Chapter 2

"Henry!"

I scrambled over on all fours to untie those damned ropes from his body.

The hemp ropes had cut deep into his flesh, leaving dark red, almost black, bloody marks.

I couldn't bear to imagine how long he had been tied up in this terrifying place.

As soon as the ropes were undone, he collapsed into my arms.

He looked at me helplessly, his eyes full of uncontrollable anxiety and fear, but unable to speak.

He whimpered weakly, tears falling in large drops.

I held him tightly, my heart aching unbearably.

After comforting him for a while, I lifted my brother onto my back, desperate to leave this green hell immediately.

When we finally made it back to the resort, I found it completely deserted.

Thinking of that lying manager, I wanted nothing more than to tear him to pieces.

But the most important thing now was to treat Henry's wounds. I would settle this score later, without fail.

Under the remote guidance of a doctor, I treated my brother's wounds and then soothed him to sleep.

Watching his haggard little face finally calm down, my heart settled back a bit.

But soon, an overwhelming tidal wave of fury swept through my entire body.

My brother had been tortured like this, and Lucas couldn't be innocent.

He had promised to take good care of Henry, so why had he allowed this to happen?

If it was his responsibility, I wouldn't let him off easy either.

I walked out of the room, determined to find him and demand an explanation no matter what.

Not paying attention, I almost collided head-on with an impeccably made-up woman.

It was Charlotte Chen, Lucas's personal secretary.

I had long heard rumors about her and Lucas.

But Lucas always explained things away perfectly, and I chose to believe him every time.

Charlotte looked shocked to see me, but quickly changed to undisguised provocation.

"Samantha? You really are like a ghost that won't stay away. I can't believe you found your way here."

She looked me up and down.

"Well, that saves me the trouble of having to send someone to notify you."

As she spoke, she gently stroked her still-flat belly, a victorious smile on her face.

"I'm pregnant with Lucas's child."

"You barren hen, don't think you can hold onto the title of Mrs. Martin any longer."

Looking at her arrogant face, I felt nothing but disgust.

To spare Lucas's ego, I had never revealed my true identity in any public setting.

I helped him register the company, using all of the Yates family's connections and resources to pave a smooth road for him.

But in the eyes of his employees, I was just an ordinary housewife who had married into a wealthy family.

"Was it you who did this to my brother?" My voice was ice cold.

Charlotte snorted with laughter, crossing her arms over her chest.

"We just let the idiot get close to nature. What's the big deal?"

"Aren't you just upset that you can't have children yourself, so you want to trick the Martin family's fortune away for that fool brother of yours?"

"Too bad, now that I'm pregnant, your little scheme is going to fall apart!"

I glared at her, struggling to contain my anger.

"Say one more word, and I swear I'll tear that lying mouth of yours to shreds!"

She seemed startled by my expression for a moment.

"Lucas was right, you really are a complete sister-obsessed lunatic!"

I almost laughed from anger.

So that husband who was so caring and gentle to my face had shamelessly fabricated this image of himself as the real CEO.

And my beloved brother had become a so-called tool for coveting Lucas Martin's pathetic fortune.

Which of Lucas's possessions wasn't obtained through me?

"Take me to Lucas right now! I'm tired of wasting words with you."

A flash of undisguised viciousness passed through her eyes.

"You think seeing him will change anything? Get it through your head, you're the cast-off shoe about to be abandoned now."

"If I were you, I'd go enjoy nature with your precious brother."

Her shameless and vicious words made me laugh out loud from anger.

"You may have been mistaken about one thing from the very beginning. Everything Lucas has, I gave him."

"The one who's going to be abandoned is him."

"I am the sole legal heir to Yates Corporation in the city."

Charlotte's expression became complicated as she looked at me suspiciously.

"You're talking nonsense. You must be upset about me being pregnant and lashing out!"

I looked contemptuously at her slightly bulging belly.

"What you're carrying is nothing but a worthless dog's spawn."