Chapter 10
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Under my teasing, his breath grew heavier, and his hand slid into the opening of my collar, his movements bold and reckless.
My body tingled under his touch, and I couldn't help but let out a soft moan.
"Kent, you haven't forgotten the promise you made, have you?" I asked, my voice a teasing whisper.
He chuckled softly. "Don't worry. There's nothing I could ever forget, least of all my promise to you."
My blouse had already slipped down to my waist, hanging loosely on him as I breathed shallowly, feeling the warmth of his proximity. When I stopped taking the lead, he was too eager to wait any longer. His hands reached for his trousers.
At that precise moment, Trevor's call came through.
In an instant, the fog of desire lifted from my mind. I shook myself back to reality, slipped from Kent's embrace, and grabbed the phone.
Trevor, already drunk, spoke in a hushed voice, a bit hoarse. "Honey, where are you? I'm home."
I answered calmly, hiding the rapid pulse of my heart. "Linda invited me to the spa at her place. I'll be home soon."
"Should I come pick you up?" he asked.
"No need," I replied, "Linda will drop me off."
After hanging up, Kent's face darkened, a scowl forming. "Trevor really knows how to pick his moments."
I offered a reassuring smile. "Don't worry. I'll be back to see you in a few days."
Kent's mood lightened just enough, and he drove me home.
When I walked in, I found Trevor, completely drunk, passed out on the sofa. He was muttering my name in his sleep.
I looked at him coldly. Trevor, what kind of act are you putting on now?
While he slept, I quietly made my way to his study.
Trevor never set any real boundaries with me, so it was child's play to find his company's core management files.
I slid a USB drive into the computer, confirmed the files were intact, and then made a copy to my phone before shutting the computer down. When I was done, I returned the USB drive to its original spot.
A few days later, after Trevor left for a business trip out of town, I seized the opportunity. Hailing a taxi in secret, I made my way to Kent's company and personally handed him the USB drive.
He toyed with the USB drive in his hand, his eyes dark with a knowing gleam. "Once the bow is drawn, there's no turning back. Are you sure about this, Mia?"
I dropped my pretense, my tone cold and detached. "Yes. Trevor betrayed me. I want him to pay the price."
With my purpose achieved, there was no need to keep up the flirtation with Kent any longer.
A month later, Trevor's company declared bankruptcy, and his once mighty empire crumbled to dust.
I deliberately linked my arm through Kent's, smiling sweetly as I looked at Trevor. "Trevor, how does it feel to be abandoned by everyone?"
His face darkened, fists clenched so tight his knuckles whitened. "Mia, are you happy now?"
I laughed, the sound cold and unrestrained. "Oh, I'm thrilled! If you die, I'd be even happier!"
Trevor studied me for a long time before finally muttering, "If you're happy, then that's all that matters."
Without another word, he turned and walked away.
Why did he look so unfazed?
A bitter taste settled in my chest. So, I ordered someone to bring in Cassidy, then had Trevor brought before me.
In front of him, I picked up a spiked whip and began lashing it against Cassidy's body, one cruel strike after another.
No matter how much blood she lost, no matter how many times she screamed in pain, Trevor remained unmoved, his expression blank.
I had the unconscious Cassidy dragged away, and turned to Trevor, my voice dripping with venom. "Trevor, I'm going to sell Cassidy to Africa and make her serve the locals there every day. What do you think of that?"
He didn't even raise his eyes. "Fine."
I was beyond furious. With a sharp motion, I lashed the whip across his face.
"Trevor, I'm going to make you my dog!"
He wiped the blood from his face, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Fine."
I glared at him, my heart seething with hatred.
Trevor, let's see how long you can keep up this stoic act.
I took him aboard my private yacht. Standing on the deck, I called out to the crew below, "Put him to work—give him the hardest, dirtiest jobs. If someone takes a liking to him, feel free to have your way with him, as long as you don't get him killed."
Trevor's back stiffened for a moment, and the man following behind him shoved him forward. "Move faster!"
I stood there, watching as they led him into the cabin, then turned and left.
When I got back home, a hollow feeling settled in my chest. My revenge had been exacted, but there was no satisfaction in it. I couldn't shake the sense that something was wrong, something I couldn't quite put my finger on.
It wasn't until a month later, when Trevor died, that I finally learned the truth.
I found a notebook in his living quarters.
It turned out he'd been suffering from brain cancer. By the time it was discovered, he had only six months to live.
In an effort to make me give up on him, to break my heart for good, he had brought Cassidy into the picture, staging an affair to fool me. He had never liked Cassidy, never slept with her. I had been the one deceived, tricked by her.
He hadn't anticipated that Cassidy would grow fond of him, or that she would take action against me.
Seeing me so heartbroken in the hospital, he had decided to confront Cassidy, and from then on, spend his remaining time with me.
But when he discovered the contraceptive pills I'd hidden in the cupboard, he realized that I, too, had been pretending—pretending to care, but still full of hatred toward him.
He knew about my flirtations with Kent, knew I had stolen the core project data from his study. He knew everything.
And, of course, his condition only worsened from there.
So, he cooperated with Kent and me, letting the show go on.
Now, standing over his frail, emaciated body, I was overwhelmed with grief, my sobs choking me. But it was too late for regrets.
Kent looked at the corpse with a complex expression. "He was ruthless, wasn't he?"
"The shares of his company are already transferred to your name, just as he asked."
He patted my shoulder. "Take care of yourself."
I slapped myself hard across the face.
Trevor, did you really think I had fallen for Kent?
The truth was, I hadn't.
But the truth couldn't reach him now. He was gone, and I— I was left to live the rest of my life in endless torment.
