James stared at Patti with pure hatred. He started towards her, ready to p her, but seeing the blood pooling beneath her, he stopped himself. He couldn''t risk her dying here.


    If he hit her now, his fingerprints would be on her. If Patti died, he''d be facing a manughter charge.


    He had already done so much to break Mrs. Mercer''s heart. What if she used this opportunity to send him to prison? James would be finished.


    Thinking this, James pulled his hand back. He pointed at Patti and demanded, "Tell me the truth. Were you and Hawthorne working together to set me up all along?"


    Patti, barely hanging on, red at James and cursed, "You and Hawthorne are both monsters. I''ll haunt you from my grave."


    Mrs. Mercer wiped her hands with a tissue and drained her water cup.


    "Get her to a hospital," she ordered her men. "I don''t want her dying in my house. And have someone rece this entire carpet."


    The metallic, foul smell was sickening.


    "Don''t let this bitch pollute the air in my home. It''s disgusting."


    Mrs. Mercer stood up, and James followed her like a dog. She smiled faintly, a chilling edge to her voice. "Why are you following me? Don''t you have apany to run? You just signed a huge deal. Shouldn''t you be at the office, bragging and celebrating?"


    Hearing that, James thought her anger might have subsided. He scurried over, bowing and scraping like a servant at her side.


    "You''re right, my dear. A celebration is definitely in order, and my wife deserves all the credit. I onlynded this deal because I have such a capable partner at home. You will be the guest of honor at thepany banquet."


    Lying on the floor, Patti finally understood that she had been used and thrown away like a dirty rag.


    She was weakening in the pool of her own blood, but she managed to shout, "James, you bastard! You never would have gotten that project if I hadn''t stolen Hawthorne''s hard drive for you!


    "You burned your bridges! You promised to save my father! You''re a monster!"


    But her voice was weak and broken. James was too busy cating his wife to hear her, or perhaps he heard and pretended not to.


    He shot a look at the bodyguards, who immediately dragged the bleeding Patti away.


    Mrs. Mercer stared daggers at James. "Let me be clear. I know everything you''ve done. Don''t think a few sweet words can fool me.


    "If you''re ever dishonest with me


    again, I''ll throw you out on the street


    with nothing. That woman was


    two faded, taking your


    money while


    conspiring with Hawthorne to frame you. And you think you''re cut out for big things? Get out of my sight. Cóntent


    "If it weren''t for your decent looks and your willingness to marry into our family, do you think I would have ever married you? James, take a good look at yourself. You think after a few good years, you can put on a nice suit and pretend you''re some big-shot CEO?


    "Without my father, without my family, you''re less than a dog."


    James stood there as his wife berated him like an animal. With her holding all the cards, he didn''t dare make a sound.


    Now that everything was out in the


    open, he didn''t even dare to


    That was terrifying. He was genuinely afraid Mrs. Mercer would tell her father, who would shut down thepany and kick him out of the family.


    All those years of swallowing his pride, enduring humiliation, and ying the dog for


    his father-inw''s family... The status he had so painfully earned had almost vanished in an instant.


    "That bitch Patti," he muttered. "She almost got me killed."


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!