The Best Is Yet to Come

Lindsey Johnson asks her fiance's true love, Stephanie Sullivan, to repay her debt. The next day, Jacob Whitaker throws at her a ledger that she had never seen before. Every single expense from their five-year relationship is recorded inside. From small things like two-dollar ice cream to the expensive items like the luxury bags he gave her. Even the costs of hotel stays and condoms are recorded in the ledger. "I'll split half the hotel bills with you. After deducting the 100 grand Stephie owes you, you still owe me 2.08 million. You have one month to transfer the month to my account." Chapter 1 Lindsey Johnson had gone to demand repayment from her fiance's true love, Stephanie Sullivan. The next day, Jacob Whitaker threw a ledger at her. It was one that she had never seen before. Inside, every single expense from their five-year relationship was written down. From two-dollar ice cream to designer handbags he had given her. Even hotel bills and condom purchases were meticulously recorded. "I'll split the hotel bills with you. After deducting the 100 grand Stephie owes you, you still owe me 2.08 million. You have one month to transfer the money to my account." Leaning lazily on the couch, Jacob raised his head and gave Lindsey a mocking look. The strange and unfamiliar gaze in his eyes made her tremble. "What?" he pressed. "Can't you afford to pay it back? Didn't you consider whether Stephie had the money when you forced her to pay up by threatening and humiliating her?" The private room fell into a terrifying silence, and everyone's eyes were locked on Lindsey. A moment later, a wave of jeering laughter erupted. "Jake, Lindsey's broke. Where would she get 2.08 million to repay you?" "She had no shame and lured you into bed back then. Who is she going to sell herself to this time to pay you back?" "What's 2.08 million anyway? Lindsey, I'll give you 2.5 million if you serve me well tonight!" Jacob chuckled lightly and swirled his glass of wine indifferently. "Well, that's none of my business. Lindsey, I'll have to take you to court if you can't pay on time." As she heard that, the color drained from Lindsey's face instantly. Her heart felt like it had been stabbed by a knife. The pain was so sharp that she nearly doubled over. It wasn't the first time Jacob found fault with her for the sake of Stephanie, who had just returned from abroad. The first time was because she didn't cook for Stephanie in time, and he punished her by refusing to let her eat for three days. The second time was because she accidentally broke Stephanie's tablet. Jacob actually fractured her arm for that mistake. The third time was simply because Stephanie was feeling down. Jacob made Lindsey dress up like a clown and perform a fire-eating act. That nearly cost her life. At this moment, she merely wanted to reclaim the 100 grand Stephanie begged to borrow in tears back then. However, Jacob dragged her here to be publicly humiliated by a bunch of rich young scions. Everyone was just waiting to see her fall. Lindsey thought of her mother, Jenny Cooper, and her expensive medical bills. She forced a smile and looked at the man next to Jacob, Richard Smith. "Will you really give me 2.5 million if I serve you well?" Richard's interest was piqued instantly. With Jacob's silent approval, he called the waiter and ordered ten bottles of strong liquor. "Lindsey, I'll give you 2.5 million if you can finish these ten bottles today!" Without hesitation, Lindsey grabbed a bottle and started gulping it down. The high alcohol content felt as if it were burning a hole in her stomach. She couldn't help but furrow her brows at the pain while cold sweat poured down her face. Countless mocking gazes were fixed upon her, and Jacob's was the coldest of them all. However, Lindsey didn't care. She really needed the money. Desperate, even. It could be said that her dignity was worth nothing in front of money. After she had down ten bottles, Lindsey's eyes were terrifyingly bloodshot. She held out her hand to Richard. "Where's the money?" But he turned to Jacob and asked, "Jake, should I give it to her or not?" Jacob raised an eyebrow and said with a faint smile, "Go ahead. It's just pocket change to you, so treat it as charity to a poor beggar." Richard tossed a bank card at Lindsey's feet. She bent down, picked it up, and rushed to the hospital immediately. Her mother's surgery could finally be done now that she had this money. But when Lindsey arrived at the hospital to pay the remaining surgical fees, the doctor told her in a regretful tone, "Ms. Johnson, Mr. Whitaker gave strict orders to stop all treatment for your mother. I'm sorry, but there's nothing we can do." Lindsey felt as if her world was collapsing around her. She called Jacob's phone in a panic and begged him to save her mother. However, a cold laugh came from the other end of the call. "Didn't she just have surgery last week? One less