Chapter 9

"Nathan, register a company for me, out of the country."

A cold light flashed in my eyes.

"Good." Nathan agreed without hesitation.

A month later, an overseas company called Phoenix emerged and quickly made its mark in the industry.

Frank's company had a broken capital chain and desperately needed an infusion of capital for new projects.

The olive branch from "Phoenix" was his only saving grace.

Frank would never have guessed that the "Phoenix"

It would be a cage built by his own hands.

At the negotiating table, Frank is in high spirits, oblivious to the approaching danger.

"Mr. Lambert, good cooperation." The agent raised his glass, the corner of his mouth curling into an imperceptible sneer.

Frank drinks it all in one go, not realizing that what he's drinking, is poison.

The "Phoenix" program, step by step, drags Frank's company into the abyss.

Frank is burnt out and can't do anything about it.

I stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city without a ripple in my mind.

"Frank, this is just the beginning."

I muttered, the fire of vengeance flickering in my eyes.

Soon the program began to have all sorts of problems.

With a broken capital chain and partners pulling out, Frank's empire is on shaky ground.

He began to drink heavily and locked himself up all day in the villa we once shared.

Muttering my name over and over again under his breath, saying he was sorry for me, saying he regretted it.

Sally's about to give birth, and she can't stand the thought of Frank calling my name day after day.

Hysterically questioning him, "You still love her don't you? You still think about her don't you?"

The alcohol paralyzed Frank's nerves as he swatted Sally away.

Roaring, he said, "Get out! Leave me alone!"

Sally stumbled back as she was pushed, her stomach hitting the corner of the table.

The intense pain made her black out and blood ran down her leg.

In the hospital, Sally loses her baby and is forever disqualified from motherhood.

She was in pain and hissed hysterically at Frank.

"I want compensation! I want money! You've ruined my whole life!"

Frank, however, just sits disheveled in his chair, his eyes empty, as if he's lost his soul.

He began frequenting the outside of the lake house, praying for my forgiveness.

"Ruth, I know it's wrong, please give me another chance, I can't live without you ..."

He repeated it over and over, his voice hoarse and heavily nasal.

Nathan arranged for security to turn him away.

Instead, he tried to rush in like a madman, regardless.

"Ruth! You come out and see me! I know you're in there!"

Nathan hears the commotion and comes out of the house, a flicker of disgust in his eyes as he sees the wretched Frank.

"Get out!" He said coldly.

"This is between me and her, stay out of it!"

Frank hissed with red eyes.

Without saying a word, Nathan swung a punch that knocked Frank to the ground.

"Ruth, I was wrong, I'm begging you, surely you still have me in your heart, don't you?"

Frank asked me, undeterred, with a prayer in his eyes.

"Frank, don't flatter yourself, I owe all the hurt I've ever felt to you, I'm sick of you, get out!"

I looked at him coldly, without a trace of warmth in my eyes.

I took Nathan's arm and looked over at Frank.

His eyes were red and he prayed for me to forgive him.

But I, for one, am no longer the naive and ignorant girl I was.