Game Over No Second Chances

"Help" The word got caught in Wendy's throat. She collapsed to the floor, flailing like a fish out of water.

Sarah's expression shifted when she saw that Wendy's face was drained of color. Veins bulged along her temple, but her body was going limp.

Something was wrong. Seriously wrong. Panic shot through Sarah as she

retreated two quick steps.

Wendy was writhing on the ground, making a horrible, wheezing noise like a bellows on its last breath. And then, she just... crumpled.

"Oh my god! You're not actually dying because of me, are you? I... I don't want to be a murderer! I-I just slapped you twice! That's it! I don't know anything! I'm not going to jail for this!"

Sarah pressed herself against the wall as she panicked. Once she recovered, her eyes darted around the room to check for surveillance cameras.

Once she made sure that there were no cameras, she turned back to see Wendy's bloodshot eyes.

Her body was twitching faintly. She looked like she was about to die for real this time. Frantic, Sarah yanked off her jacket, threw it over her head to hide her face, and bolted for the door.

One dead Wendy was fine as long as she wasn't blamed. No one should have ever found out that she was the last one to leave.

She ran blindly through the hallway and even barked out a breathless order to someone to cut the surveillance footage.

Sweat soaked her back as she rushed home, begging that none of this would come back to her.

Back in the room, Wendy was overwhelmed by rage and unwillingness.

She dug her fingers into the carpet, dragging herself forward inch by inch. Somewhere beyond the haze, she heard voices.

"She looks like she's dying-someone call an ambulance!" It all sounded warped and far away, like underwater echoes.

But as Wendy clung to that carpet, fury rose like fire in her chest.

She would make sure Serena, Sarah, the sisters who had crushed her dignity like it meant nothing to pay with their lives.

She wasn't dying here. She would have survived.

In a night of chaos, neon lights shimmered across the skyline, and giant screens flashed advertisements over the bustling city.

Serena had changed into a light blue gown and now sat in the passenger seat of Hugh's car, flipping through the glossy pages of her personalized birthday party proposal.

She had no idea what had gone down at the bar earlier. All she saw was an endless lineup of extravagant cruise events—until her eyes landed on the last item.

"Private island?"

"The original route was at risk of a typhoon, so I rerouted to my private island. It was a last-minute change, so the update was only sent to the guests.

"And Larson Group's freeloaders forgot to pass it along to Amber Group, so you didn't get an invitation."

Hugh's expression was like ice.

The people at Larson Group still treated him like a cold, untouchable machine— an old man with no interest in women or warmth.

Everything was handled like a

business transaction. And because of that, the party's main character had somehow been left off the guest list. Serena hadn't even known about the change.

Serena blinked in confusion.noveldrama

Their relationship had only been made public at a few small gatherings. It was no

wonder Larson Group's staff weren't fully in the loop.

She let out a resigned smile and was just about to defend the employees-

But Hugh spoke first. "Don't worry. They'll be on a plane to the Arentha branch

tomorrow. Someone will teach them how to do their jobs properly.

"Something like this won't happen again. You're my wife. Outsiders might not know who you are, but as one of Larson Group's people they should know exactly how to treat you."

Hugh's hands were steady on the wheel, but with just a few sentences, he'd

decided the future of multiple employees.

Serena froze. She'd never been treated like this before.

Even when she'd been a shareholder in Zarena Group, Zach had never acted this decisively.

At most, he'd dock their bonuses, pull her into his arms, and coax her with a soft voice.

"They didn't mean to make things hard for you. If you hate conflict,

can

just hide you away at home. You arrange flowers, play piano, and live a peaceful little life."