightly. Celine used that opening to sink to the ground, not to run, but to prostrate herself at Leo's feet. She knew escaping a property this vast was impossible.
"Leo... I beg you," Celine wailed, her tears soaking into her husband's expensive leather shoes. "I have to be at the hospital now. Please, Leo."
Leo remained unmoved, staring down at her with a terrifying, expressionless face.
"You can torture me however you like! You can lock me up forever! But please... let me stay with my mother until her surgery is finished. I'm begging you, Leo!" Celine's sobs filled the silent courtyard of the mansion.
"Drag her inside," Leo ordered his subordinates curtly, ignoring her sincere plea.
"Leo! You devil! You bastard! I will kill you, Leo!" Celine screamed hysterically, her emotions exploding into a maddened rage.
Leo did not care. He walked calmly into the mansion, while behind him, Celine was dragged roughly by two large guards toward a vast room with marble floors.
Once they stood before Richard, Leo took charge. He gripped Celine's arm with bruising force, and with one rough jerk, he shoved her so hard that she sprawled across the cold marble floor.
"I brought this murderer to you, Dad," Leo said flatly to Richard.
With a trembling body and ragged breath, Celine lifted her head. Through the tangles of her messy hair and eyes swollen from tears, she glared intensely at Richard Alexander. In that look, there was no longer any fear. There was only a burning thirst for revenge.