Caroline Webb's feelings towards Simon Webb were rather complex. He was a man of such stature, seemingly out of reach, and surely, in his more lucid moments, he would despise her. Caroline's return was solely for revenge; she planned to use Simon temporarily and had no desire to disrupt his life. The thought that her own vendetta might cause Dennis Webb to harm Simon again was unbearable. Simon must be saved and restored to health!

The Webb family estate was lit up all through the night. Though Simon had been saved, the situation was far from resolved. Caroline directly accused Dennis Webb as the culprit. However, Dennis had become sly. In front of Deborah Stewart, the family matriarch, he played on family loyalty, insisting on how much he cared for his uncle and how he could never harm him. No surveillance had been in place at the time of the incident. Caroline watched him perform with a cold smile, her eyes glinting with a predatory chill. Prey that struggles is always more interesting; she would savor seeing how long his arrogance would last.

After everyone else had left, Deborah called Caroline aside. Despite Caroline's involvement with Dennis, Deborah had seen through the facade. Caroline's immediate instinct to save Simon was genuine, at least. Plus, with her father eager to forge connections with the Webb family, there were interests at play that Caroline could leverage. Deborah spoke bluntly, “If Simon doesn't have much time left, and you wish to secure your place in this family, you need to have a child.”

Caroline was taken aback. "You saw what happened today. So many in the family are eyeing his position. If he does leave us, how will you manage?" Deborah continued, "You must understand, a child of yours and Simon's could inherit the estate, securing your future and that of your family."

The thought made Caroline's skin crawl. Have a child? Once Simon recovered, she intended to live her life freely—who would want to have a child with him? She straightened up and declared, “I believe Simon will wake up. I married him not for gain, but purely out of admiration. I refuse to believe he will remain in a coma forever.”

Deborah regarded her with an inscrutable gaze. “You're quite the clever girl.” Caroline concealed her slight unease, exchanged some polite remarks, and left. As she did, Deborah's eyes gleamed with renewed intent.

Five days remained until the Webb shareholders' meeting, a date engraved in Caroline’s memory. In her previous life, she had helped Dennis seize Simon's shares during the chaos. This time, she intended to ensure Dennis met his downfall in the most humiliating fashion.

Just as Caroline began plotting her strategy, Josie Garza showed up, laden with gifts, wearing a smug expression as she arrived at the Webb estate. The first thing she said upon seeing Caroline was, “Sister, with all your advantages, how did you end up marrying someone who's on the brink of death? I truly sympathize with you!”

Internally, Caroline laughed coldly; Josie seemed rather pleased with the situation. So Caroline took Simon’s hand, appearing enamored, “You don’t understand, I genuinely admire him.”

Josie sighed dramatically, though her eyes gleamed with joy. “Have you thought about the consequences? If Simon dies, our family will lose its standing, and our parents will blame you forever!”

Feigning anxiety, Caroline replied, “Well, there's nothing I can do. I really… like him.”

Was it her imagination, or did Simon's hand just squeeze hers slightly?

Josie looked down on her sister, who had once been so brilliant but now seemed brought low. The tables had turned, and karma had arrived. She wished for nothing more than Caroline's complete disgrace, imagining her destitute on the streets.

Drawing closer, Josie boasted, “You could have married someone as great as Dennis, you know... If Simon passes, Dennis is the rightful heir to the family estate!”

Caroline lowered her gaze, a flicker of calculation passing through her eyes, as she calmly picked up her phone. “I know. That’s why I’m setting up my best friend with Dennis for a dinner date. If it works out, once Dennis takes over the family, he might treat us kindly.”

Josie's smile faltered, envy flaring within her. Such an opportunity, and Caroline was giving it away rather than considering her stepsister?

“I’m going to grab some medication for Simon from the next room. Can you wait here?” Caroline placed her phone, now displaying the dinner information, on the table, and hurriedly left the room.

The moment Caroline was out of sight, Josie, acting like a thief, pounced on the phone, eagerly checking its contents. All of this was being recorded by the security cameras in the room.

Since the incident with the oxygen tank, Caroline Webb had installed surveillance cameras in Simon Webb's bedroom. At this moment, she was in the adjacent room, observing Josie Garza's every move through the monitor.

