Filed to story: The CEO’s Wife Is a Secret Boss Novel (Allison & Jeremy) Free Online
A breeze swept through the parking lot as Axel approached, his black coat billowing in the wind. His clear eyes held a steely resolve. “Sorry for being late. I was held up by work.”
Jeremy shook his head. “No worries.”
Axel observed the changes in Landon, his lashes fluttering slightly. He was brief with his words. “Is there anything else that I can help you with?”
A warmth spread in Landon’s heart as he shook his head. “Thank you. I can manage on my own.”
“Remember that time when Jeremy hurt his head so badly that he ended up in the hospital? Do you remember what I said back then?” There was a gleam in Axel’s eyes. He smiled and continued, “I said that from that day on, you are no longer Jeremy’s only friend. Similarly, Jeremy isn’t your only friend.
“Feel free to mobilize your resources when necessary, myself included.”
“Mr. Axel, thank you,” Landon said softly, his eyes brimming with gratitude.
Axel couldn’t stay serious for long. With a playful grin, he teased, “Hey, if you’re really grateful, just call me Axel.”
In a sheepish tone, Landon replied, “Okay, Axel.”
Axel clicked his tongue, feigning disappointment. “You’re no fun. You took my advice too seriously.”
Just then, Jordan hurried over nervously. “Mr. Landon, Mrs. Harper has started to take action! She bribed a prison medic to tamper with Zoe’s health report. The police have approved their attorney’s request to put her on medical parole. She will be brought out of the detention center this afternoon!”
Landon remained eerily calm despite the troubling news. “Gather all those who are still willing to work for me. I won’t force them if they’re afraid of taking the risk.”
Jeremy sensed Landon’s intention to engage in risky business. He furrowed his brows. And as if Axel had seen through his thoughts, Axel intervened with a playful laugh, “Hey, no need for all that trouble. You have me, and that’s enough.”
Landon had beaten up Zoe quite badly. Two of her ribs were broken, so her treatment at the detention center was marginally better than Betty’s. At least, Zoe was placed in a single cell, spared from the torments of other inmates.
Zoe coughed up blood every day. She didn’t even have the energy to cause a racket. Every day, she lay stiffly in bed and cried. “Help me. I’m going to die… I drank the blood of someone with HIV. I’m going to be infected. Save me, please!”
Strangely enough, Betty’s ruse had an effect. Zoe was plagued by constant fear, her days filled with bouts of vomiting triggered by the vile words she had heard.
It was a shame that no one bothered about her.
Despite her suffering, Zoe endured until the news of her impending medical parole revitalized her. In a sudden surge of energy, she sat up, laughing and crying hysterically in front of the prison guard and her attorney, Horace Finch, appearing unhinged.
“I knew it! I knew that Grandpa and Mom wouldn’t abandon me! I just knew it!” Zoe exclaimed, her laughter bordering on madness. “Landon tried to end my life… but only in his dreams!”
Her response was foolish and unrepentant. Even the prison guard frowned in disapproval as he watched her.
Fearing Zoe’s reaction, Horace chose not to inform her of Cornelius’ death. He anticipated her volatile response, worrying she might attack him like a rabid animal, necessitating a rabies vaccine. Instead, he calmly informed her, “Ms. Zoe, the police have arranged transportation to the hospital. They’re waiting outside. It’s time to go.”
“The police? Didn’t my mom arrange a car for me? Why do I have to ride with the police?” Zoe’s tone was disdainful as she glared and wrinkled her nose.
Horace was left speechless. “Ms. Zoe, you are being placed on medical parole. You’re not being acquitted. Right now, you are still a criminal suspect. The prosecution will proceed with the case against you while you receive treatment at the hospital.”
“You useless piece of shit!” Zoe pointed at his nose, unleashing her frustration. “You can’t even get this little bit right. What is our family paying you for?”
Horace clenched his teeth in anger, silently cursing her.
Zoe emerged from the detention center, her wrists restrained by handcuffs, flanked by two policemen.
The weather was dreary, with dark clouds dominating the sky, casting a somber mood. Despite the dismal atmosphere, Zoe looked up at the sky with anticipation, inhaling the fresh air eagerly; she thought that freedom was finally within reach.
Since she was able to walk out of the detention center, she was convinced that she would escape legal consequences unscathed, and it was all because she was Cornelius’ and Penelope’s most beloved family member.
Seated in the police van, escorted by two officers en route to the specified hospital, Zoe felt a sense of satisfaction. She reclined in the back seat, closing her eyes and indulging in thoughts of the carefree days ahead.
Did Landon truly believe he could exact revenge so easily? Love had evidently clouded his judgment. Not only had he failed to do anything against her, but Cornelius would also never forgive him for his ruthlessness. Landon could just forget about being president!
With these thoughts swirling in her mind, Zoe drifted off to sleep.
The vehicle drove away from the city and toward the ring road. As the van entered a dark tunnel, an oscillating surveillance camera on the highway abruptly ceased its movement.
