The next day, Brittney was woken up abruptly by a flurry of phone calls.

It turned out she was being cyberbullied.

A video of her slapping Leanna at home had been edited and posted online.

Leanna also posted a photo on Instagram showing her face badly swollen and her eyes puffy from crying. She looked so pitiful that anyone would feel heartbroken. 

She posted this alongside a letter diagnosing her with depression.

Bryce had commented beneath it, [Don't worry, I'm here. I'll always be by your side.]

Instantly, all the public outrage descended upon Brittney.

Netizens even tracked down her former home, scrawling “Murderer” on her door.

Even her parents' graves were dug up, with comments below stating, “If they can produce a daughter as vicious as Brittney, they can't be a good people.”

“Exactly. Let's all go dig up her parents' graves.”

These people even started live-streaming, smashing Brittney's parents' tombstones piece by piece before digging up the graves.

Brittney immediately called Bryce, but the man only replied casually, “You slapped Leanna twice. Her retaliation is only fair.”

“Or issue a public apology to Leanna—a national apology. Then I'll handle your parents' situation.”

His attitude was worlds apart from before. Brittney's heart ached so fiercely until she could barely breathe.

After a long pause, she forced back her tears and said, “Bryce, you're ruthless. If she dared be a mistress, she deserves to be nailed to the wall of shame.”

With that, Brittney hung up the phone.

On the other end, Bryce was visibly stunned. He hadn't expected Brittney to confront him head-on like this.

But he dismissed it. She was just a woman without power or influence—what kind of trouble could she possibly cause?

Meanwhile, after ending the call, Brittney immediately reported the incident to the police.

Soon, the police tracked down and arrested the group through the livestream.

But the next morning, Bryce stormed home, yanking Brittney out of bed.

He unleashed a torrent of abuse, roared, “Brittney, are you satisfied now? How dare you call the cops and have Leanna's been taken to the station.”

“You better pray Leanna is fine, or I won't let you off the hook!”

“If you still want our wedding to proceed as scheduled in six days, go write that letter of forgiveness immediately.”

With that, he placed a pre-printed letter of forgiveness in front of Brittney, waiting for her signature.

After Bryce finished speaking, Brittney stared at him calmly and sneered, “Bryce, are you blind or just heartless?”

“Leanna was the one who knew she was the third wheel yet played the part. She was the one who cyberbullied me, leaving my parents restless even in death.”

“I only made her face the consequences she deserved. There's no way I'm signing this letter of forgiveness.”

“And tell her this, if she's going to fake depression, she should at least make it convincing. That piece of paper doesn't even have a hospital stamp. Who does she think she's fooling?”

Brittney's defiance enraged Bryce completely. He pulled out his phone and held it before her.

“Brittney, my patience is running thin. If you keep this up, my men will scatter your parents' ashes.”

On the video feed, Bryce's men stood on a cruise ship overlooking the endless ocean. With a single release, the urns would plummet into the depths.

The unyielding Brittney instantly broke down in tears and begged, “Bryce, have you forgotten how you once knelt before them, calling them father and mother, promising to protect me forever? What are you doing now?!”

Bryce remained aloof. “Brittney, I kept my promise by giving you the position of Mrs. Joseph. But I fell uncontrollably in love with Leanna. I must protect her.”

Brittney was on the verge of emotional collapse.

Bryce knew full well what the Golden Family had done to her.

Back then, when Leanna tried to seduce him, he had publicly humiliated her in front of the entire school, “Leanna, I have a girlfriend. Stop these cheap tricks. They disgust me.”

Only a few years had passed, yet his heart had changed so swiftly.

He pressed relentlessly, “Brittney, my patience is running thin.”

Just as the urn was about to fall, Brittney finally relented, “Fine, I'll sign.”

Bryce, holding the signed statement of forgiveness, beamed like a child. He tossed his phone aside and hurried off to the police station.

Brittney grabbed the phone, urging them to stop. But suddenly, a figure appeared on the video call—Leanna’s father.

That man shoved the urn into the boundless sea, grinning lecherously, “Last time you hit me with a stick. This time I push your parents' ashes into the ocean. That’s only fair enough, understand?!”

Brittney watched helplessly as her parents' ashes sank into the sea.

Overwhelmed, she screamed, “Ludwig, I will never let you off the hook!”

Agony tore Brittney apart, yet the vast villa stood empty, no one came to her aid.

That night, she knelt by the sea for the entire night. She vowed to her parents she would avenge them.