Once Josie had taken photos of the dinner location and Dennis Webb's contact information, Caroline smiled slightly, her eyes gleaming with a cold, ruthless light. She immediately sent her plan by email to the restaurant booked for the dinner: a romantic dinner for two, a reservation at a five-star hotel with a special suite, and a key card tucked discreetly into the spiced honey cake. A pair like them deserved each other, Caroline thought, hoping Josie would seize this chance to latch onto Dennis.

After completing these tasks, Caroline returned to the bedroom with some medication, only to run into Deborah Stewart at the door.

“Oh, Caroline, are you here to speak with your mother-in-law? I won't interfere; I'll be on my way!” Josie, clearly nervous, quickly picked up her bag and left with her head down.

Caroline maintained a calm smile, her "innocent and kind" demeanor not raising any suspicions from Josie.

Deborah noticed the complex mix of medication Caroline was carrying—a list so long that the housekeeper usually considered it too much trouble—and couldn't help but admire how Caroline handled it all by herself.

“Caroline, come on in and have some soup. You've lost weight with all this stress,” Deborah urged.

Caroline hung up Simon’s medication without suspicion and drank the soup entirely.

No sooner had she set the bowl down than Deborah clasped her hand. “I mentioned having children last time. Have you given it any thought?” Caroline was about to give a noncommittal answer when Deborah added earnestly: “You really should consider it. Even though Simon hasn’t woken up, the doctor assured me there are no issues on his end.”

Caroline blinked in confusion. “No issues where?”

Deborah just chuckled, said nothing more, and left the room.

For a moment, Caroline’s mind went blank. When she finally realized what had happened, she rushed to the bedroom door, only to find it locked!

Suddenly, a peculiar warmth spread through her body. Caroline shivered, staring incredulously at the bowl of soup—could it really be what she thought it was?

But things quickly spiraled beyond her expectations. Overcome by an inexplicable heat, she supported herself with her weakened body, stumbling step by step toward Simon.

The air was thick with intimacy, and the room became a space of tenderness.

When sunlight once again streamed into the bedroom, Caroline awoke on the spacious double bed to find herself curled in Simon’s arms, the two of them snugly nestled together.

Memories of the night’s passion surged back like waves, leaving her head feeling as though it was about to explode.

Sunlight traced across Simon’s high nose bridge, down his thin lips, casting a soft glow on his divine-looking face, making it hard to look away. In his sleep, the fierce lines of his brow had softened into gentleness.

Caroline's heart raced as she stared at Simon's face, caught between panic and embarrassment, until she instinctively mumbled, “I’m sorry,” as she clambered out of bed.

A moment later, her phone erupted with notifications. The private investigator she had hired had been quite productive the night before!

Photos of Josie and Dennis entering the hotel arm in arm, kissing in the elevator, with Dennis drunkenly groping Josie…

Caroline forced herself to suppress the nausea as she looked through the photos, her eyes becoming ice-cold.

The bait had been swallowed whole.

Caroline gripped her phone tightly and set about dealing with the photos, unaware of the slight movement of Simon's fingers as she left the bedroom.

…

Josie awoke to find that Dennis had left a few hundred dollars and slipped away without any intention of taking responsibility.

She was about to explode in anger when Caroline’s call came through.

“Sister, I’d like to ask you something,” Caroline said.

“Mom and Dad are encouraging me to arrange some dates for you. I've shortlisted a few honest and hardworking guys. They might not come from wealthy families, but their character is impeccable...would you like to choose?”

Josie’s eyes widened in disbelief, nearly crushing her phone. “I’m not going!”

So, Caroline had married into the Webb family and wanted to pair her off with some nobody? What a joke! Always pretending to be so saintly and pitying her—what a hypocrite!

Caroline kept her cool, composed demeanor over the phone. “You know, Mom and Dad aren't concerned about how much money you make. They just want you to marry a decent, hardworking man and live happily ever after—”

“I’m not going. Don’t bother me again.” Josie hung up angrily, wishing she could somehow reach through the phone and tear Caroline apart!

She could never let go of Dennis Webb, her ticket to becoming the Webb family’s matriarch, and she was determined to stomp Caroline beneath her feet in triumph!

Just then, her phone lit up again with a message from Caroline in their family group chat, sharing a fundraising link: A professor’s relative, please share.

The first two lines read: I am a single mother, unmarried and pregnant…

The words struck the 22-year-old Josie, giving her an idea.

Dennis Webb's private life was anything but pristine. With the aid of a private investigator generously funded by Caroline Webb, uncovering evidence of his nights of debauchery and infidelity was no Herculean task. Armed with this dirt, Caroline confidently arrived on time for the shareholders' meeting.

