Late into the night, a sudden rustling sound echoed from the living room.

Eric's eyes snapped open instantly, and he bolted out of bed to investigate.

"Chloe!" he called out, but no response greeted his ears.

Flicking on the light, he discovered that the living room window was merely resting half-open, a chilly breeze drifting in from the outside that cooled him straight to the bone.

As it turned out, it was nothing more than the wind rattling the frame.

Eric's gaze darkened significantly; it wasn't her, and she would never return.

From that day forward, Eric took up permanent residence in the old apartment.

He couldn't articulate the exact reason, but he simply refused to depart from the one place that still held the lingering imprints of her existence.

For the very first time, Eric truly recognized that, without him ever realizing it, he had grown entirely accustomed to Chloe’s presence in his life.

Yet the weight of this realization felt as though it were dragging his soul down into a bottomless abyss; the mere thought of it threatened to cut off his oxygen entirely.

On this particular evening, he departed from the office and returned to the apartment as had become his routine.

An elderly woman was struggling to climb the stairs while carrying several heavy grocery bags. Suddenly, one of the plastic handles snapped, sending her items tumbling across the concrete floor.

Eric instinctively reached down to assist her, gathering the belongings and carrying them up to her landing.

The elderly woman expressed her immense gratitude: "Thank you so much, young man. You truly are a kind soul. The siblings who used to inhabit that apartment were wonderful children as well. Years ago, Chloe actually rescued a man covered in blood right over in Alley Seven. It was a terrifying sight, but Chloe was such a sweet, compassionate girl that she insisted on saving him!"

Alley Seven?

That was the exact location where his life-threatening incident had occurred!

Eric's chest tightened instantly: "What did you say about Alley Seven? Who did she rescue?"

The elderly woman retrieved her keys and unlocked her door as she replied, "As for who it was, I haven't the faintest idea. It all happened some four years ago..."

"Thank you once again, young man!" With that, she stepped inside and closed the door.

Eric froze solid, a profound, paralyzing dread creeping up from the soles of his feet and consuming his entire being.

He pulled out his phone, his fingers trembling violently as he dialed his assistant's number: "Investigate it immediately. Find out exactly who rescued me when I was wounded in Alley Seven four years ago!"

Inside the executive office of the Vance Group.

The assistant knocked gently before stepping inside: "Mr. Vance, this is the official investigation report delivered by the private investigator. Furthermore, Miss Lyndsey is waiting outside and requesting an audience with you."

Eric stared fixedly at the files resting upon his desk, his expression remarkably grim as he uttered a flat response: "I will not see her."

Waiting outside, Lyndsey felt a sudden, ominous foreboding creep into her mind, a wave of anxiety washing over her.

Why had he suddenly refused to see her? In the past, no matter how overwhelmed he was with corporate matters, he would never turn her away. Yet this pattern had persisted for several days now!

Inside the office, Eric drew in a deep, stabilizing breath, reaching out to open the investigation report laid out before him.

Chapter 12: The Farmer and the Viper

The documents laid out the facts with absolute, undeniable clarity. On the day Chloe had escorted Eric onto the emergency vehicle, numerous residents had witnessed the entire event.

The neighbors along South Street all recognized her; it was indeed Chloe who had preserved his life.

Lyndsey, on the other hand, was nothing more than a notorious delinquent in the neighborhood, known for her excessive drinking and smoking. Every lowlife in the vicinity was well aware that she was a habitual thief.

After stealing that unique bracelet on the night of the incident, she had even flaunted it openly in front of others.

The further Eric read, the darker his expression became, a relentless wave of agonizing pain ripping through his soul.

As it turned out, he had misidentified his savior from the very beginning. He had mistaken a common pebble for a priceless pearl, completely blind to the reality of the situation!

He had actually... actually permitted a venomous, treacherous viper like Lyndsey to destroy the very woman who had saved his life!

"Mr. Vance, there is one additional matter I must bring to your attention regarding... Miss Lyndsey," the assistant spoke in a tentative manner, sensing the dangerous aura radiating from his employer.

Eric forcefully suppressed the towering fury consuming his mind: "Speak!"

The assistant shivered slightly, rushing to explain: "The authorities have thoroughly investigated the scene of the fire. The room apparently experienced an explosion triggered by a faulty electrical wire, which led to the absolute destruction of the villa. However... you are well aware of the strict safety standards and regular inspections maintained at that residence. It is virtually impossible for such an accident to occur naturally."

Eric knew better than anyone that the security and maintenance protocols at his villa were absolute; every potential hazard was checked regularly by professionals.

Unless Chloe had actively sought to end her own life, such an incident could never have occurred.

Yet on that very day, Chloe had declared to him with absolute, unshakeable resolve that she would make Lyndsey pay for her brother's life in blood!

With Lyndsey still walking free, how could she possibly bring herself to abandon her quest for vengeance?

His heart experienced a violent jolt, his fists clenching until his knuckles popped sharply in the silence.

"Bring Lyndsey in here immediately!"

Terrified by the freezing, lethal aura emanating from Eric, the assistant bolted from the room and ushered Lyndsey inside.

Stepping into the office, Lyndsey failed to register the absolute darkness written across Eric's features, immediately dissolving into a display of aggrieved tears.

"Eric, you've refused to see me for days. That horrific fire only occurred a couple of days ago, and I am far too terrified to stay all by myself."

Hearing the word fire struck a raw nerve within Eric's mind. His gaze cut through her like a lethal blade as he locked his eyes onto Lyndsey: "Look at the absolute audacity of your display after what you've done! To think you still dare to put on such a hypocritical performance before me. I believe you have grown weary of living!"

Lyndsey gasped in shock; it was the first time in her existence that Eric had ever spoken to her in such a savage tone.

The theatrical expression froze completely upon her face: "What are you talking about? I don't understand what you mean."

As it turned out, this woman was the ultimate actress, and he had allowed himself to be thoroughly blinded by her performance!

Eric snatched the documents from his desk and hurled them directly into Lyndsey’s face: "Take a look at these before you attempt to play the fool any longer!"

Stunned by the impact, Lyndsey gathered the scattered papers and cast a frantic glance over the text, her face cycling through various shades of pale and green.

She tore the documents into shreds, frantically reaching out to grasp the edge of his suit coat to explain: "Eric, this is nothing more than malicious slander concocted by those miserable people! They are trying to ruin me because they are envious of my position! You must not believe a single word they say!"

Eric let out a cold, mocking laugh, gripping her jaw with a level of cruelty that was thoroughly terrifying: "Very well. Then explain to me exactly how you rescued me on that night. At what precise hour, and in what specific location?"

Lyndsey felt as though her jawbone were about to be shattered beneath his immense grip. Tears of pure agony gathered in her eyes, yet she found herself entirely unable to break free from his hold.

She stammered frantically: "On that night... I was entirely intoxicated. I cannot recall the exact street where I found you... Yes, it was I who dialed for emergency services to save your life. You... you presented me with this bracelet, instructing me to keep it safe, and then... it occurred so long ago, I simply cannot remember the finer details."

Upon hearing her response, the pressure Eric exerted intensified significantly, his teeth grinding as he growled, "Absolute garbage! Do you have any conception of the price one pays for daring to deceive me? Lest you forget, you still have a human life resting upon your conscience!"

Realizing that her deception had been completely unraveled, Lyndsey abandoned her innocent facade, letting out a mocking sneer: "And what if I do? Eric Vance, lest you forget, the solitary piece of incriminating evidence Chloe possessed against me was personally destroyed by your own hands. What exactly do you think you can do to me now?"