As dawn broke, Brittney called her uncle in the distant capital. “Uncle, I would like to reclaim the plot of land that I previously asked you to give to Bryce for use as the Joseph Family's burial ground.”

Her uncle's voice grew solemn, “Brittney, are you certain? I heard the Joseph Family has already begun relocating the graves. Isn't it rather awkward to suddenly reclaim it now?”

But Brittney was unusually resolute, “It's not awkward at all. I’m going to reclaim it now.”

Unaware of the events unfolding in Warrington, yet deeply devoted to Brittney, her uncle replied, “Very well, as you wish. I only gave him that land in the first place because of you.”

Though the Joseph Family was impoverished, they were swarmed by arrogant, destitute relatives.

Now that Bryce had amassed wealth, every member of the Joseph clan fawned over him, elevating him to the position of family patriarch.

They even aspired to emulate the wealthy by relocating graves, intending to move all the rural tombs of their deceased forebears into the city.

The Joseph Family, with their eyes fixed on the highest, set their sights on the finest cemetery plot in Warrington.

Bryce’s status alone wouldn’t have secured it, but Brittney, sparing his face, gifted it in her uncle’s name.

Now, after Bryce had angered her by throwing her parents' urns and leaving them in peace, the Joseph Family's graves would find no rest either.

Coincidentally, the day the Joseph Family relocated their graves was the same day as their wedding.

Having arranged all this, Brittney had just returned home when she saw Leanna wearing her clothes in the living room.

She deliberately taunted, “I told you before, Bryce is mine. You shouldn't have fought me for him.”

'And look what happened — you made your parents suffer even after their death.'

Suddenly, Brittney's blood ran cold. So, Leanna had orchestrated all of this.

“Leanna, you're asking for death!”

No sooner had the words left her mouth than Bryce emerged from behind her, unleashing a torrent of scolding without asking for explanations, “Brittney, you dare bully Leanna again, huh?!”

Leanna immediately burrowed into the man's embrace, her eyes brimming with tears. “Bryce, I'm so scared.” 

“If Britt dares treat me like this when you are home, what would happen to me when you weren't here?”

The man shielded her, promising, “Rest assured. With me here, no one can hurt you. If anyone causes you even a fraction of pain, I'll make them suffer tenfold.”

Bryce was issuing a warning to Brittney, backing Leanna.

Brittney no longer felt heartache over this—it simply wasn't worth it.

After issuing his threat, Bryce added, “The grave relocation is in five days. Contact them again to ensure everything goes smoothly.”

“Brittney, this is a minor matter. Don't mess it up and disappoint me.”

A wave of bitter sorrow washed over Brittney.

Even he himself couldn't accomplish what she had done, yet in this man's mouth, it was merely a ‘minor matter.’

Before, Brittney always felt she hadn't done enough. But now she understood. She had done too much, causing Bryce to lose all sense of right and wrong.

After giving his instructions, the man turned to leave. Brittney couldn't hold back any longer and asked, “Bryce, aren't you even curious about what happened to my parents' ashes?”

Did nothing concern Brittney matter to him? 

Did he only care about matters involving Leanna?

Bryce frowned in displeasure, “I already returned the ashes to you. What else do you want to argue about?”

Before Brittney could speak, Leanna cooed, “Let’s go upstairs, Bryce. You're only getting stressed and angry by being here.”

Watching Bryce be coaxed away, Brittney sneered in her heart, ‘Even such a clumsy act as Leanna's could fool him—just how deeply in love with her was he?’

‘Bryce, if one day you discover her true colors, will you regret it?’

That evening, Leanna claimed she was in a bad mood and insisted on going to the auction.

Unusually, Bryce brought Brittney along too.

She didn't refuse—after all, they were returning to the capital and she planned to bring gifts for her uncle and others.

At the auction, Leanna clung to Bryce the entire time, completely ignoring Brittney’s presence.

But she no longer cared. She just found it rather amusing.

Once upon a time, if any other woman dared to get close to him, he'd retreat three steps and declare, “I have a girlfriend.”

That principle had been clear back then—how could he not understand it now?

Brittney saw no point in dwelling on it, focusing instead on the auction items.

The first lot was a pink diamond. Leanna expressed her fondness for it and Bryce secured it for five million.

The second item was a crown. Leanna declared she wished to be Bryce’s little princess forever and he promptly bid twenty million for it.