surgery won't kill her, right? Consider it your punishment for making Stephanie sad." As the call was hung up, Lindsey heard a sharp beep coming from the hospital room. The monitor that once displayed the rising and falling waves of Jenny's vital signs became a flat, lifeless line. Her phone dropped to the floor with a clatter. Lindsey's eyes reddened as she lunged toward the bed. She grasped Jenny's hand with trembling fingers, but the ice-cold sensation froze her to the core. "Mom… Mom!" Her wails of despair pierced through the long and silent night. Her eyes hollow, Lindsey kneeled at her mother's bedside for a whole day and night. It wasn't until the first ray of morning light shone into the hospital room that she was finally forced to accept the reality of her mother's death. The doctor handed her a letter with a heavy heart. "Ms. Johnson, this was written by your mother in her final moments. My condolences." The letter was quite short, but Lindsey couldn't stop her tears from falling. She read, "Lindy, you must run. Your life is just beginning." Her mother's final gift to her was freedom. Lindsey had nothing left to lose. After arranging for Jenny's funeral, she called the number of the National Institute of Research without hesitation. "Dr. Hudson, I've decided. I want to join this research project." Chapter 2 Frank Hudson's voice trembled with excitement over the phone. "Lindy, are you serious? Has your mother's situation been resolved? And that man—" "My mom has passed away," Lindsey cut him off. "And that man is useless now." There was a pause on the other end. Then, Frank spoke in a gentle tone, "Lindy, I don't know what happened to you in the past five years, but the most painful moments are often the periods when we have the most growth. Your life is just beginning." After all, how could the life of a prodigy like Lindsey end up tangled in the mess that was Jacob? Perhaps, Lindsey did have some affection for Jacob once. He was handsome, treated her well, and willingly spent money on her mother's medical treatment. What reason did she have to be dissatisfied? However, everything was shattered the day Stephanie returned from abroad. Jacob, who rarely drank alcohol, muttered the truth in a drunken stupor, "Stephie, I missed you so much that it's driving me crazy. If only I hadn't taken you in back then…" Lindsey picked up the photo he had dropped on the floor. She was a beautiful young lady and somewhat resembled herself, but Lindsey knew clearly that she was just the disposable stand-in for Stephanie. Whatever feelings Lindsey had for Jacob were utterly burned to ashes from that moment on. She obediently played the role of a stand-in and endured all the vulgar deeds in bed that Jacob didn't dare to do to Stephanie. She thought that she would leave him without hesitation once her mother recovered from her illness. But in the end, all she got for enduring was her mother's corpse and Jacob's heartless message. "Do you know what you've done wrong now?" Lindsey stared at the message for a long time. Instinctively, she opened Jacob's Facebook post. It was a photo of the beach, ocean, sunset, and Stephanie's ethereal beauty. Those were all paid for with her mother's life! Lindsey called a cab and returned to the villa to pack her luggage. As soon as she entered, she saw Jacob sitting on the couch with a dark expression. "Where did you go? Why didn't you reply to my message?" His tone was cold, heartless, and arrogant. Lindsey couldn't understand it herself. She couldn't help wondering why she had ever liked him back then. Seeing that she had no intention of responding to him, Jacob stormed upstairs and grabbed her wrist violently. "Lindsey, you made Stephie so upset. What right do you have to be angry with me?" Lindsey sucked in a sharp breath from the pain, but she calmly met his furious gaze. "So what? How should I apologize to her this time? Another fire-eating performance? Breaking my other hand? Or down ten more bottles of liquor?" Jacob was stunned when Lindsey, who was usually meek and timid like a bunny, suddenly revealed her sharp claws. Surprisingly, he calmed down and said, "Come with me to the Whitaker estate. Grandpa wants to meet you." As if remembering something, he added, "I'll give you 100 grand. You know what to say and what you shouldn't." Lindsey chuckled. The Whitaker family was very strict on family values and proper upbringing. When the patriarch of the family, Edison Whitaker, found out that Jacob didn’t regard Stephanie merely as a junior, but had romantic feelings for her, he immediately sent her overseas. Right after that, he arranged countless dates to find a partner for Jacob. However, Jacob only had eyes for Lindsey, who hid away in a corner. The reason was that she simply resembled Stephanie a lot. That night, he forced himself on her under the influence of alcohol. One lacked love, while the other lacked money. Naturally, they ended up