Filed to story: Billionaire Bride’s Revenge (Vera & Howard)
Their departure seemed to lift a heavy atmosphere from the room, allowing those left behind to relax slightly. The reporter sneaking around was thrilled, believing he had captured a lucrative scoop.
Back in Victor’s ward, Vera expressed her concern.
“How are you feeling? Shouldn’t you have remained in bed as the doctor advised?”
Victor’s expression was unreadable, his dark eyes masking his thoughts. “I’m alright. I should be able to leave the hospital soon.”
Vera nodded, but her worry was still evident. “I brought a different type of tonic soup for you today. Please have plenty later.”
Victor, with a light in his eyes, responded cheerfully. “It seems I’ll be enjoying your cooking quite a bit in the upcoming days, Miss Montgomery.”
“I do alright with cooking. Let me know if there’s anything specific you’d like to eat. After all, you’ve saved my life. It’s only right to take care of you.”
Victor smiled warmly and resettled on his bed. Their rapport was as deep as that of lifelong friends. With a smile, Victor inquired,
“Is there going to be an interesting show tonight?”
Vera was briefly taken aback by the abrupt shift in topic and the underlying complexity of his question. A moment later, she grinned. “Mr. Adams, you miss nothing.”
Victor raised an eyebrow, his voice tinged with amusement. “Earlier, you seemed to be venting about Lily, yet now you’re actually defending her? It looks like you’re leading her, aren’t you?” He seemed to have seen through her plan completely.
Vera thoughtfully nodded, impressed by Victor’s sharpness and insight.
Only someone of his caliber could elevate his company into the global top ten so swiftly.
Meanwhile, as Lily and Howard prepared to leave the hospital, Lily’s anxiety intensified. Her hands clenched tightly.
“Lily, are you keeping something from me?”
Howard kept staring at Lily, trying hard not to miss every flicker of emotion that crossed her face. Her tension was so intense that she pressed her fingernail into her palm until it broke the skin, a small bead of blood forming. But she seemed unaware of the pain, too wrapped up in whatever was racing through her mind.
She was scared-really scared-and it showed in the way her breath quickened.
Suddenly, Lily snapped back to reality, her gaze locking with Howard’s. She forced a smile, trying to hide the turmoil within.
“How could I possibly keep anything from you?” she said, her voice soft yet strained. “I always tell you everything.”
“Why are you acting so strangely now?” Howard asked, his frown deepening as Vera’s earlier warning echoed in his thoughts.
He trusted Lily, but the way she was acting made him hesitate.
With a mix of emotions, Lily offered another explanation, her voice hesitant.
“I’m worried that Vera might try to turn Victor against you. They’re close, and remember how she sabotaged your potential cooperation with Rig?”
Howard’s face hardened.
Even though he had successfully taken the Shaw Group public, he knew that Victor had the power to tear it all down in an instant.
He said nothing, and Lily noticed his suspicion beginning to ease. She let out a quiet breath of relief.
“Howard,” she continued, “think about what’s happening here. Vera doesn’t have the background or skills to bring the Guerrero family to the brink of bankruptcy so quickly. I believe Victor has been helping her all along, and I’m afraid he might turn on you too.”
Lily’s words seemed to click something into place for Howard.
That uneasy feeling he’d had finally made sense. Lily’s explanation tied it all together.
She was right-there was no way Vera alone could have pushed the Guerrero family to the edge within days. Howard was convinced that Vera had already moved on to Victor.
A deep anger started to build within him, heating up with every thought.
They hadn’t been divorced for long, but here she was, already with another man. Howard was certain she had betrayed him before the divorce, which explained how quickly she had signed the papers.
As Howard’s thoughts drifted away, Lily felt a sense of relief.
Winning Howard over wasn’t her concern right now; Vera’s words echoed in her mind, demanding her attention.
She couldn’t let years of hard work go to waste.
In a quiet corner, Lily quickly grabbed her phone, her hands shaking as she tried to call Chloe.
But no matter how many times she dialed, the call wouldn’t connect. All she got was the familiar voicemail.
“Hello, this is Chloe. I can’t take your call right now. Please leave a message, and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.”
Lily clenched her teeth, her hatred simmering just beneath the surface.
She couldn’t shake the thought of Chloe-had she gone into hiding out of fear, or had Vera already found her? With a determined look, Lily quickly typed out a message:
“I need you to find Chloe Hampton, no matter the cost. Bring her to me as soon as you find her.”
An instant reply from an unknown number appeared.
“No problem, but it’ll cost extra.”
Without hesitation, Lily responded, “You’ll get whatever you want. Just find her, now!”
She gripped her phone tightly, her eyes flashing with deep anger.
As night settled in, the city began to quiet down.
In the hospital, the hallway was still and silent.
The surveillance cameras in the corners blinked red for a few seconds-until, without warning, the lights went out.
A woman quietly nudged the ward door open and slipped inside.
The room was so dark she could barely make out anything. Carefully, she crept toward the bed, and as the moonlight touched Tricia’s face, a cold, murderous intent flared in her eyes.
Without a second thought, she reached out and pulled the oxygen tube free.
She had been thinking things over. Tricia was the biggest threat to her plans; getting rid of her would clear the way. She exhaled softly after she was done, feeling a twisted sense of relief.
But just as Lily was about to leave, the door suddenly swung open.
Lily’s face went white with shock.