The third item was Leanna's graduation painting. To make the young girl happy, he tossed out a hundred million without hesitation.

Though Bryce wasn't stingy with Brittney, he'd never once spent such extravagant sums on her.

He was truly head over heels for Leanna.

Soon, laughter and teasing rose from the audience below the stage, “Mr. Joseph, you're leaving nothing for anyone else today, are you?”

Bryce curved his lips into a smile. “What can I do? The girl I love wants it and I will gladly give it to her.”

Brittney felt this statement sounded familiar. He had once said the same thing to her.

Only back then, Bryce was still poor and lacked such extravagant means. 

Now he had it, but it wasn't for her.

Soon, the final auction item appeared—a painting once given away by Brittney’s mother.

Brittney's eyes lit up instantly as she raised her paddle to bid, “Twenty million.”

Leanna stared at Bryce and said, “Bryce, I like this one too.”

Bryce lifted his gaze. “Fifty million.”

Brittney clenched her fist, “Sixty million.”

The man lowered his gaze and raised his paddle again, “One hundred million.”

It wasn't that Brittney couldn't afford it; she simply didn't want to engage in this meaningless bidding war with him.

She abruptly stood up, “Bryce, haven't you bought her enough things already? This is my mother's keepsake!”

At her words, Bryce's expression hardened slightly.

But Leanna whined, “Bryce, I can give up everything else, but I genuinely love this oil painting.”

Bryce, who had seemed slightly wavering a moment ago, immediately changed his tone, “Leanna likes this piece. Let her have it.”

Brittney felt a ringing in her ears, as if she couldn't comprehend the man's words.

Leanna nestled into his embrace, her gaze fixed on Brittney with pure provocation.

It made her not want to give up and immediately raised her bid card, “I will pay a billion!”

Then, turning to Bryce, she declared, “This painting—I must have it.”

Darrell had given her 1.314 billion dollars. She didn't believe Bryce would spend over a billion on a painting just for Leanna.

The moment she finished, the room erupted.

Yet everyone eagerly anticipated the spectacle, eager to see whether the new flame or the old flame would prevail.

The next second, Leanna stirred up trouble from the centre, “Bryce, where would Brittney get a billion dollars? Could she have a sugar daddy?”

Bryce's pupils instantly darkened.

Men had always been like that — they could cheat and have affairs, but they wouldn't tolerate betrayal from women.

“Brittney, you've been cheating behind my back?” he roared. “Tell me, who is the man?”

Bryce gripped Brittney's wrist tightly, his face contorted with fury.

Her wrist instantly turned crimson, yet she refused to yield. “You're the one who cheated with a mistress! What right do you have to question me?”

Leanna didn't miss the chance to fan the flames, "Britt, you'd better apologise quickly and name the adulterer, or you'll only anger Bryce."

Brittney threatened in turn, “Leanna, if you keep stirring up trouble, I'll tear your mouth off.”

But the next second, Bryce slapped her hard across the face, his eyes blazing with fury. "Brittney, how dare you bully my people right in front of me?

Without giving Brittney a chance to speak, the man addressed the auctioneer, “Whether she gets it for a billion, I will bid higher than her.”

“After all, she seems to not have the ability to achieve it. So, whoever competes with me for this painting is an enemy of the Joseph Group.”

After delivering his threat, Bryce dragged Brittney home.

The oil painting was auctioned off, only to be brutally burned by Bryce right before her eyes.

His face dark and menacing, he sneered, “I don't believe this painting was your mother's keepsake. It was a gift you planned to give your lover, wasn't it?”

The blazing flames illuminated Brittney's face. She frantically tried to rush forward and grab the painting.

But the bodyguards behind her pinned her down, not allowing her to move an inch.

Brittney finally broke down, crying and begging him, “Bryce, this really is my mother's keepsake. Please don't burn it, I beg you.”

Brittney collapsed onto the floor, tears and sweat mingling on her face as she wept heart-wrenchingly. 

Bryce had never seen her like this before. In his memory, Brittney was always proud, aloof and decisive—rarely showing vulnerability in his presence.

Just as he was about to relent, Leanna emerged with ‘evidence.’

“Bryce, I had someone trace the calls. Brittney has been frequently contacting a man in the capital lately. He must be the one keeping her.”

“And I also found a recent deposit in her account—1.3 billion dollars! Who would pay that much money all at once unless they were keeping her as a mistress?”

In that instant, Bryce finally lost his composure. His eyes flashed with cruelty as he clamped his hands tightly around Brittney's slender neck.