developing a mutually beneficial relationship. The scenery outside the window blurred as the car sped past. They finally pulled up at the front gates of the Whitaker estate. The moment the car door opened, a petite figure flung herself into Jacob's arms. "Jake, I missed you so much!" Jacob's cold expression softened instantly. He picked her up in his arms and said in an affectionate tone, "Why aren't you wearing your shoes? What if you catch a cold?" "It's alright even if I catch a cold. Then, you'll have to stay by my side and take care of me," she said. They flirted openly like there was no one else around, as if they were a couple in the throes of passion. The Whitakers' butler, Derek Brown, reminded Jacob gently, "Mr. Jacob, Mr. Whitaker Senior's health hasn't been good lately. Please try to restrain yourself." After all, Jacob got into an argument with Edison over Stephanie the last time they came to the Whitaker estate. Edison was so angry that his blood pressure spiked, and he was rushed to the hospital that night. Jacob furrowed his brow and asked irritably, "Why does the old man want to see Lindsey all of a sudden? Did some gossip reach the Whitaker family again?" At that moment, an authoritative voice came from upstairs. "And what is the gossip that I can't hear about?" Edison was coming down the stairs, descending steadily with his cane in hand. Lindsey quickly stepped forward to support him. Aside from Jenny, Edison was the only person who ever truly treated her like family. Edison gave Lindsey a warm smile. When he turned, he saw Jacob and Stephanie in each other's arms. Fury welled up within him. "What a disgrace to see you two flirting publicly in front of everyone!" Jacob's expression turned cold as he finally let go of Stephanie's hand. "Why did you call me and Lindsey to come back here?" Edison snorted and said, "Of course, we have to talk about your marriage with Lindy! You've been together for five years, so it's time to get married. I've made arrangements for you and Lindy to register your marriage and hold the wedding one month from today!" Chapter 3 Stephanie's face turned pale the moment she heard Edison's words. "I refuse!" Jacob said flatly. Edison struck him hard on the back with his cane. He was furious beyond belief. "You ungrateful child! You were the one who insisted on being with Lindy back then. You even swore in front of your parents' graves that you'd give her a happy life. "And now look at you. You've delayed the wedding year after year. It's been five years! How much longer are you going to waste Lindy's time?" Lindsey lowered her gaze. She suddenly recalled that she and Jacob had shared some good memories too. He was a decisive and ruthless man on the outside, but he had once been thoughtful and considerate for her sake as well. Back then, just because Lindsey said she was afraid, Jacob spared the life of an enemy who tried to kill him. From that moment on, everyone knew he had a weakness. Jacob had calmness and composure etched into his bones, but he stayed up all night keeping watch at her bedside on the third night of her persistent fever. Lindsey had once casually mentioned liking magnolia flowers, and he had rows of magnolia trees planted all around the villa. But later, Stephanie's name was carved onto every single one of those trees. Just like at this moment… With just one teary-eyed look from Stephanie, Jacob was willing to go against the entire world for her sake. "I won't marry Lindsey," he said. "She's not good enough for me." He then took Stephanie's hand, his eyes seemingly crazed with reckless resolve. "The one I truly love is Stephie. I will marry no one but her. I can agree to pretend that Lindsey is my fiancee in public, but I can't do it if you want me to marry her." With that, he fell to his knees with a thud. Stephanie followed suit and kneeled before Edison. Her teary eyes were filled with stubborn determination. "Grandpa, please give us your blessing to be together!" Edison was so furious that his breathing grew rapid, and his chest heaved violently. "Get out! Go and reflect on yourselves in the family chapel!" Amid countless shocked stares, Jacob and Stephanie walked into the chapel together, hands tightly clasped. Lindsey watched the entire scene expressionlessly. She couldn't help but feel how ridiculous this whole situation was. She took out a wooden box from her bag. Inside the box was a priceless emerald bracelet, a family heirloom of the Whitaker family. Edison froze for a moment. "Lindy, what are you…" Lindsey stepped backward and nodded respectfully. "Mr. Whitaker Senior, thank you for taking care of me these past five years. However, I really can't stay by Jacob's side anymore." Edison tried to persuade her otherwise, but Lindsey didn't hesitate. She placed the bracelet down and left without looking back. As she passed the chapel, she heard kissing sounds coming from inside. She peeked through a crack