---- Chapter 280 "are you okay?" Liam asked. "T'm fine," Wendy said, with her eyes closed as she rubbed the bridge of her nose. "I think I finally figured out who's been pulling the strings behind all this." Liam got straight to the point. "It's the Sanders family, isn't in" Wendy's eyes snapped open. "How did you know?" "Who else could it be? It's not like James would stoop that low. "As he spoke, he glanced at her, his tone certain. Wendy shook her head. "It's not James.

He wouldn't do something that petty or beneath him." Liam said nothing. She continued, "It's probably Jenna. And her mom's definitely inonit." At the red light, Liam stepped on the brakes. "Her mom?" he asked, puzzled. "Isn't she your mom, too?" Wendy gave a dry, humorless laugh. "No need to tiptoe around it.I probably never told you much about my family, but there's not much to say anyway." Just that one sentence told Liam more than she'd ever shared before.

---- He remembered back when they were both studying abroad. Her clothes and accessories looked like luxury brands, but she still worked odd jobs and took every part-time gig she could find. And even with all that, she still had to take out loans to pay her tuition every year. Wendy was capable, smart, and driven. She paid off her student debt in full the same year she graduated, using prize money and every cent she had saved. That was all Liam had known about her background.

He used to think her family had just fallen on hard times, which explained why she worked so hard during school. Now, he realized he'd completely underestimated how complicated things really were. Wendy let out a tired sigh. "I'll tell you the full story some other time." Liam nodded. "So, what now? Are you going to expose her?" "Not yet. It wouldn't help. She's got the Sanders couple behind her-and James too. Trying to make her pay right now would be close to impossible.

The only way is to find solid evidence. Once we've got that, not even James can protect her. Her voice was weary, like the weight of it all was finally starting to show. 'The light turned green, and Liam hit the gas and pulled ---- forward. He didn't say anything, but his chest felt tight. Wendy had never talked about any of this before. And now that he knew, it was obvious why. She must've endured a lot during the years she was married.

What hurt the most was remembering how, when she gave up her shot at a better future and chose to stay in the country and get married, he had been so angry he stopped talking to her for a long time. God knows how hard those years must've been for her. They got back to her apartment complex shortly after. Liam pulled up and parked outside the building. Wendy unbuckled her seatbelt and reached for the door.

Liam opened his mouth and hesitated , before saying softly, "Take this chance to really rest. I'll cook you something nice for dinner." What Liam said made her feel much better. "Okay." She nodded. "Good thing you're living with me. Otherwise, I really don't know how I'd get through this alone."" She got out and headed upstairs. Liam didn't start the car again until she disappeared from view. Only then did his brow furrow tightly. He would've returned sooner if he'd known all this earlier.

He would've stayed by her side and faced it with her. Back upstairs, Wendy sank into the couch. ---- It was almost lunchtime , but she had no appetite at all. Her stomach felt bloated and uneasy, a dull pressure making her whole body feel off.