Vanessa was naturally the first to see it. Laverne was surrounded by media contacts, all of whom knew about the feud between Vanessa and Eleanor.

"Eleanor certainly knows how to ride someone's coattails. She's already using her connection to lan to climb the ladder," Vanessa sneered, her eyes filled with jealousy. The photo of Eleanor walking alongside business magnates was particularly galling to her.

Beside her, Laverne ventured a guess, "Do you think Eleanor wants to get back together with Mr. Goodwin?"

Vanessa stared at the way lan was looking back at Eleanor in the picture. Her nails dug into the screen. She knew it was lan who wanted to get back together.

Seeing Vanessa's silence, Laverne tactfully dropped the subject. The current Eleanor was brilliant and successful, and lan was a legendary figure in the business world. If they remarried, it would be no good for Vanessa.

"They won't get back together," Vanessa said through gritted teeth, her words sounding like a curse.

Laverne was taken aback. "Why are you so sure?"

Vanessa's lips curled into a smug, cold smile. She said slowly, "Eleanor hates lan to the bone. She won't forgive him that easily."

Laverne immediately recalled Vanessa's past schemes. Before she knew the truth about Vanessa donating blood to save Gina, even she had believed lan was deeply in love with her. How could Eleanor, his wife at the time, not have been heartbroken?

All the photos that appeared in the media were ones Vanessa had paid people to take. Vanessa would provide the time and place, and Laverne just had to send professional paparazzi.

"Vanessa, aren't you worried lan might retaliate against you one day?" Laverne suddenly asked. Then, she added a warning, "I remember once, when lan came out of your villa, his face was like ice. His eyes were filled with either anger or murderous intent. It was terrifying."

Vanessa's face instantly paled. She knew which incident Laverne was referring to. How could she forget that day?

lan had come to her with a consent form for an experiment. He wanted her to participate in a new drug trial developed by Dr. Smith's lab, in adeft to her annual stem cell

donations, to completely cure Gina Quinn's illness.

She wasn't stupid. Why would she agree? If Gina was cured, her status as a donor would become meaningless.

She remembered how lan had tried to reason with her at first. But after she refused, all warmth vanished from his eyes.

So, she had grabbed a fruit knife from the table to threaten him.

"lan, you have two choices today. Either I die, or you divorce her and marry me."

།

She would never forget the clear disgust and killing intent in his eyes. But given the situation, she had to

force and other wise;"

everything she had schemed for would be for nothing.

"Vanessa, stop dreaming."

He had thrown those words at her, snatched the knife from her hand, slammed it on

the floor, and left with a dark expression.

"He won't retaliate against me,"

Vanessa said, forcing herself to stay calm as she took a sip of red wine saved his mother's life. That's a debt fan will have to carry for the rest of his life. If he dares to do anything to me, I'll expose everything and let the whole world see how ungrateful he is."

Just then, Vanessa's phone rang. She glanced at it, and her hand trembled so much that the wine in her glass nearly spilled.

Laverne leaned over and saw the name on the screen. It was a call from lan.