Chapter 3

A small commotion broke out in the crowd. Whispers buzzed as people started sneaking photos and videos with their phones.

Zachary's parents, the couple who always played the loving family, suddenly darkened their faces. Madeline, Zachary's mother, shrieked as she rushed forward, her voice trembling with fury. "Whitney, you bitch! Are you trying to destroy the Nelsons?"

I shot her a cold look, thinking how this woman used to call me her "perfect daughter-in-law" every chance she got.

"Mrs. Nelson," I replied coolly, "I'm afraid it's not me who's tearing your family apart. It's your beloved son and his equally shameless mistress."

Just then, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out and saw a text from a number I hadn't seen in ages. It was my attorney.

[Ms. Levine, the investigation you requested has yielded preliminary results. We have enough evidence to initiate legal action whenever you're ready.]

I took a deep breath, holding it for a moment before letting it out slowly.

The suffocating weight in my chest seemed to lift with every breath, replaced by a sense of lightness and resolve, like I was finally breaking free.

I stared at the mess in front of me, then at Zachary and Sasha's faces twisted in fear and despair. There was no mercy left in me.

It wasn't that the pain was gone. It was numbness after agony. And from that numbness, a blazing fire of vengeance erupted, unstoppable and wild.

"Zachary, Sasha," I said, my voice clear and unwavering, "From this day on, I will never stop seeking revenge unless I die."

Without sparing them another glance, I straightened my spine and strode out, each step firm on the soft red carpet, which now felt tainted and dirty beneath my feet. I walked out of the hall that was supposed to witness my happy marriage, which had become the cruelest joke that life ever played on me.

Behind me, Zachary's desperate shouts, Sasha's sobs, and the guests' whispers echoed, but I didn't look back.

None of it had anything to do with me anymore.

The Whitney of yesterday was killed, right here at this carefully staged "wedding."

And now, I'd risen from the ashes and would personally compose new lives for them and myself!

As I stepped out the doors, the blinding sunlight hit my face, making me momentarily dizzy.

But I knew that from this moment on, I was no longer anyone's appendage, and I was no longer a lamb to be slaughtered.

I was the master of my own destiny.

As for those who failed me, I'd make them pay a hundred times over. Every last one of them.

An icy, bloodthirsty smile appeared on my face.

The game was on.

The moment I stepped through the revolving doors, I took a deep breath of the fresh air like I'd been starved for it. The sunlight wasn't harsh anymore; it felt gentle, scrubbing away the grime of my past. The noise from that circus behind me faded fast, like someone slammed a soundproof wall between me and my old life.

I didn't even hesitate. I headed straight for the black Porsche waiting for me at the curb.

The window slid down, and I saw a composed face, shadowed with a hint of worry.

"Ms. Levine." The man in the driver's seat gave a slight nod. He was my lawyer, John Dalton. He looked to be in his early forties, his gaze sharp and professional behind gold-rimmed glasses.

"Mr. Dalton, thank you for your help," I said as I slid into the passenger seat. My voice had lost the coldness from the wedding. There was a trace of fatigue, but even more determination.

"It's my job," John said as he merged smoothly into traffic. "What's your next move?"

I closed my eyes and sank into the seat, letting the last five years rush past in my mind. Every overlooked detail, every bit of malice that Zachary and Sasha had artfully concealed, was now playing like a film.

"Leaving me nothing?" I let out a cold laugh, my eyes icy sharp as I opened them. "They wish."

Zachary and Sasha really thought that just because I signed that prenup, they could smoothly snatch up the Levine Group shares my parents left me, along with all the properties under my name. They seriously underestimated me and overestimated their own tricks.

"Mr. Dalton," I said, "you should have the numbers by now. How many Levine Group shares Zachary managed to get his hands on through deception, and how much money he's siphoned from the company over the years?"

John nodded. "Yes, Ms. Levine. According to our preliminary investigation, Zachary has gained effective control of about 40% of Levine Group's shares, mainly through so-called 'proxy holdings' and 'capital increases.' Most of these were converted from your premarital personal assets. As for the embezzled funds, the amount is significant. We've already secured some financial records, but we'll need to dig even deeper."

"Perfect," I said with a cold nod. "I want him to cough up every cent he swallowed—plus interest."

"And Sasha?" John asked. "She's sitting on a stash of luxury goods and real estate, all probably from you, too."

The mention of Sasha made the chill in my eyes sharpen. I'd once treated this so-called "best friend" so well, and her betrayal disgusted me even more.

"Every cent she spent was from my sweat and tears," I spat, my voice icy. "I'm going to drag her down from her pedestal and make her taste the bitterness of having nothing left."

"Understood," John said, pushing up his glasses. "I'll get started on the legal paperwork right away, freeze their assets, and request a full audit of Levine Group's finances."

"Make it quick," I reminded him. "Zachary's probably losing his mind right now, but with how dirty he plays, there's no telling if he'll make a desperate move like hiding assets or wiping out evidence."

"Rest assured, Ms. Levine. We've got countermeasures ready," John replied, his voice steady and full of confidence.