in the door and saw Jacob and Stephanie's figures entangled intimately in a passionate kiss. Lindsey didn't stop in her tracks. She turned around and left the Whitaker estate. First, she went to a bank and transferred 2.5 million dollars to Jacob's account. Next, she went to Whitaker Group and resigned from her position as Jacob's secretary. The HR manager was one of Lindsey's few friends. She said sincerely, "Lindy, congratulations on finally getting out of that nightmare." Similarly, Lindsey felt as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. She owed Jacob nothing anymore. She returned to the villa that evening. Suddenly, a glass of water flew at her. It shattered at her feet, and the flying glass shards cut into her leg. Jacob stormed over to Lindsey and grabbed her by the throat. "Lindsey! Grandpa always treated you like his own granddaughter, and this is how you repay him? By pushing him down the stairs?" he demanded. Lindsey's face turned red from lack of air, the veins in her neck swelling. She slapped Jacob's hands desperately, trying to survive. "No, I didn't… It wasn't me!" A pitiful voice drifted down from upstairs. "Ms. Johnson, Mr. Brown already confirmed that it was you who pushed Grandpa down the stairs. Are you still going to lie? Jacob, is this the woman you chose? She can't even admit what she's done. What a coward!" Jacob pushed Lindsey hard into a corner. She coughed violently. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of the smug glint in Stephanie's eyes. At that moment, her scalp tingled with fear. She didn't need to think twice. Stephanie was the one who pushed Edison down the stairs. Suddenly, an urgent ringing sound was heard. Derek's voice rang out. "Mr. Jacob, Mr. Whitaker Senior is losing blood quickly, but the supply at the hospital's blood bank is critically low…" Lindsey couldn't catch whatever he said next, because Stephanie added fuel to the fire. "Jacob, I remember Ms. Johnson has the same blood type as Grandpa, right?" A bone-chilling fear surged through Lindsey's body, from her head to her toes. A second later, Jacob forcefully dragged her to the hospital and brought her into the emergency room. "Draw her blood. I don't care if she dies as long as Grandpa survives!" Lindsey was then bound with thick ropes as the cold needle pierced into her veins. Her eyes filled with despair. "Jacob, I'm willing to donate my blood to Mr. Whitaker Senior even if you hadn't asked," she said. "But I didn't push him down the stairs! You can't just trample on my dignity like this!" Jacob sneered. "Still lying? Grandpa treated you so well, and this is how you repay him? You'd better pray that he lives. Otherwise, you'll pay for his death with your blood!" Anger, grief, humiliation, and despair swirled within her chest. Lindsey could feel her blood draining away, and her body temperature was plummeting. It felt as if she were standing at death's door. Did her mother also suffer in pain like this when she had no one to turn to for help? Dazed, Lindsey smiled through her tears. In her half-conscious state, she seemed to hear her mother calling her. "Mom, are you coming to take me now?" Lindsey thought. Chapter 4 Lindsey had a very long dream. In her dream, Stephanie hadn't yet returned to the country. She and Jacob were still a couple deeply in love. He would take her to hang out with his friends, proudly showing her off like she was his entire world. Jacob would also accompany her to visit Jenny at the hospital. He tried his best to win her mother's favor and cautiously hoped that Jenny would acknowledge him as her son-in-law. He had done so much for her and given her countless memories of heart-pounding moments. Lindsey truly believed they would have a future together. Her dream was finally shattered when she was abruptly woken up by a bucket of ice-cold water dumped over her head. Her thin clothes were completely soaked, and a cold gust of wind pierced her body with unbearable pain. Jacob sat in a chair and looked down at her with a cold gaze. "You should be grateful that Grandpa pulled through. Otherwise, you would've lost your life on the operating table. However, you're going to stay here to reflect on your actions until he wakes up. Be ready to donate blood at any time." A loud explosion went off in Lindsey's mind, and goosebumps appeared all over her body. This solitary chamber was where Jacob dealt with his enemies. Countless lives had ended in this place. It hadn't seen daylight in years, and the air in the space itself reeked of blood. Once, Lindsey had asked teasingly, "If we ever become enemies in the future, would you lock me in here and torture me too?" Back then, Jacob had promised her with conviction. "No, that would never happen to us." But now, he had personally thrown her into this abyss full of bones because of a lie riddled with holes! Lindsey was utterly heartbroken. She felt as if her heart was being cut open bit by