"It''sn''s phone, Vanessa."


    Vanessa took a deep breath, her fingertips trembling as she answered the call.


    She made her voice soft on purpose. "Ian, why call me all of a sudden?"


    Nowadays, even matters like blood draws were handled by theb. She thoughtn would never contact her again.


    Vanessa quickly exined, "I just had a small drinkst night at a business dinner with my father."


    Vanessa clenched her phone, her nails digging into her palm. "Ian, are you threatening me? Don''t forget, I saved your mother''s life."


    A moment of silence followed beforen''s voice, terrifyingly calm, came through. "That''s the only reason I''ve tolerated you until now."


    The words were like a bucket of cold water, instantly extinguishing Vanessa''s anger. She opened her mouth but found she couldn''t make a sound.


    "Remember my words,"n said finally. "This is myst warning."


    The call ended, and the dial tone pierced Vanessa''s ears.


    Laverne whispered, "What did he say?"


    Vanessa threw her phone onto the sofa and gritted her teeth. "He said I drank and it affected the experiment''s progress. He threatened me, telling me not to touch alcohol again." Suddenly, she threw a cushion across the room and screamed, "Why? Why is he treating me like this? Just because I love him? Does that give him the right to trample on my feelings?"


    Laverne went to pick up the cushion and looked back at the anguished Vanessa, unsure of how tofort her.


    She had lost all control over the man she once manipted. In fact, she was now firmly under his thumb.


    "I won''t let my life be like this. I refuse to ept it!" Vanessa cried, clutching her head in pain.


    Just then, Laverne''s phone rang. She picked it up. "Hello?"


    "Laverne, we found out. Mr. Wells is having a business dinner at a restaurant tonight."


    "Okay, send me the address," Laverne said.


    An address was sent over. Laverne immediately looked up the restaurant''s details andyout. When she saw a grand piano in the center of the dining room, an idea sparked.


    She rushed over to the distraught Vanessa. "Vanessa, this is your chance. Pull yourself together. You''re going to ''run into'' Mr. Wells tonight."


    Vanessa wiped her tears and listened as Laverne exined the n. A fierce look of defiance shed in her eyes. n, one day I will break free from you.*


    At Yeaton Manor.


    ???


    Faye Yeaton had recently taken an extended leave from work. She simply wasn''t in the mood to do anything since discovering that Vanessa owned thirteen percent of her father''spany. In hereyes, Vanessa was now an enemy.


    She had also learned from her father that the thirteen percent stake was actually


    mother was so angry she hadn''t spoken to her father in days.


    She regretted not seeing Vanessa''s true colors sooner. She had assumed that once Vanessa married into the Goodwin family, she would be content with their billions and lose interest in the reaton''s assets. She never imagined that before Vanessa had evemarried in, she had already gottenn to snatch a ten percent stake in Yeaton Holdings for her.


    Faye was idly scrolling through the news on the sofa when she came across the business report. She saw the photo of Eleanorn and the group of magnates, and her eyes widened in jealous disbelief at Eleanor''s current sess.


    Two years ago, they were just fellow researchers in the sameb. Now, Eleanor had received eighty billion in a divorce settlement and had soared in her scientific career to be a top figure in her field.


    The man chatting amiably with Eleanor in the photo was the chairman of a major pharmaceuticalpany. Had Eleanor started moving in such elite circles?


    The confident smile on Eleanor''s face in the photo stung her eyes. Why did Eleanor get to reach such heights? Seeing the wayn looked back at Eleanor made her feelings even moreplicated.


    She both hoped Ian would dump Vanessa and prayed he wouldn''t remarry Eleanor, which would make Eleanor''s life even more perfect.


    But it was clear that withn as the new chairman of The Guild of Commerce, he could provide Eleanor with better opportunities and solve more of her problems, only elevating her further.


    "Eleanor, why is your life so easy?" Faye clenched her fists. Over the past two years, Vanessa had seemingly offered her benefits, but none of them were substantial.


    Now, she didn''t care for them anymore. Even if it meant giving up her career as a researcher, she was determined to protect her family''s assets from Vanessa''s grasp.