Just as she was about to enter the elevator on the first floor, she noticed Dennis was already inside. Caroline paused, feigning a moment of hesitation, before heading towards another private elevator. As she anticipated, Dennis, basking in his own self-importance, followed her.

"What are you doing here? Ah, you're standing in for my useless uncle, aren't you?" Dennis sneered as the elevator doors closed, leaning in too close for comfort. "Enjoying my uncle's company? You'll regret it soon!"

"I'll soon replace him as the head of the Webb family, taking everything from him... just like you taught me!" Unexpectedly, Caroline recoiled, clutching her collar defensively, retreating to the corner like a startled rabbit. "You're speaking to an elder, you know."

Dennis laughed, oblivious to Caroline's behavior, and went on. "I'll prove I can take everything from the Webb family without your help!"

As Dennis inched closer, Caroline suddenly wore a mysterious smile and softly asked, "Do you boast like this in bed too?"

Dennis froze, rage flashing in his eyes like a feral animal. He raised his hand as if to strike Caroline, but she swiftly dodged aside, shielding her right cheek as if she had been hit.

Just then, the elevator arrived at a stop, and Caroline, feigning fear, glanced at Dennis, then hurried out, still clutching her cheek.

"Don't get too full of yourself, you little snake! I saved your skin; you'll thank me eventually!" Dennis fumed, left alone in the elevator, pounding the advertisement panel until his anger subsided. Unbeknownst to him, the modified security camera captured everything.

…

At the Webb family shareholders' meeting, Caroline attended on behalf of Simon Webb. However, the family elders paid her little heed. With whispers about Simon Webb's declining health circulating, eyes were on Dennis Webb as the likely heir.

Dennis delivered his speech smoothly, while Caroline feigned meekness, waiting until Dennis reached the crescendo of his address—

"Ladies and gentlemen, I'm concerned that young Mr. Webb may not be suitable for this role," Caroline stood up suddenly, eyes wide with feigned innocence. "Young Mr. Webb suffers from severe bipolar disorder, which could jeopardize the Webb family's future."

Dennis retorted arrogantly, "Who do you think you are? Shut up!"

In the next instant, the large screen behind him flickered and displayed footage Caroline had prepared: Dennis pushing Caroline in front of the press, Dennis attacking Caroline in the elevator, Dennis's furious outbursts, his eyes wild and bloodshot—

The room went eerily silent.

"I don't mind suffering a little," Caroline dabbed her eyes as if shedding tears, "if young Mr. Webb berates me, I can endure it."

Dennis's eyes blazed with rage, about to lash out, but his father's stern cough halted him. A voice from the crowd admonished Dennis: "How can this happen? No matter what Caroline did, she's still your aunt—you can't lay hands on your elder!"

"If Dennis does indeed have psychological issues, we might need to reconsider the heir—"

Caroline wiped away her pretend tears, a subtle smile gracing her lips, and added another twist: "Psychological issues are one thing, but my main concern is how young Mr. Webb's unsavory private life might tarnish the Webb family!"

The screen switched again, showing images of Dennis with various women.

"That's rubbish! I'm a man; it's only natural to have relations. What's wrong with a bit of affection? Who cares if someone exposes it!" Dennis shouted.

Caroline looked him in the eye, "Do you know who sent me these photos? Someone handed me the evidence of you with those women, hoping the Webb family would try to hush it up!"

"In one video, you're with my sister! I can't believe your nerve. My sister is only 22 but looks much younger. How could you lie and take advantage of her?"

Dennis's mind went blank, unable to process Caroline's implications. A nearby voice pressed him further, "Dennis, tell us the truth. Did you ever... cross a line?"

Dennis shouted his denial, "No way! I didn't. She's making it up, don't trust her!"

Caroline put on a sorrowful expression, sitting back down, "I'm not here to meddle in Webb family affairs, but I've warned you of the consequences..."

With the Webb family's eyes set on leadership and Dennis's scandal hanging over him, his suitability was now in question. Without Caroline's support, Dennis looked about as useful as a paper tiger!

In the ensuing hours, Dennis's family plans began to unravel. Dennis sat, pallid and seething, longing to get his hands on Caroline.

As his father was overcome by a heart attack and called for help, the meeting was put on hold.

Caroline left, feeling victorious. As she exited, she was startled to see the family doctor rushing past. What on earth was happening with the Webbs?