Chapter 1

On a rainy day, I found myself standing at the cliff’s edge.

Without warning, my wife, Verda Richardson, shoved me hard.

She said, "I'm sorry, Pierce."

There was no trace of remorse in her eyes—only the lightness of release.

As I plunged downward, I caught one last glimpse of her, fleeing into the embrace of another man.

He was Alexander Blake, her first love, the man she had always kept in her heart.

Three months ago, Alexander was diagnosed with leukemia. The treatment costs were sky-high.

Verda came to me again and again, begging me to use the Richardson Group's working capital to save him.

I refused.

It wasn't about the money. It was because that man had hurt her before.

Five years ago, Alexander had ruthlessly abandoned Verda to go study abroad.

She cried for a whole month, and I was the one who stayed by her side through those darkest days.

We'd been married for three years, and I thought she had already forgotten about him.

But then Alexander came back, terminally ill, and everything changed.

Verda started distancing herself from me, distracted and absent-minded every day.

She secretly sold the jewelry I had given her and sent the money to Alexander.

I pretended not to notice, thinking she was just being soft-hearted.

I never imagined she would actually want me dead.

The Richardson Group was the only thing my father left me, and it was also marital property between Verda and me.

If I died, she'd inherit the entire company. Then, she could use it all to save Alexander.

The cold rain pelted my face as I plunged into the darkness below.

Right before I blacked out, I heard her sobs echoing from the top of the cliff.

I wondered if she was just putting on a show, if she regretted it.

I didn't care anymore.

When I came to, I found myself lying in a shabby little hut. The one who saved me was Tony Saunders, an old hunter from the mountains.

He told me my life was barely saved when I landed on a tree halfway down the cliff.

"Kid, what happened to you?" Tony asked, his face full of concern.

I ran my hand over my battered body and gave a bitter smile. "Someone pushed me off a cliff."

"You should really call the cops!" Tony said.

"No, that's not necessary." I forced myself to sit up. "Mind if I borrow your phone?"

I dialed my assistant, Rolf Cannon.

"Mr. Richardson? Is that really you? How did you..." Rolf sounded completely shocked.

"What's going on out there?" I asked.

Rolf said, "Mr. Richardson, you've been missing for three days. Mrs. Richardson has already called the police, claiming you might have had an accident.

"The police are searching for you, the whole city is talking about your accident.

"The company's stock price has plummeted, and the board is already discussing what to do next..."

I closed my eyes. Things had developed as I expected

Verda was putting on a convincing act. Everyone thought that she was a heartbroken widow at the moment.

Rolf said, "Mr. Richardson, where are you? Just tell me and I'll pick you up right now!"

"That won't be necessary." I kept my voice steady. "Just tell everyone I'm dead."

"What? Mr. Richardson, what are you saying?" Rolf sounded panicked.

"Do as I say. I'll reach out in three days." I cut him off.

After hanging up, I slumped against the wall, already plotting my next steps.

If Verda wanted me dead that much, then I'd let her have her wish.

I wanted to see how long she and her precious Alexander could last without me.

Tony brewed some herbal medicine for me, saying it would help with the swelling and pain.

As I drank the bitter stuff, my mind wandered back to our three years of marriage.

I thought I had given her enough love and security.

I gave her the best projects to manage at the company, let her in on the most lucrative deals.

Whatever she wanted, I handed it over without a second thought.

But in the end, I still meant less to her than a dying ex.

"Kid, judging by that look, a woman broke your heart, right?" Tony saw right through me.

I nodded. "Yeah. Got betrayed by the one I trusted most."

"Then hit back." Tony took a swig of his liquor. "Out here in the mountains, we have a saying. If someone crosses you, you pay them back tenfold."

I really liked the sound of that.

The next day, I told Rolf to secretly set up a funeral for me.

It was a lavish event. Every big name in the business world showed up.

The media went wild, and Richardson Group's stock price crashed to an all-time low.

Verda stood in black mourning clothes, tears streaming down her face as she wept in front of my tombstone.

She looked so heartbroken, so genuine, like she had truly lost the love of her life.

If I didn't know the truth, even I might have been moved by her grief.

But I remembered the icy look in her eyes as she shoved me over that cliff.