As I stared at his retreating figure, a bitter smile curled my lips.
Silently, I whispered, “Ridley, we’re done. Completely done.”
Agnes’s POV
Once the pain from my wounds eased a little, I forced myself to stand, ready to leave.
But before I could take a step, a crowd suddenly burst through the door.
The man in the lead pointed straight at me, and the men behind him—faces twisted with hostility—charged in my direction.
My gut clenched. Something was wrong. I spun around to run, but it was too late. They caught me and dragged me in front of their leader.
I fought with everything I had, but it was useless.
The man’s grip clamped around my chin like a vice, forcing my head up.
Only then did I finally see his face.
It was Thiago Perlman—Ridley’s mortal enemy!
He took one look at the fear in my eyes and suddenly threw back his head in laughter.
“Well, well, Agnes—how pathetic you look right now. Where’s your dear husband? Why isn’t Ridley here protecting you? Don’t tell me he’s cheating on you? Oh, wait… this morning I heard something interesting—he’s hosting a birthday party for his mistress’s child right here in this hotel. Looks like the rumor wasn’t a lie after all.”
So… everyone knew about Ridley and Lynzee. Everyone—except me.
A sharp, suffocating ache spread through my chest.
Thiago seemed to savor my reaction, his lips curling in satisfaction. The jagged scar on the left side of his face twisted with his smile.
Years ago, the Perlmans and the Swicords were bitter rivals, evenly matched in power.
But with my help, Ridley managed to swallow the Perlmans whole, driving them to ruin.
I never imagined Thiago would claw his way back for revenge.
He didn’t care about my shock. He moved according to his own plan, step by step.
In no time, his men had taken control of the entire Clarion Hotel.
He dragged my struggling body straight into the party hall.
There, he let out a crooked, ugly grin.
“I want to see,” he said, “who matters more in Ridley’s heart—his wife… or his mistress and his bastard.”
The moment the words left his mouth, Ridley spotted us.
His expression froze, horror flashing across his face.
Around us, his bodyguards clashed violently with the men Thiago had brought.
Without warning, Thiago yanked me forward and shoved me right in front of Ridley.
“Tell your men to stand down, Ridley,” he ordered, “or your pretty wife’s face gets a brand-new scar.”