Chapter 9 Make Sure Elin Suffers In There

When the workers finished emptying the place, the once-grand villa stood in shambles, even the wooden doors ripped away.

A stooped elderly servant hobbled through the doorway, dragging a hefty suitcase brimming with clothes and glittering jewelry behind her. "Ms. Walsh, when I heard they were coming, I hurried to save all your cherished things."

Elin caught sight of the servant's injured leg and felt a surge of emotion. Tears pooled in her eyes as the realization hit her-those brutes had hurt the servant too. "Margot..." she whispered, her voice choked with emotion.

Margot Barnes was more than a servant; she was a constant from Elin's childhood, brought into the household by Elin's mother and steadfast through the years.

With a palpable sense of urgency, fearing the return of those people, Margot insisted Elin drive her to a modest, two-bedroom apartment. The place held a room preserved just for Elin-a sanctuary amidst chaos.

"I acquired this apartment when I first met your mother. She was kind enough to help with the down payment," Margot mused aloud, her tone a mixture of gratitude and sorrow. "It's a pity what happened to her..."

Elin's expression soured into a bitter smile at Margot's words.

The irony wasn't lost on her; even a loyal servant held profound gratitude for her family, whereas Camila, whom she had supported generously, repaid her with betrayal.

With a gentle reverence, Elin set down her parents' framed photos.

She sifted through the jewelry box-one of the last remnants of-and decided to keep only a few pieces for herself, handing the rest to Margot. "Please keep my parents' photos safe here for now. I've got pressing matters to take care of," she said, her voice steady but her eyes betraying the weight of her resolve.

Margot's voice was tinged with concern as she suggested, "I heard your grandma's condition isn't good. Maybe I should swing by the hospital and help out."

Elin shook her head gently, a weary smile touching her lips. "My grandmother has nurses for that. You should just focus on resting that leg of yours," she replied, her tone firm yet caring.

After exchanging heartfelt goodbyes, Elin climbed into her car and headed back to the hospital.

As the cityscape blurred past her, her thoughts drifted, tangled and dark.

She felt utterly alone, stripped of everything. How could she possibly exact revenge or reclaim the Infinity Group now?

An unbidden image of Ruben's cold, stern face flashed across her mind's eye, jolting her.

With a determined shake of her head, Elin banished the thought, refocusing on her visit to her grandmother and devising a new strategy.

Out of nowhere, a black Bentley zoomed past her, its engine roaring.

Through the partially lowered rear window, she managed to catch a brief look at the person inside.

It was none other than Dean!

A surge of adrenaline fueled her actions as she pressed the accelerator, her car lunging forward in hot pursuit. Memories of Dean's ruthless deeds-her parents' photos shattered-flooded her, fueling a fierce hatred that burned in her eyes.

This was the moment she had been waiting for.

If she could kill Dean now, she could avenge her parents without crawling back to Ruben, thus preserving her own dignity.

The Bentley weaved through traffic with reckless abandon, and Elin barely kept pace.

With each abrupt lane change, her grip tightened on the steering wheel, her knuckles whitening. She finally caught up, a smirk of fierce determination spreading across her face as she floored the accelerator and slammed into the car's rear.

The Bentley veered out of control, flipping wildly before crashing down, wheels up.

The force of the collision threw Elin forward, and she lost her grip on the steering wheel. Her car smashed through the guardrail, the sound of rending metal piercing the air. Blood trickled down her forehead, and shards of glass embedded themselves in her skin.

Struggling for breath, Elin gazed at the flaming wreck of the Bentley, a bittersweet smile curling her lips.

She had finally made him pay for what he did to her parents!

Before she could savor her victory, a figure approached-Dean, looking impossibly composed in his pristine suit. Her eyes widened in shock.

"Elin, living under the same roof for two decades, I was certain I had you all figured out," Dean stated icily. "I anticipated your plan and had a backup car waiting. I switched vehicles at the last red light."

"Dean..." Elin's voice was a venomous hiss as she spat out his name, her eyes burning with betrayal. But her strength faded away, and darkness crept in at the edges of her vision. With one last glare, she slumped unconscious against the steering wheel.

Dean peered into the wreckage, his gaze falling on Elin's bloodied and glass-pierced form. Memories of her laughter and the way she used to cling to him flashed through his mind, softening the icy edges of his expression for a fleeting moment.

Just as he was about to extend his hand, the wail of an approaching ambulance intensified, cutting through the air. The paramedics poured out, their movements swift and focused.

Dean, caught off guard by their swift response, pushed aside his questions.

Without another thought, he slid into his sleek Bentley parked curbside and issued a command, his voice icy with resolve. "Call the police. I want Elin charged with attempted murder and behind bars tonight!"

Miles away, Camila was at home, her son playing quietly at her feet when her phone buzzed. It was her informant on the line, relaying that Elin had tried to run Dean down with her car. Her plan to kill Dean had backfired, landing her in the hospital instead.

A wicked grin spread across Camila's face as she absorbed the news.

The last chaos with Elin at their villa had left her son unconscious for an entire day, an incident that haunted her still.

Her voice, dripping with malice, cracked through the phone. "Make sure Elin suffers in there. I want people on it."

Camila's history with Elin stretched back to their college days when Elin, eager and naive, had lavished her with gifts and trips, exposing the bitter layers of their social divide.

Elin's failure to see people for who they truly were was her downfall.

Camila had considered letting Elin off the hook, but after Elin almost took her son's life, she couldn't find it in her heart to forgive.