“Brittney, you dare cheat on me behind my back? It seems I've spoiled you too much!”

“You care so much about that painting, don't you? Fine. Now go retrieve it from the flames. Let me see just how much you love it!”

The moment Brittney was released, she nearly fainted from oxygen deprivation. Yet, with sheer willpower, she forced herself into the raging fire and pulled out the painting—now nothing but a charred frame.

The woman kept screaming in agony, "Mom, I'm sorry! It's all my fault for misjudging people. I couldn't even protect your last keepsake.”

“I'm sorry. I..."

Flames still licked at the wooden frame, but Brittney clutched it as if pain meant nothing.

Watching her clothes begin to catch fire, Bryce felt a sudden, sharp pain in his chest. For the first time, he felt genuine fear.

He shouted at the people nearby, “Put out the fire! Quick, put it out now.”

Brittney suffered burns, yet even in her unconscious state, she refused to release the wooden frame.

Seeing how precious it was to her, Bryce became even more convinced that Brittney had been unfaithful.

But for some reason, though he should have been furious, a strange fear crept into Bryce's heart.

Soon, this thought dissipated.

It should be Brittney who felt afraid—she had betrayed him behind his back. She was the one who should be filled with guilt and dread.

Brittney burned for two full days before waking on the third.

Her lips cracked with thirst, yet the room stood empty.

When she forced herself downstairs, she saw Bryce had chopped down the sapling they’d planted together, using it to build a doghouse for Leanna’s puppy.

When they planted that sapling, Bryce had said, “Brittney, this little tree is like our child. It will endure like our love, growing into a towering giant.”

Now that sapling was gone, the bond between them had vanished completely too.

Brittney turned away expressionless and left. She then called her uncle, “Uncle, please recall the projects I previously asked you to secretly transfer to Bryce.”

Her uncle replied frankly, “Are you certain? Those are major projects. Withdrawing them will definitely prevent Joseph Group from going public.”

“I'm certain. These things were proof of my past love for him. Now that I no longer love him, taking them back is only fair.” 

Respecting her decision, he agreed, “Very well. As you wish.”

“By the way, Darrell will come to retrieve you in two days. Has Bryce been informed?”

Brittney glanced at Bryce outside and sneered, “He'll find out when Darrell arrives to take me.”

Her uncle, having been through similar experiences, didn't press further. He said he respected her choice, whatever it might be.

That afternoon after Brittney awoke, Bryce came to see her, his demeanor as aloof as ever.

“Everyone makes mistakes. I can overlook your affair behind my back this time, but there can be no repeat.”

“Brittney, our wedding is in two days. If you still wish to marry me, don't provoke me again.”

“My friends will arrive tonight. Get ready quickly, in case outsiders see and think that I'm mistreating you.”

Brittney glanced at him, exhausted and replied coldly, “I know.”

Seeing Brittney's indifferent demeanor, Bryce felt an inexplicable panic in his chest. He sensed she was slipping beyond his control, as if she were about to leave him.

Before he could say anything, Leanna emerged and pulled him away.

That evening, when Bryce's friends arrived, they each presented gifts, saying, “Bryce, here's our early gift for you. I think we can consider Britt as family now, right?”

Glancing at Brittney, Bryce noted her cool expression and snorted lightly. “It's too early to say that.”

“Whether I'm willing to marry her is still up in the air.”

Bryce was posturing, waiting for Brittney to back down, but she didn't say a word. She turned and went into the kitchen.

An hour later, the servants had prepared the meal. Brittney stood at the door, ready to call them in, when she heard Bryce's friends addressing Leanna as “Bryce’s true love.”

“I know you truly love Bryce and of course, you are Bryce’s true love.”

“I remembered back then, you secretly funded his education behind his back. Now, for love, you're willing to be with him even without a formal title.”

“Yeah, people like Lea who ask for nothing in return are rare these days.”

The chatter left Brittney stunned.

Wasn't she the one who funded Bryce back then? When did it become Leanna?

Leaning against the man's embrace in the garden, Leanna flashed a coy smile. “Oh, those are all old history. It's enough that we know; there's no need to bring it up.”

Seeing Leanna's shameless act, Brittney snorted coldly. Not only did she steal someone's man, she even stole the credit.

Brittney wondered if Bryce would regret it if he knew the person he admired turned out to be someone like this.

Brittney was already looking forward to it.

When she went in to call them for dinner, everyone's smiles froze, as if she were an outsider.

