His Lawyer Framed Her Insane,Now the Colonel She Married Will Burn Their Empire Down

"As long as there's even a sliver of a chance, I won't give up. I will make you pay for what you've done."

He let out a derisive laugh, as if watching a comedy unfold.

"Should I call you naive, or just plain stupid? Empty words. Who's going to believe you?"

A servant noticed something was wrong and came running over, shouting in a panic.

"She went into the study—she was in there for a long time! Stop her!"

His gaze turned ice-cold at those words, boring into me.

"I underestimated you. Hand it over. Otherwise, I can't guarantee what might happen."

But Charles reached out and took my hand, his voice still gentle.

"Abigail, just give him the USB drive. Stop being so stubborn."

"That was my grandfather."

My voice came out raw, torn.

"I'm not giving it to you. No matter where I have to go, I'm going to tell the truth."

Freya's eyes went wide with rage, the whites shot through with red.

Without a moment's hesitation, she yanked open the car door, threw herself into the driver's seat, and floored the accelerator—aiming straight at me.

"You want to go against me? Then die!"

I was certain it was over. I closed my eyes.

My only thought was guilt. I'm sorry, Grandpa.

But the impact never came.

It was Charles.

He had stepped in front of me.

"Abigail, stop wasting time."

He looked at me with raised brows, his tone cold and brooking no argument.

"Give it to me."

"Just hand it over, and no one will make things difficult for you. You'll even get to see Grandpa."

No.

If I gave it to him, I'd never be able to face Grandpa again.

"Why are you even bothering to talk to her? If she won't hand it over, I have ways of getting it back."

Freya strode up to me, wound back her arm, and drove her fist into my stomach.

Fury surged through me. I raised my hand and slapped her across the face.

"You dare hit me?"

She touched her stinging cheek, her eyes turning vicious.

"Today, I'll show you exactly what I'm capable of."

Her fists rained down—on my head, my stomach.

Waves of pain crashed over me, sharp as needles. I had no way to fight back. All I could do was curl into myself and endure the blows.

Charles finally pulled her off me, his voice sharp.

"Enough! Stop it. I'm taking Abigail home. If you keep this up, something serious is going to happen."

"For your sake, I'll spare her life."

Freya let out a cold laugh.

"But if I catch her pulling something like this again, I won't be so forgiving."

I watched, helpless, as Charles took the evidence from me.

In that moment, every last shred of hope shattered.

I was like a hollow shell as he helped me back to the room.

"Does it hurt?"

His tone carried a note of reproach.

"You're so stubborn. Let me put some ointment on that."

The concern in his eyes didn't look fake.

He carefully lifted my shirt and applied the medicine with gentle hands.

A few days ago, I never would have believed he could hurt me like this for someone else.

But the reality was right in front of me.

The one who loved me—it was him.

The one who hurt me—also him.

Maybe, if I just told him the truth, things wouldn't have to end this way.

Clinging to that last desperate hope, I looked steadily at Charles.

"Do you know? Five years ago, I was actually the one who—"

The phone on the dresser buzzed relentlessly.

He picked it up, glanced at it for a moment, and that warm smile spread across his face again.

"Hmm? What were you saying?"

"I was the one who saved—"

Before I could finish, he cut me off.

"I need to go to the study. Something urgent came up."

His tone was casual.

"I'll come back to keep you company later. You can tell me then, okay?"

He leaned down and kissed me, just like always. His smile was gentle.