When the Dream Finally Died

Colby stiffened for a brief moment.

The woman in his arms was so thin, so light, sobbing like a child.

Memories surged back. Years ago, Ryann had cried like this too, clinging to him after they lost their first child. Back then, she had treated him as something more important than life itself.

Instinctively, he tightened his arms around her, patting her back gently.

"That's enough…" His voice softened. "Stop crying."

Ryann looked up at him through tear-filled eyes. They were swollen and red, her nose flushed, looking fragile and pitiful.

"Colby…I was wrong…" she choked. "I won't make trouble anymore. I'll behave. Just… please let Charlee go, okay? I can divorce you… or not divorce you… whatever you want. I'll do anything. I'm begging you."

Something in Colby's chest loosened slightly.

"I never considered divorce," he said, his tone noticeably gentler. "As long as you stay with me and don't stir up trouble, Charlee will be fine."

Ryann nodded frantically. "I won't… I really won't…"

Colby raised a hand and wiped her tears away. It wasn't tender, but he did hold back his strength.

A thought flickered through his mind—maybe this wasn't so bad.

Ryann was too stubborn. Without suffering a little, she would never bend.

And now, she was finally showing that familiar dependence again.

He even found himself enjoying the moment—her softness, her obedience, the way her eyes held only him.

"Let's go home, " Colby said. "Take a bath and get some sleep."

Ryann nodded obediently, letting him guide her into the car.

---

Over the next few days, Ryann became noticeably more "well-behaved."

She stopped mentioning divorce, stopped asking to see Charlee, and even ignored Suzanne's repeated provocations.

Colby was pleased and finally agreed to bring Charlee home to recover.

Ryann let out a quiet breath of relief. The moment Colby left for the office, she made a discreet phone call.

At the banquet that night, someone had secretly slipped her a business card—Cason Moore, Colby's biggest competitor.

"Mr. Moore," Ryann said softly, "it's me. I have evidence of tax violations across five Willis Group subsidiaries over the past five years. I also have full audio recordings and transfer records proving Suzanne bribed witnesses and fabricated psychiatric reports."

There was a brief silence on the other end.

"Your terms?" the man finally asked.

"Help me get my brother out. I've already finalized the divorce papers and prepared fake identities. I just need you to get us out. And... " Ryann paused, ""Before 3 p.m. tomorrow, release the evidence in stages. Especially Suzanne's part. I want her completely ruined."

Carson chuckled, "You hate her."

"Yes," Ryann admitted it without hesitation. "But I hate Colby more. That said… right now, I just want to leave."

"Deal," Carson replied. "Give me thirty minutes to mobilize my people. Send the files now. Stay reachable. My car will be at the back gate of the Willis residence within half an hour. Once you're gone, I'll release everything."

"Thank you."

"No need," Carson said. "Mutual benefit."

After hanging up, Ryann sent the encrypted files, then deleted every trace.

She waited quietly. Colby had promised to bring Charlee home today, but she hadn't expected Suzanne to arrive before they did.

Suzanne strode into the living room, chin lifted. When she saw Ryann, she curled her lips into a sneer. "I heard Colby's bringing your brother over today?"

Ryann ignored her.

Suzanne wasn't satisfied. She stepped closer. "I suggest you know your place. When Charlee gets here, he'd better kneel and apologize properly. Otherwise... "

"Or what?" Ryann lifted her gaze.

The chill in her eyes made Suzanne flinch for a split second. Then she lifted her chin again. "Or I'll have Colby send him straight back to the psych ward. And this time, he'll never get out."

Ryann set the scissors down and stood. "Suzanne, have you ever thought about what would happen if Colby found out everything you've done?"

Suzanne's expression shifted. "What are you implying?"

"Nothing," Ryann said calmly. "Just a reminder. Every lie has a due date."

"You—" Suzanne was about to explode when the doorbell rang.

The maid opened the door. Two bodyguards walked in, escorting Charlee.

He was dressed neatly, but his face was pale. His right arm hung stiffly at his side, his gaze dull and unfocused.

Suzanne stepped closer, scanning him from head to toe, then laughed.

"Well, if it isn't the piano prodigy. What happened to your hand?" she sneered as she reached out toward his right arm. Ryann slapped her hand away.

"Don't touch him."

Suzanne's expression darkened.

"Let me tell you the truth. Colby didn't bring him back to make you happy. He brought this trash home so I could vent my anger. Hold him down. Beat him," Suzanne ordered.

The bodyguards hesitated, glancing at Ryann.

"Who dares!" Ryann stepped in front of Charlee, shielding him.

Suzanne sneered. Then suddenly, she lifted her heel and drove it hard into Charlee's stomach. He let out a muffled cry, clutching himself as he collapsed onto the floor.

"Suzanne!" Ryann's eyes went bloodshot as she shoved her.

Suzanne screamed and fell backward, her lower back slamming into the edge of the coffee table. Blood instantly spread beneath her.