The journey had been uneventful until an ear-piercing screech came from the tires.
The van experienced simultaneous punctures in both of its front tires. The driver lost control, causing the vehicle to crash into the left wall with a jarring impact, leaving the door dented and the front end mangled. It was a horrible sight.
Fortunately, the officers had fastened their seatbelts, so they sustained only minor bruises. But Zoe, seated in the back row, was in a dire state. Wailing in agony, she suffered a head injury and had her left arm pinned by the door, with a metal plate slicing her flesh, causing profuse bleeding.
Amidst the chaos, confusion arose.
“Why did the tires go flat all of a sudden?”
“It’s too strange. Let’s go and take a look!”
Both officers got out of the van. The moment they bent down to inspect the tires, they both felt a sharp pain at the back of their necks. They lost consciousness and collapsed to the ground.
When Zoe witnessed that, she wasn’t afraid. Instead, she looked at the man in front of her with a gaze full of gratitude. Hopefully, she asked, “Did Grandpa send you to save me? He did, didn’t he?”
“To save a monster like you?” The man, clad in a black coat and mask, narrowed his eyes and chuckled derisively. “I’m not so low as to do that.”
Zoe’s hope turned to terror as she stared at him, trembling.
“Who… Who are you?” she stammered.
“Me?” Leaning closer with an overbearing gaze, the man identified himself, “Me? I am Ares, the son of Zeus and Hera. I am here to serve justice.”
When Zoe regained consciousness, she found herself bound by iron chains hanging from the ceiling in an unfamiliar room. Stripped of her prison uniform, she was left only in filthy undergarments.
The room had no windows at all. Zoe figured that she was in a basement. The air was so chilly that it made her teeth chatter. She started to get goosebumps all over her body.
“Is anyone there? Help! Save me!” Zoe struggled to free herself as she cried out continuously, “Grandpa. Mom. Save me!”
Suddenly, the basement door opened, and three burly men entered without a word, stripping away the last shreds of Zoe’s dignity. In a harrowing ordeal, they subjected her to unspeakable acts of violence, her screams reverberating through the confines of the room.
Zoe bawled until her vision became blurry. She stared at the dim lamp that was swinging above her. Her eyes were filled with despair.
Her face swelled up from the beatings she took. Yet, she was powerless and could only endure the brutality that was being forced upon her.
The pain was agonizing. It was as if she had kept crawling toward the prison exit but was being pulled back into the abyss time and time again.
After an indefinite amount of time had passed, the three men decided that they were done with her. They flung a jacket on her to cover her lower body, which was bleeding. Then, they left the basement.
Zoe was in so much pain that it felt like her body had been split open. She wrapped the clothing around her and crawled forward slowly. Her crying was extremely pitiful.
Right at that moment, she heard the sound of heavy footsteps approaching.
A pair of clean leather shoes showed up in front of her. Her eyes were so swollen that she could only see through slits. She mustered up her strength and looked up.
“Why… you…” Zoe breathed heavily. Her eyes were ablaze with anger.
“How does it feel to be abused by other people, Ms. Zoe?” Landon glared at her frigidly. He lifted the corners of his lips into a cruel smirk. “You’ve tormented Lauren for three years. So, I got three men to torment you. An eye for an eye. Fair and square.”
“Landon… Landon…”
With dirt-stained hands, Zoe clutched onto the leg of Landon’s pants, her eyes burning with fury and hatred. “Just because of that bitch. Just because of that bitch. How could you do this to me?
“Who does Lauren think she is? I am your biological sister! How could you do this to me? You should just go to hell!”
“That’s right, you are my biological sister,” Landon rasped. Tears welled in his eyes, casting an icy glare. “I’ve cherished you since childhood. But you repeatedly hurt me with your actions. You’ve torn apart my happiness to satisfy your selfish desires.
“If your actions stemmed from hatred toward me, perhaps I could have found it in my heart to forgive you, considering our familial bond. But instead, you’ve harmed an innocent woman. And not just anyone¡ªshe is the love of my life.
“I’ve given you countless chances, Zoe. Each time, I held onto hope that you would change and repent. Yet, each time, you proved me wrong. Instead of remorse, I was met with further cruelty toward Lauren.”
He closed his eyes, the image of Lauren fighting against her bullies haunting his mind.
If she hadn’t had the energy to resist. If she hadn’t given her life to fight back.
The same tragedy that had befallen Zoe could have easily happened to Lauren. Landon knew he could have lost Lauren forever.
“Landon, stop making excuses for your ingratitude and your infatuation!” Zoe panted heavily; her glare was fierce. “That stupid woman has consumed your soul! You’re a madman, a pawn manipulated by her!
“The greatest regret of my life is being your sister and not ridding you of that bitch earlier. condemning you to a lifetime of sorrow and regret!”
Landon’s expression remained cold as he watched Zoe’s outburst. Her rage contorted her face into that of a ferocious beast.
