"Isn''t there any other way?" she asked, unwilling to give up.


    "Not unless you can prove Mr. Goodwin engaged in fraudulent behavior, which I imagine would be very difficult."


    Vanessa ran a hand through her hair in anguish. Ian was ruthless. Did he n to have her trapped for life?


    Or was he getting revenge for all the things she''d done? Did he hate her for breaking up his marriage with Eleanor?


    A fierce resentment red in Vanessa''s eyes. It turned out that all her audacious behavior in front ofn over the years came with a price.


    Even though he had found another way to save his mother, he wouldn''t let her go free.


    She had to admit she''d gone too far in the past. She had been willful and reckless, constantly pushing his buttons.


    Vanessa recalled how triumphantly she had unted her rtionship withn in front of Eleanor, how she''d deliberately created intimate moments with him, and even how she''d forced him to her side at a family dinner by slitting her wrist.


    Thinking back, every timen had indulged her, he was just marking the price she would eventually have to pay.


    How pathetic.


    After thewyer left, Vanessa grabbed her purse and headed out, calling Laverne to go shopping with her at the mall.


    Whenever she was agitated, she''d browse jewelry or luxury brands. In the past, Henry had been the one to foot all her bills. Of course, she''d had other suitors, but she had rejected their advances forn''s sake. Looking back now, she realized how utterly foolish she had been.


    Vanessa walked into a jewelry store. The pieces in the disy cases didn''t interest her, and a salesperson was about to lead her to the VIP room when she saw a familiar person sitting on the sofa inside.


    Henry!


    He was picking out a diamond ring. Before he could spot her, Vanessa instinctively ducked behind an embroidered screen. Through the fine threads, she saw Henry carefully examining a pigeon''s egg-sized diamond ring, a gentle smile ying on his lips.


    "I''ll take this one," Henry said.


    "Mr. Holt, you''re so thoughtful towards your fiancée," the sales clerk ttered.


    Henry chuckled softly. "She deserves the best."


    Those words felt like a needle piercing Vanessa''s heart.


    She remembered how Henry had confessed his feelings for her multiple times, telling her she deserved the best. Now, Selma Quigley had hit the jackpot.


    Putting other things aside, Henry was far superior to other wealthy heirs in terms of looks, status, and character in the past seven year aside from his crush on her, he had never messed around with other women.


    Now, the man who had once beenpletely devoted to her was about to be someone else''s husband.


    "Mr. Holt, when is the wedding?" the clerk asked while wrapping the box.


    "In May," Henry replied, his voice filled with happiness.


    "Congrattions."


    After the salesperson saw Henry out, the one assisting Vanessa smiled and said, "Miss Shannon, this way, please."


    "Maybe next time," Vanessa said, suddenly losing her mood for jewelry. Besides, she had onlye to browse, with no real intention of buying anything.


    She loved diamonds, but she couldn''t bring herself to spend her own money on them.


    Just then, her phone rang. It was Rnd. Vanessa tensed up. "Hello, Dad."


    "Vanessa, did you go ask Mr. Goodwin to help us or not? Why have ourpany''s orders been cut in half this month?"


    Vanessa clutched her phone and hurried to a quiet corner of the mall. "Dad, you need to figure something out!"


    "If I had a solution, I wouldn''t be calling you," Rnd said, his voiceced with anxiety. "At this rate, thepany won''tst another three. months. Vanessa, what''s going on with you and Mr. Goodwin? Why haven''t you gone to him yet"


    "Dad, you''re overestimating my influence. Do you really thinkn does everything I ask?" Vanessa lowered her voice. It seemed she had to be honest with her father about some things. She couldn''t let him pin all thepany''s hopes on her.