Chapter 7

Wendy snapped back to her senses after hearing Edmund's voice. She had waited so long for the divorce and a new life. She couldn't die in this ocean. This thought jolted Wendy awake, and she desperately thrashed her limbs. Although the wounds on her arms stung in the water, she didn't dare stop. Wendy had no idea how long she'd swam for, but at last, her fingertips brushed against a jagged reef. She latched onto it with everything she had and hauled herself upward with the last ounce of her strength. Her body went limp the moment she collapsed onto the shore. She violently retched on the ground, coughing up a mouthful of filthy seawater. However, when she caught her breath, she didn't even bother to dry herself off and went straight to the law firm. The moment Wendy pushed the door open, Edmund hurried over with a towel, startled by her appearance. "Ms. Locke, you're in no condition to travel. Should we hold off on our trip? Perhaps you should rest for a few days first?" Wendy took the divorce agreement from him and waved her hand. "No need. I don't want to stay here for one more second." She clutched the papers and changed into dry clothes before rushing directly to the airport. She boarded the plane at the very last second before the gate closed. Wendy pressed her forehead to the window as the plane ascended, and soon, the city that had imprisoned her for five years shrank into a tiny speck and vanished into the clouds. Wendy shut her eyes as a quiet thought rose in her heart. Julian, Bianca, Adrian… She would never see any of them again. … In the Gray residence, Julian sent Wendy a message. "Wendy, today's your birthday. I've prepared a birthday celebration for you. Remember to come home for dinner." Beside him, his friend laughed. "Tonight's the big reveal, huh? I can't wait to see her come back all happy and excited, and then watch her crumble!" Adrian suddenly leaned over and swirled the wine glass between his fingers. His tone carried a hint of mockery. "Julian, why don't we tell her tomorrow instead? I want to sleep with her again tonight. I literally can't do it with anyone else besides her. Even those young models don't work for me anymore." For some reason, a sudden wave of irritation surged through Julian's heart. He was the one who had grown tired of Wendy first. Why did hearing his younger brother talk about Wendy like that make him uncomfortable? This unfamiliar emotion made Julian feel inexplicably uneasy. Suddenly, the doorbell rang. Julian's chest tightened. He had just messaged Wendy. Could she really have arrived so quickly? He strode to the door with a hint of anticipation that he himself didn't notice. However, the person waiting outside wasn't Wendy, it was a delivery courier. "Excuse me, are Mr. Julian and Mr. Adrian here? Ms. Locke asked me to deliver this to you." Julian took the envelope and opened it. Inside was a single black recorder. "What's that?" Adrian leaned over, confused. Julian pressed the play button. In the next second, Bianca's voice spilled out. It was laced with venom and devoid of her usual gentleness. "Wendy, guess why I asked you to come here. Mom and Dad will feel sorry for me forever once I sacrifice this undeveloped child by jumping from here and claiming that you pushed me. The sons of the Gray family will trust me completely. "That way, the title of Mrs. Gray and the Gray family inheritance will all be mine."