bit with a blunt knife. She looked up at Jacob and spoke clearly in defense of herself, "I did not push Mr. Whitaker Senior down the stairs. I'm innocent, and I won't reflect on something I never did." She scrambled to get up, but her whole body felt like it was falling apart. She simply couldn't stand on her feet. Jacob let out a cold laugh. "Lindsey, you've perfectly mastered the act of playing innocent, but I'll never believe a word you say ever again!" With that, he turned and left. The lights in the room went out completely. Lindsey was plunged into the pitch-black darkness, thick with the stench of blood. A suffocating fear engulfed her. She broke down and screamed at the top of her lungs. It wasn't until her voice had turned hoarse that the door to the solitary chamber was flung open. Stephanie gave Lindsey a condescending look and spat with contempt, "You hussy! If it weren't for the fact that your face resembles mine, Jacob wouldn't spare you a second glance! But it doesn't matter. As long as I ruin this face of yours, you won't be able to seduce him ever again!" Stephanie approached menacingly with a knife. Her eyes were filled with jealous rage and madness. She slashed the blade toward Lindsey's face. Lindsey's survival instincts kicked in, and her eyes turned bloodshot. Instinctively, she raised her hand to block the attack. However, the pain she expected never came. Suddenly, a thunderous roar came from the doorway. "Lindsey!" A second later, Lindsey was shoved to the floor by brute force, and her forehead slammed into a corner of the wall. What was worse, she fell directly onto a pile of bones. The crunch of bones cracking under her weight made her scalp tingle, and she screamed in fear. But what truly shocked her was that Stephanie actually stabbed the knife into her own left shoulder. She collapsed into a pool of blood. "Lindsey, I came to save you… but you tried to kill me…" Lindsey panicked. She wanted to explain to Jacob that she didn't hurt Stephanie. However, Jacob was more panicked than she was. He carried Stephanie, who was covered with blood, in his arms and rushed to the hospital. Then, he gathered the most experienced doctors for Stephanie's surgery. His white shirt was stained with blood, his arm was bleeding from scraping against a rusty metal door, and his eyes were bloodshot. Jacob looked frantic, vulnerable, and on the verge of breaking down. He even yelled angrily at his friends who came to console him. "Get lost!" Finally, Jacob fell to his knees in front of the hospital window and prayed to the skies with reverence, "If Stephie dies, I won't live either!" This was a side of Jacob that Lindsey had never seen. The doors to the operating room suddenly burst open, and a nurse rushed out in a hurry. "The patient is experiencing massive blood loss, but the hospital blood bank is running low…" Jacob rolled up his sleeves without hesitation. "Take my blood! I have the same blood type as Stephie. I can save her!" Jacob's friends were shocked and tried to stop him. "Jake, have you gone mad? She's just a woman. No matter how much you love her, she's not worth you going this far!" However, Jacob's eyes were terrifyingly cold. "Stephie is the love of my life, and she's my everything! Without her, I can't go on living!" The surgery lasted for a whole day and night. Stephanie finally made it through. Although Jacob had lost a dangerous amount of blood, he was overjoyed with the results. He cleared out the entire hospital and called in all the doctors to serve Stephanie alone. He also never took one step away from her bedside. Everyone was praising the greatness of their love, but Lindsey couldn't help remembering the terrible state Jenny was in before she died. It turned out that Jacob had the final say over someone's life and death. How ironic was it? Chapter 5 Stephanie was hospitalized for two weeks, and Jacob stayed by her side the entire time. During those two weeks, Lindsey packed up her luggage and moved out of the villa that had imprisoned her for five years. She rented a small apartment with the little savings she had left and returned to work at the bar where she used to have a part-time job. She had to endure these last two weeks before she could officially return to the National Institute of Research. However, she hadn't expected to run into Jacob again so soon. To celebrate Stephanie's discharge, he booked out the entire bar and invited all the rich young scions of Janderville for a party all night long. The lights in the bar were dim, and the music boomed as loud as thunder. Meanwhile, Jacob took great care of Stephanie the whole time. His friends surrounded her and fussed over her as well. Lindsey didn't want to be involved with any of them, so she texted her boss to request leave. However, Stephanie called out to her just as she was about to leave, "Lindsey, you've done such horrible things to me, yet you don't even have a single word