At that moment, the front door flew open.

Colby rushed in. The second he saw the scene, his face drained of color.

"What happened?" he asked.

Suzanne burst into tears. "Colby, help me! Ryann tried to kill our baby!"

Colby's pupils shrank. He whipped his head toward Ryann.

Ryann shook her head violently. "I didn't! She stepped on Charlee's stomach first—"

"Enough!" Colby roared. He rushed to Suzanne, scooped her into his arms, and before leaving, cast Ryann a look colder than ice.

"We'll settle this when I get back."

He carried Suzanne out, his footsteps fading fast.

The living room fell silent.

Ryann stood frozen, staring at her trembling hands, then suddenly laughed.

"So that's how easy revenge is," she murmured. "One small push, and they're already unraveling."

Charlee tugged gently at her sleeve. "Ryann… go… don't worry about me…"

Ryann wiped away her tears and took his hand firmly. "No. We're leaving together."

They ran for the back gate.

Just as promised, a black sedan waited in the alley. Ryann helped Charlee into the car. The door shut, and the vehicle sped toward the airport.

An elderly member of the Fowler family, who had been waiting there all along, handed the siblings their finalized divorce papers and newly prepared IDs.

Ryann clenched the thin stack of papers tightly and finally exhaled.

Goodbye, this disgusting city.

Goodbye, Colby.

As she boarded the plane, her phone buzzed with multiple alerts.

"Willis Group suspected of large-scale tax evasion."

"Suzanne Price exposed for bribing witnesses and fabricating evidence—police launch investigation."

"Suzanne Price's true background revealed—nightclub escort photos leaked."

#Colby Willis accused of shielding his mistress and enabling criminal acts."

Ryann curved her lips into a faint, mocking smile.

"Colby, your real nightmare has only just begun," she murmured.

Colby had just rushed into the hospital lobby with Suzanne in his arms when the atmosphere exploded. What should have been a quiet space instantly turned chaotic.

Reporters appeared out of nowhere, cameras and microphones raised, swarming him in seconds.

Flashbulbs fired nonstop, blinding and relentless.

He was still holding the "frail" Suzanne, completely unprepared for the ambush. His face darkened instantly.

"Mr. Willis! Are the leaked photos of Miss Price working in nightclubs real?"

"Mr. Willis, Miss Price is suspected of fabricating evidence to frame your wife's brother. Were you aware of it? Did you help cover it up?"

"Willis Group is being investigated for massive tax evasion. Was that money used to fund Miss Price's extravagant lifestyle?"

"Miss Price, was your miscarriage staged? There are reports saying you were never pregnant at all!"

The questions came like knives, microphones nearly shoved into Suzanne's face.

She let out a shrill scream and buried her face into Colby's chest, trembling violently. "Colby… I'm scared… make them leave… please make them leave…"

Colby's mind buzzed.

He hadn't even looked at his phone on the way here. He had no idea the world outside had already turned upside down.

Hearing the accusations, he snapped instinctively, "Absolute nonsense! Who gave you the nerve to spread these lies?!"

Only then did the bodyguards react. It took everything they had to push the reporters back and force a path open, escorting Colby into the elevator.

Once inside the VIP ward, Suzanne collapsed onto the bed and burst into hysterical sobs.

"Colby, it was Ryann… it had to be that bitch!"

she cried, clutching his sleeve. "Those photos were all photoshopped! She's jealous you care about me. She wants to destroy me! She even pushed me, she tried to kill our baby!"

Her tears streamed down her face, pitiful and frantic. Colby's anger flared higher and higher.

To him, Ryann was still just acting out. Now she was using such vile, shameless tactics.

"Don't be afraid," he said darkly, patting Suzanne's hand. "I'm here. I'll take care of everything. And I'll make her pay."

After calming her down, Colby walked out of the ward, his face stormy. He pulled out his phone and dialed Ryann's number.

This time, he was done being lenient. He would punish the siblings properly. He would even send Charlee somewhere far worse.

But—

"Sorry, the number you've dialed does not exist."

The cold mechanical voice echoed in his ear.

Colby froze for a second, convinced he had misheard.

He dialed again. Still, this number did not exist.

His heart sank. A sharp sense of unease crawled up his spine.

He immediately called the villa, and the servant answered.

"Put Ryann on the phone," he roared.

The servant's voice came back shaky and frightened. "Mr. Willis… the madam and her… her brother, they're gone. The rooms are empty. Everything's been cleared out…"

Colby's grip tightened around the phone, his knuckles turning pale.

She ran?

After throwing him into chaos, after ruining Suzanne, she actually dared to run?

"Find her!" He slammed the phone to the ground, the screen shattering instantly. "Turn the city upside down if you have to. Bring her back! When I get them, I'll break that idiot's legs and make Ryann kneel and apologize!"

His mind was consumed with one thought—dragging them back and making them pay.

As for regret?

He felt none. He only hated himself for being too merciful to Ryann in the first place.