Hearing that familiar deep voice, Vanessa suddenlyughed, a flirtatious sound. "And? What are you going to do about it?"


    Herughter turned mocking. "You don''t need me anymore, remember? Why do you care what I do?"


    "Our transaction is not yetplete," Ian stated, his tone t but carrying an undeniable weight of authority. "Do not test my limits."


    Vanessaughed again, a triumphant sound this time. "Limits? So you do still need me, don''t you? You still have to control me."


    Feeling as though she had regained the upper hand, and emboldened by the alcohol, she listened to his cold but still intoxicatingly sexy voice and bit her lip. "Beg me,n. Beg me to stay alive, and I''ll continue to keep your mother alive. Otherwise... do you really think I won''t die just to spite you? I wouldn''t mind adding another scar to my wrist-you-"


    The line went dead.


    Vanessa stared at the disconnected call in disbelief. With a cry of rage, she hurled the phone onto the adjacent sofa cushion, buried her head in her hands, and began to sob.


    Laverne silently picked up the phone. She finally understood whyn needed Vanessa. She was donating blood to save Mrs. Goodwin,n''s mother.


    So that was the source of Vanessa''s unique leverage over him.


    She gently rubbed Vanessa''s back. "Vanessa, you need to pull yourself together. Even without the title of Mrs. Goodwin, you''ve already achieved more than most people could ever dream of."


    Vanessa snatched a tissue and wiped her tear-streaked face, her red-rimmed eyes ring at Laverne. "What do you know? I''ve invested ten years of my life in him. Do you really think I''d be satisfied with just this?"


    Laverne froze, Sometimes,


    het


    Vanessa''s ambition and desire were staggering even to her. She had amassed a fortune that most people couldnt earn in several lifetimes, but it was clear she wasn''t satisfied. Her status as a world-renowned pianist, her multi-million-dor endorsement deals she would throw them all away in an instant. The only thing she''d ever truly wanted was to ben''s wife.


    Laverne had thought that aftern''s divorce, Vanessa would immediately take her ce. Vanessa had always hinted as much, suggesting thatr loved her, doted on her and would give her anything she wanted Tonight, Laverne finally realized it was all a self-deceiving fantasy.


    Having been by Vanessa''s side for years, Laverne knew the truth behind the public image. Vanessa''s early tabloid scandals were all


    orchestrated by Laverne herself. She would send photographers to tail them, and whenever Vanessa andn appeared together, Vanessa would strike a certain pose on expression. Three different photographers would capture the moment, and Laverne would select the best shots for the press. At first, she worried the Goodwin family would intervene, but Vanessa had confidently assured her they wouldn''t.


    Now it was clear that Vanessa''s confidence stemmed fromn''s tacit permission.


    But now, not only hadn ignored her threats about drinking, he had hung up on her. This unprecedented coldness made Laverne realize that Vanessa''s greatest leverage was likely gone for good.


    As her agent, however, Laverne had her own interests to protect. She couldn''t let Vanessa actually self-destruct.


    "Vanessa, snap out of it! You''re going to ruin yourself," Laverne said, reaching for the liquor bottle.


    Vanessa set the bottle down, a cool resolve gradually recing the hysteria in her eyes. She had known this day mighte. And she had prepared a backup n.