of apology? Now you're trying to run away too?" Her teary eyes aroused the pity of everyone who saw her, but Lindsey merely cast her a cold glance. "I'll say it one more time. I didn't do any of those things. If you keep spreading lies, I'll sue you for defamation." With that, Lindsey turned to leave. However, Jacob ordered his bodyguards to block her path. A glass of strong liquor was dumped all over Lindsey's head, and a wave of humiliation overwhelmed her like never before. The loud, jarring music was cut off instantly. The group of wild partygoers fell silent at that moment and stared at her gloatingly. Jacob sneered. "Trying to run away after what you did? Lindsey, why haven't I ever realized what a vicious woman you really are? First, you hurt Grandpa. Now, you dared to lay a hand on Stephie. What's next? Planning to turn me into a puppet and keep me by your side forever?" His face looked a little pale from days of exhaustion, but his gaze was locked onto Lindsey. His eyes were as sharp as a blade. Lindsey felt mentally drained from repeating herself. "I've already told you. I didn't push Mr. Whitaker Senior, and I didn't hurt Stephanie either." Nonetheless, Lindsey knew she sounded unconvincing and powerless even as the words came out of her mouth. The surveillance cameras were broken, human witnesses had been bribed, and Jacob was blinded by love. She said, "I swear on my life that I didn't stab Stephanie. If I'm lying, I'm willing to be cursed with a terrible death. But Stephanie, do you dare to swear on your life? Do you dare swear that this whole thing wasn't an act you set up?" "That's enough!" Jacob snapped and shielded Stephanie behind him. "Lindsey, you still show no remorse! Then, don't blame me for disregarding our past and teaching you a lesson about our family's values!" Lindsey's legs buckled, and the bodyguards forced Lindsey to her knees in front of everyone. She struggled violently, but the threat of death filled her with fear. Jacob took a leather whip from one of the bodyguards and approached her slowly. "Are you scared now? Did you ever think about how heartbroken Grandpa and Stephie were when you hurt them?" With that, he swung the whip with a crack. The first blow landed square on her back. Lindsey's body jerked violently like she had been electrocuted. The pain was so intense that she couldn't speak. "Speak!" Jacob raised his voice, filled with fury. "Do you admit your mistake?" "I won't…" Lindsey's voice was weak but stubborn. Jacob laughed in exasperation and raised the whip again. "You won't? Do you think you could avoid responsibility just by refusing to admit your fault? You're a criminal, Lindsey!" The sound of the cracking whip and the crowd's jeering laughter suffocated Lindsey, and she found it hard to breathe. But the more they crushed her, the more defiant she became. Lindsey suddenly burst into laughter. She laughed so hard that tears appeared in her eyes. "I didn't do anything wrong! Why should I admit to something I didn't do? My biggest mistake in this life was getting involved with a beast like you! Jacob, you're the real heinous villain here!" Stephanie furrowed her brow. "Lindsey, I won't let you insult Jacob like that—" "And who do you think you are? Do you think you're any better?" Lindsey cut her off coldly, shouting like a madwoman. "You're just a pathetic parasite leeching onto others! What right do you have to order me around?" Jacob was beside himself with anger. He cracked the whip and struck Lindsey's body ruthlessly. "This is for Grandpa," he said after the first blow. "This is punishment for daring to harm Stephie," he growled on the second blow. And on the third blow, he shouted, "This one is a warning. Don't even dream of becoming the mistress of the Whitaker family!" … All 64 lashes seemed to land squarely on Lindsey's heart. A sweet, metallic taste rose in her throat. She spat out a mouthful of blood and fainted on the spot. Lindsey found herself in a hospital room when she woke up once more. The television in the room was looping a live video of her being whipped. Her agonized screams of pain seemed to spur on their drunken revelry, and her bloodied back was doused repeatedly with liquor by malicious bystanders. She lay there like a piece of ragged cloth, forgotten and discarded in a corner. Lindsey was finally saved when the bar owner came to check the place and found her barely alive. There was no sorrow greater than a broken heart. Despite her sadness, Lindsey couldn't even shed a tear. Suddenly, a voice called out, "You're awake?" Chapter 6 The door to Lindsey's hospital room had opened at some point, and Stephanie strolled in leisurely. Her complexion was healthy and rosy. She didn't look at all like someone who had just recovered from a serious illness. Lindsey sneered, "The two weeks you spent at the hospital… It was all an act, right?" "So what if it was?" she replied smugly. "Jacob would kill or die