After everyone sat down, the meal was anything but harmonious.

Leanna complained the soup was too bland, the dishes too salty, the fatty meat too abundant and the juice too sweet.

In short, nothing was to her liking, because this meal had been arranged by Brittney.

Finally, Brittney grew weary of it and slammed her spoons down, “If you don't want to eat, then don't.”

She expected Leanna to resort to her usual tactics—crying and playing the victim—but this time, she suddenly coughed up blood.

The entire room was stunned.

Bryce was the first to react, glaring furiously at Brittney and accusing, “You dare to poison her?!”

Brittney was about to deny it when, in the next instant, she too violently coughed up a mouthful of blood.

Chaos erupted. Bryce summoned the family doctor, who declared it was a rare virus requiring a serum infusion.

“Mr. Joseph, but we only have one vial of serum left. It can only be administered to one person.”

The moment of decision arrived once more.

Bryce clenched his fists, hesitating for a few seconds before ultimately choosing Leanna.

“Save Leanna!”

On the sofa, the toxin rapidly spread throughout Brittney's body, yet she still clearly heard the man's choice.

A mocking smile curled her lips.

Fine by her. This way, she could exact her revenge without a shred of guilt.

Just as the doctor injected Leanna with the sole vial of serum, a warm flow trickled down Brittney's lower body.

The sofa was drenched in blood.

As she drifted into unconsciousness, Brittney heard the family doctor say she had miscarried.

When Brittney regained consciousness, the child was gone.

Bryce mobilized the entire Warrington and finally located the last vial of serum.

She survived, but the child was lost.

For the first time, Bryce bowed his head to Brittney and apologized, “I'm sorry. I didn't know you were pregnant.”

Brittney touched her empty womb, where a tiny life had once flourished. But the father had strangled it with his own hands.

She drew a sharp breath and sneered in return, “If you had known I was pregnant, would you still have chosen me?”

“Bryce, one day, you will regret this.”

At that moment, Bryce didn't understand the meaning behind her words, thinking she was merely throwing a tantrum.

Bryce's fists clenched and yelled, “Brittney, you cooked the meal. Since it was poisoned, aren't you responsible?”

“And because of this, Leanna's body has suffered irreversible damage.”

“The toxin is cold in nature. It damaged her uterus. She'll never be able to have children of her own.”

Hearing the man's accusation, Brittney sneered in response, “So? What do you want?”

“Her womb is gone—should I offer mine as compensation?”

Brittney believed that if Leanna demanded it, Bryce would absolutely do it.

But he answered with something she had never imagined, “Leanna isn't like you. She isn't as vicious. She just wants a wedding.”

“So tomorrow, the bride at the wedding will be replaced. I will give Leanna a wedding.”

“As for you—though you've done many wrongs—out of respect for our past bond, I won't abandon you. I'll marry you legally.”

“Three years. Leanna only wants the Mrs. Joseph title for three years. After that, she'll study abroad.”

Hearing the man's absurd words, Brittney finally couldn't hold back her laughter.

She said earnestly, “Bryce, I'm not unloved, nor am I desperate for you.”

Hearing this, Bryce frowned. “Brittney, at this point, what's the point of playing games?”

“In any case, tomorrow's bride will be replaced. This is my notification to you.”

With that, Bryce turned and left.

No matter what attitude her fiance displayed, it stirred not a ripple in Brittney's heart.

She took out her phone and sent a message to Darrell, [I've sent you the address. I'll wait for you.]

Darrell replied instantly, [Got it.]

That very night, Brittney was discharged from the hospital and returned to Joseph's residence.

What began there must end there.

The next day, the Joseph Family's entrance was crowded with guests—all members of high society, gathered to show their support.

Brittney, dressed in her wedding gown and having applied her own makeup, stepped out of the Joseph’s residence.

At that very moment, Leanna appeared in her own haute couture wedding gown and the two collided head-on.

To outsiders, it looked like a wedding—with two brides.

Bryce frowned and publicly reprimanded her, “Brittney, did you not understand what I told you yesterday?”

“I made it clear I'm marrying Leanna. Your desperate clinging to me is utterly disgraceful!”

“Go back immediately and I'll let bygones be bygones. Otherwise, our relationship ends here!”

Bryce spoke at length, but Brittney heard none of it. She merely lifted her head with a smile, gazing at the ninety-nine helicopters circling overhead.

“My groom has arrived,” she declared.