Chapter 4

The reply came instantly. "How did you hurt your hand?"

I snorted, "It's nothing. Just a paper cut while handling some files. Hannah went to Erick's company. Is there a new collaboration between the Blake Group and the Harrison Group?"

That one was quick-witted and surely understood the implication behind my words. "Not that. Hannah's personal life has been wild during her time in Whyae."

"How could that be? Doesn't she love Erick the most?"

"There's some love, but not much. She loves his looks, status, power, and wealth. But these don't stop her from having fun with other guys."

My fingers paused. I hadn't expected him to disclose Hannah's affairs so openly.

Erick always believed that she had suffered a lot in Whyae.

But even when I had to send her there, she indulged in even more outrageous escapades than she had back home.

She feigned pity because it was her way of making Erick feel even more sorry for her. While she continued to play around with other guys in Whyae, she could keep Erick as her backup.

"Oh, Erick! You treat her like the apple of your eye and remember every little thing she does. It's astonishing how she can easily manipulate you into willingly being her backup with just a bit of acting." I mocked him in my mind.

I had learned such shocking news but wasn't planning to expose Hannah just yet.

I intended to reveal everything to Erick after leaving him.

I ended the conversation and deleted the record. Then I got up as if nothing had happened and returned to the CEO's office.

Erick and Hannah had just finished their intimate activities.

He glanced at the bandage on my hand from the corner of his eye and seemed to see nothing. "Why are you taking forever? Haven't you cleaned up the stains on the floor?"

I nodded in response. "Yes, Mr. Blake."

Hannah's lips curled as she looked at me with a challenging gaze. "Kimberly, I'm sorry, but I'll handle the cleaning."

She stepped in front of me and whispered in a voice only we could hear, "Kimberly, you'd better protect your precious hands well. Otherwise, how will you perform surgeries on patients in the future?"

Hannah was fully aware that I used to be an excellent surgeon.

She understood how important my hands were to me.

That was precisely why she deliberately caused my hand to get injured twice.

I lifted my gaze and stared at her. My gaze was cold enough to make her shiver involuntarily.

Erick saw her get up to help me and thought Hannah was considerate and kind-hearted. "Hannah is always so kind and considerate of others." He said to me, "Let the janitorial staff handle it."

I scoffed inwardly. Erick was not only blind but also stupid.

...

The day before our wedding anniversary, Erick personally drove his sports car to the villa to pick me up for the rehearsal to ensure everything would go flawlessly on the very day.

I didn't get into the car immediately and instinctively glanced at the passenger seat. "Hannah isn't in the car?"

Erick narrowed his eyes slightly as he looked at me. "I try to avoid having you both in the same place to prevent you from making a fuss over nothing."

My gaze turned icy instantly.

Erick wasn't worried about anything else. He was just afraid that I'd bully Hannah.

In his mind, I was nothing but a ruthless villain.

Although it was just a rehearsal, many important guests came to support us. Erick held me in his arms all the time and offered me lavish gifts like an island, rare collectibles, and even naming a star system after me.

"Are you happy now? Oh, and you haven't seen Paige in a while. I've arranged for her to be here. She's over there. So when I go to mingle, you and she can catch up."

As he finished speaking, Erick pointed to a spot not far away.

Just as I was about to speak, Hannah appeared at the entrance. She looked timid in a high-end custom dress.

Erick's expression turned gloomy. "Didn't I arrange for you to enjoy a full treatment at the villa? Why did you suddenly come here?"

Hannah's voice was choked with sobs. She looked thoroughly aggrieved as she said hesitantly, "I...I brought a gift to congratulate you..."

My voice was cold and detached. "It's not necessary. You're not welcome here."

"Watch your words." In the next instant, Erick had already instructed the security to arrange VIP seating for Hannah and whispered to me. "Since Hannah genuinely came to congratulate us, you should show the grace of Mrs. Blake. Where are your good manners? Don't embarrass us in front of the guests."

It was supposed to be the rehearsal for our wedding anniversary, yet Erick spent the entire time tenderly accompanying Hannah.

I stood in the corner and watched Erick hold Hannah affectionately. I felt utterly mocked. My blood went numb.

"Erick, I regret falling in love with you and marrying you.

You make me sick."

The phone notification suddenly chimed.

I took out my phone and turned it on. I glanced at the countdown reminder in the notes.

I would "die in a car accident" on our wedding anniversary tomorrow.

At that moment, Hannah coyly mentioned her fondness for a newly released limited edition handbag. As soon as Erick heard it, he left the scene to buy it for her.

She haughtily walked up to me and raised her eyebrows with a cold smile. "Kimberly, are you still unaware? The gifts Erick plans to give you for the anniversary are something I've rejected. Even though Erick came with you to rehearse for the anniversary, he still needed my approval. Since meeting you, his phone has been continuously connected to me..."

Hannah provocatively put her phone on speaker, and the next moment, Erick's voice came through the receiver. "Sweetheart, I got the handbag for you. After the rehearsal, I'll make it up to you tonight."

In the next instant, she ended the call.

I had given up hope on Erick already. "What do you want?"