for me as long as I put on a pitiful act. Very soon, I'll be standing proudly by his side." With that, she threw a plastic bag at Lindsey. Inside was the urn that held Jenny's ashes. Lindsey felt as if her blood had frozen in her veins. She opened the urn with trembling hands, only to find it empty. "What… What did you do? Where are my mother's ashes?" Stephanie gleefully admired the devastated look on Lindsey's face. She said, "By the way, it was my suggestion to have the hospital stop your mother's treatment. See? Jacob could ruthlessly take the life of your closest family with just a single word from me. What else do you have to compare yourself to me?" As if trying to flaunt Jacob's affection for her, Stephanie raised her left hand. A dazzling diamond ring sparkled on her ring finger. Lindsey recognized it immediately. It was the pink diamond that Jacob had bought at an auction six months ago for 100 million dollars. At that time, everyone thought that good news was on the horizon for both of them. The entire venue had erupted in cheers, urging Jacob to propose to her. However, he retorted coldly, "It's not for her." Stephanie gloated smugly, "Jacob said that I deserve all the rare treasures of the world, including him. Only I am worthy of a man like him!" Lindsey couldn't hold back any longer. She raised her hand and slapped Stephanie across the face and grabbed her by the throat. "You're the one who killed my mother! You should die! Die!" The desire to avenge her mother's death made Lindsey's eyes turn bloodshot. It was a stark contrast to the smug smile lingering on Stephanie's face. Suddenly, a vase came crashing down on the back of Lindsey's head. Warm blood trickled down her forehead and onto the floor. Jacob pushed Lindsey away and slapped her across the face without mercy. "You crazy woman!" Lindsey's heart felt as if it were being crushed by an invisible hand. The pain in her chest was unbearable. Crazy? She could be crazier. Consumed by hatred, Lindsey picked up a broken vase shard on the ground and lunged at Stephanie, aiming for the vital spot in her neck. However, Jacob gripped her wrists tightly and restrained her. "Both of you killed my mother! You two deserve to die!" Lindsey screamed with reddened eyes. Jacob finally noticed that something was wrong with her. He was utterly shocked when his gaze dropped to the urn in her arms. "What do you mean by that? Your mother…" Past memories flashed in his mind and landed on something he had said a month ago, "Didn't she just have surgery last week? One less surgery won't kill her, right?" Stephanie quickly interrupted his train of thought when she saw the shock and disbelief surfacing in Jacob's eyes. She said, "Jacob, don't believe what she says! I saw her mother taking a walk outside the hospital two days ago. How could she suddenly be dead? Lindsey, how could you even lie about your mother's death to make Jacob feel sorry for you?" Hearing this, the guilt in Jacob's eyes vanished immediately and was replaced with icy disdain. He ordered that Lindsey be thrown into a psychiatric hospital and gave explicit instructions for her to receive "special treatment". On her first day at the psychiatric hospital, Lindsey broke a window and tried to escape. However, she was caught and beaten up. On the second day, she was forcibly strapped to an operating table and had shock therapy without anesthesia. Lindsey finally gave in on the third day and begged to see Jacob. However, she was greeted by a group of filthy beggars. They fixed their gazes on Lindsey the moment they entered the room, and sleazy grins spread across their faces. "Sure enough, Mr. Whitaker was right. She looks really fine!" Color drained from Lindsey's face. "Did Jacob send you?" "Who else?" The beggars surrounded her and approached menacingly. "Mr. Whitaker said that we could enjoy your company tonight…" Lindsey was seized by terror and backed away in fright, but the group descended on her like a pack of wolves. She kicked and struggled violently, but her terrified screams only seemed to excite them more. Slaps rained down on her face. The group of beggars pinned her down and tore at her clothes violently. "Why are you still putting on an act? Those private videos of you and Mr. Whitaker are everywhere. Your moans sounded so lewd, and now you want to act all pure? Who would believe you?" The blood in Lindsey's body rushed to her head in shock. She felt a heavy sense of impending doom. Jacob had a hidden fetish that no one knew. He liked taking private videos whenever they made love. Lindsey was overcome by shame when he brought out the camera for the first time. "Can we not record this?" Jacob chuckled lazily and persuaded her in a gentle tone, "Just trust me. These will be our most precious memories." Their wild and shameless acts were completely recorded on camera, from the bedroom, to the study, the bathroom, and even in his office. But Lindsey had