Chapter 154 Charles' First Love Part II
During that period, Janice often snuck into his bed in the middle of the night, wearing all kinds of sexy outfits, including lingerie.
Sometimes Charles thought it was unnecessary. He liked her—she didn't need to dress up like that. Of course, when she did, he still appreciated it.
That particular night, Janice had dressed up as a nurse to seduce him. He was already exhausted from working on the project, but seeing her like that, he couldn't resist. They went at it for two hours.
When he woke up and didn't see Janice beside him, he was puzzled. Janice was lazy—she never got up before nine in the morning.
Worried about her, he went looking.
The study light was on.
No one else was allowed in the study on this floor. When he wasn't at the office, he worked there.
Was Janice inside?
Charles's heart seized.
He suddenly remembered that failed bid years ago—Janice had used his computer then too.
He stood outside the study for a long time, wrestling with himself. In the end, he couldn't bring himself to knock on that door.
The next day, Janice wasn't home. Charles sent someone to follow her.
The report came back—Janice had met with a vice president from a competing company. They'd exchanged something.
Charles felt like someone had hammered his chest repeatedly. His mood plummeted.
But he couldn't lose this project.
He gathered the other project leads and changed the plan at the last minute. He also indirectly brought up the subject of betrayal with Janice, hoping she'd come clean on her own.
That night, Janice snuck into his bed again. He didn't rush to touch her. Instead, he asked, "Janice, are you struggling with something right now? Do you need money? Affection? Whatever you need, just tell me."
Janice whispered in his ear with a laugh, "I don't need anything—except you."
Charles's heart went cold.
He'd never imagined that after five years—from meeting at seventeen to falling in love—he'd end up betrayed by the woman in his bed.
She definitely had more moves planned.
...
Six months later, Charles's project was a success.
Janice was completely blindsided.
How was that possible?
She'd stolen the proposal. Zelner—her handler—had modified it based on what she'd given him. The Gonzaga Group should have failed.
Why had Charles changed the plan at the last minute?
Zelner called and tore into her, calling her ungrateful, accusing her of siding with the enemy against him.
Janice's composure shattered. She couldn't help confronting Charles.
"You knew what I was doing behind your back, didn't you? You've been suspicious of me this whole time, haven't you?"
Charles looked at her with heartbreak. "Why did you do all this? You got close to me, climbed into my bed—all to destroy the Gonzaga Group?"
"That's right! That's exactly what I wanted!" Janice cried. "My parents devoted their entire lives to the Gonzaga Group, and how did you repay them? After they opened up those overseas markets, you sabotaged the plane and killed them in that crash. Their achievements became yours. You're all so heartless..."
"And this time too—you knew I betrayed you, but you said nothing. You just waited to watch me make a fool of myself, waited for me to humiliate myself. Well congratulations, your plan worked. I have nothing left now!"
Charles hadn't expected her to think this way.
"You're saying... we killed your parents?"
"Zelner told me. My parents flew back on a private plane—one you sent. Because they'd accomplished so much, you killed them to prevent them from coming back and claiming credit. You were afraid of giving them shares and hurting the Gonzaga Group's bottom line!"
Charles took a deep breath. "This is all what Zelner told you?"
"He left the Gonzaga Group himself—also because his achievements overshadowed yours, so you kicked him out. If it weren't for him, I never would've known how my parents really died."
While Janice hysterically questioned Charles, Amelia had been standing outside. She'd heard everything.
For over two years, Amelia had known Janice was sleeping with Charles, but she'd pretended not to notice. She'd originally intended to make Janice her daughter-in-law anyway.
But she'd never expected Janice to do something like this.
Amelia walked in and said to Janice, "Zelner deceived you. He was once a high-level executive at the Gonzaga Group, but his family betrayed us first. I have evidence of his betrayal right here. You can look at it carefully.
"As for your parents—we absolutely did not kill them. Yes, they were on a private plane, but we didn't send that plane. There's a detailed accident report explaining what happened."
Amelia had her assistant bring over all the documentation.
Janice locked herself in her room for days, going through everything.
After she'd returned home and was just starting to emerge from the grief of losing her parents, Zelner had found her. He told her that Amelia had killed her parents, that the Gonzaga family feared anyone who became too accomplished, that they'd stop at nothing for profit.
Janice didn't believe him at first. But after Zelner approached her several more times, she started to.
Why else would the Gonzaga family adopt her? Why would Amelia treat her so well? Wasn't it obvious? The Gonzaga family felt guilty.
Zelner had even introduced her to several people who'd been fired from the Gonzaga Group. All of them described Amelia as ruthless, vicious, and willing to do anything—including cause a plane crash.
It made her think back to when she'd wanted to learn the details of her parents' death, but Amelia hadn't given her the specific materials.
Amelia had actually been trying to protect her—crash victims died horribly. The lucky ones left partial remains. The unlucky ones left nothing, not even bones.
Amelia had handled all the funeral arrangements. She hadn't wanted Janice to know too much.
Of course Janice had suspected Amelia's motives.
She wanted revenge, but she had limited capabilities. When Zelner said she could steal documents to undermine the Gonzaga Group, she'd complied.
And now Zoey knew the rest.
...
After Janice finished reading all the materials Amelia had given her, she broke down in tears.
Everything she'd done had been wrong.
She'd repaid kindness with betrayal and handed a knife to her real enemy.
Years ago, Zelner had done plenty of things to harm the Gonzaga Group while lining his own pockets. As for her parents—they'd rushed back to report for duty. When the commercial airline canceled their flight, they'd taken a private plane instead and encountered extreme weather. It was an accident.
A genuine accident!
Amelia had taken her in because she genuinely wanted to care for her. The house was full of staff—Amelia definitely knew Janice had been sleeping with Charles.
There was no reason Amelia would kill her parents and then let her seduce her own son.
Even if it was all for show, no one would gamble with their son's entire future like that.
Janice knew she'd been wrong. Completely, utterly wrong.