Chapter 20 

In the top-floor conference room of Ashford Corporation, the projector blazed to life with a searing white 

light. 

Adrianna pressed the remote, and an audio recording crackled through the speakers. 

James’ voice came first, clear and unmistakable. 

“The day before the wedding, I’ll arrange for a plane crash. 

“After that, take Ceci abroad. As for the Quinnen family, the three of you keep Adrianna busy.” 

Nolan’s low chuckle followed. “Don’t worry. We’ll ensure she doesn’t have the strength to look for you.” 

Reporters in the conference room erupted into chaos, camera flashes blazing furiously. 

Adrianna stood on stage, her expression calm and unreadable. 

“This was recorded a year ago,” she said, clicking to the next video. 

The surveillance footage clearly showed Cecilia intentionally dragging her into the water, while none of the four heirs offered her any help. 

“And this is from the stables three months ago.” Derick stepped forward, taking the remote. 

The screen cut to Conrad’s men plunging syringes into the horses. 

The leading figures of the elite circle wore grim expressions. 

Once these pieces of evidence went public, the Emmons, Livingston, Hargrave, and Winsley families 

would be utterly ruined. 

And any businesses that had once partnered with them would not escape unscathed. 

The news spread faster than a plague. 

#Exposed: JamesEmmonsFakes Death To DeceiveBride! 

#Exposed: FourHeirsStandByAndDoNothing! 

#Exposed: CeciliaReedConfirmedAsTheMistress! 

Emmons Corporation’s stock hit the limit down the moment markets opened, with partners scrambling to 

cut ties. 

The Livingston family’s pharmaceutical company was caught using banned substances, while the Hargrave family’s real estate projects were shut down entirely for illegal construction. 

Worst of all was Liam. His private equity fund was suspected of money laundering, and he was taken away by the police on the spot. 

Chapter 20 

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Cecilia was cornered by paparazzi at the entrance of her apartment building. 

Someone yanked off her wig, revealing patches of bald scalp, the side effect of long-term psychiatric 

medication. 

She let out a piercing scream and crouched on the ground, relentless flashes capturing her humiliation in 

merciless detail. 

In the car, Adrianna watched coldly as the window slowly rolled up. 

“Satisfied?” Derick asked. 

Adrianna shook her head. “Not yet. One last step.” 

James had smashed everything in his office that could be broken. [1 

“Derick… Adrianna…” His eyes were bloodshot as he pulled a handgun from the safe. “I want both of you 

dead!” 

He sped toward the Ashford Corporation building but was forced to halt abruptly at the intersection when 

a truck cut him off. 

Jerking the wheel, James lost control, and his car slammed into the guardrail. 

As the airbags burst open, he glimpsed Derick’s assistant, Yannick, sitting in the car opposite, speaking 

into a phone. 

In that instant, James understood. 

This “accident” was Derick’s final gift to him. 

In the office, Adrianna was peeling an apple. 

On the TV, the latest news was playing. “Former Emmons Corporation heir, James Emmons, severely injured in a car accident, suspected of attempted murder, now in police custody.” 

Leaning against the headboard, Derick said suddenly, “Now they’re tasting the same retribution for 

everything they did to you in your past life.” 

Adrianna sliced the apple into tiny pieces and held one to his lips. “Not enough.” 

“Hm?” 

“They still haven’t repaid what they owe you.” She wiped her hands, pulled a document from her bag, and said, “The source code for Emmons Corporation’s core patent is yours now.” 

Derick arched a brow. “How did you get it?” 

Adrianna blinked playfully. “James’ private computer password was the date he first met Cecilia.” 

She smiled lightly. “Lucky for us, he’s such a hopeless romantic.” 

Chapter 20 

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A month later, the verdict was handed down. James was sentenced to 15 years in prison. 

From the last row of the gallery, Adrianna and Derick watched the once-arrogant James being escorted away in handcuffs. 

As he passed, James suddenly lurched toward her in a desperate struggle. “Adrianna! You know I was the one you loved the most! Why would you do this to me?” 

Derick instantly stepped forward, shielding her. 

While the bailiffs pinned James in place, Adrianna leaned in and murmured just loud enough for him alone to hear, “The Adrianna who once loved you died long ago… on that rainy night when you left me to 

die.” 

James froze as if struck by lightning before the guards hauled him away. 

The sunlight spilled warmly over them as they stepped out of the courthouse. 

Derick suddenly took Adrianna’s hand. “Do you still hate them?” 

Adrianna gazed up at the cloudless blue sky and exhaled slowly. “No. Not anymore.” 

She turned and wrapped her arms around him, burying her face in his chest. “In this life, I only want to 

love you.” 

Derick lowered his head and kissed the crown of her hair. “Let’s go home, Mrs. Ashford.” 

In the distance, Nolan and his companions were cornered by reporters, scrambling away in humiliation, 

while Derick and Adrianna’s car drove off in the opposite direction.