never imagined that one day, the so-called precious memories would become the very weapon he used to destroy her. Just when she was about to give up on all hope, the door to her room was suddenly kicked open. Jacob stormed in like a monster from the inferno, fury and wrath burning in his eyes. He grabbed one of the beggars by the collar and began raining heavy punches on his face. Loud wails and screams pierced the night as the room was filled with the stench of blood. After all these years, Lindsey finally felt the warmth of Jacob's body temperature once more. She trembled involuntarily before everything went black, and she passed out in his arms. Chapter 7 Lindsey found herself lying on a bed in the villa when she woke up once more. A shrill scream came from the living room. She struggled to get out of bed and opened a crack in the door. She saw Jacob sitting expressionlessly on the couch with the group of beggars kneeling before him. There were wounds all over their body, and they were trembling in fear. They mumbled their pleas through bloodied mouths, "Please let us go!" However, Jacob gave his verdict like a decisive judge. He ordered his bodyguards to break their arms and had their tongues cut out to keep them silent. "She's not someone you're allowed to touch!" he declared. Then, Jacob gave his bodyguards a signal before they dragged the beggars out. This scene felt surreal to Lindsey, as if everything that had recently happened was nothing but a nightmare. But the searing pain nearly made her lose her balance. The injuries on her back had reopened, and she couldn't help but inhale sharply from the pain. Jacob heard the sound and came into her room. His expression was unexpectedly gentle, but his words were still heartless and cruel. "Stephie accidentally leaked those videos to the public. I've already had them deleted. Since you hadn't suffered any harm, just let it go and don't find fault with her." He threw a waiver letter at Lindsey and ordered, "Sign this letter of waiver immediately and swear that you'll never use this matter against Stephie. I'll write off the 2.08 million you owe, and I'll also have the doctors give your mother the best care possible." As if worried that she might misunderstand, Jacob added, "Don't overthink it. The one I love will always be Stephie. But owing to the fact that we were together for five years, you won't have to worry about food or clothing all your life." Jacob exuded a sense of superiority while he said all this. He looked just like that day at the bar when she asked Richard for money. Did he think of her as a beggar on the street? Someone who should be eternally grateful for any crumbs he threw her way? Maybe she used to be like that back then. She could endure anything for her mother. But now, she had no weaknesses left. Seeing that Lindsey wasn't responding, Jacob left the waiver letter behind before getting up to leave. "Send it to my office after you sign it." Lindsey's heart was completely numb as she tore the letter to shreds with a mocking smile. After that, she called the police without hesitation and made a report against Stephanie's crimes. At the stroke of midnight, Lindsey glanced at a calendar hanging on the wall and a grandfather clock in the corner. In ten more hours, she would be gone from this place forever. Lindsey packed her luggage and took a hot shower. Before she left, she made one last stop at the cemetery. She buried the urn deep into the soil, paid her respects, and kneeled before Jenny's tombstone. The emotions she had kept suppressed for so long flooded into her body, and her voice choked up with sobs. "Mom, I'm going to chase my real freedom now. I'm sure you'll be happy for me too if you can see me now, right?" A firefly landed on her fingertip and fluttered its wings gently. The faint glow from its body lit up the photo on Jenny's tombstone. Her smile was as elegant and poised as ever, her eyes overflowing with warmth and gentleness. Stephanie lay down by the grave and quietly gazed at her mother's face. It felt like the old times when Jenny used to comfort her softly. "Lindy, you're all grown up now. Why are you still crying like a child?" … Lindsey slept peacefully that night. By the time she woke, sunlight had streamed into the room and spilled across the floor. Her future had finally arrived. At that moment, her phone buzzed briefly. She received a wedding invitation from Stephanie and a text from the police station. "Ms. Johnson, your case has been accepted and is now under formal investigation." A rare smile appeared on Lindsey's face. She deleted the digital wedding invitation quietly and blocked all channels of communication from Stephanie and Jacob. Half an hour later, Lindsey boarded her flight. Her tensed nerves finally began to unwind once the plane soared above the clouds. "I hope I never see you again, Jacob," she muttered. "From now on, I'm free to soar across the vast skies."