Can't Win Me Back

Upon hearing that, Zoe glared at Freddy. She examined his face which was colored with anger, all because of Lauren.

She had a feeling that Freddy's feelings for Lauren had changed. In the past, he displayed nothing but scorn toward Lauren. However, he seemed to be green in envy over Lauren now.

"No way... I can't let this slide!" His temples throbbed in fury. "Our families agreed on the marriage. Lauren Beckett shall be mine, and no one can take her from me!"

As he was speaking, Zoe straddled him naked without warning and slapped him twice in the face. He looked confounded. "Zoe, w-what are you doing?"

"Freddy Hodgson, that's too much! Didn't you vow only to love me in this life? You said you only have me in your heart!" She glowered at him as she tightened her grip on his neck as if she wanted to suffocate him to death. "All your reactions show that you're catching feelings for that idiot. Tell me.

Have you fallen for Lauren Beckett?"

"N-No, Zoe, I didn't! I'm marrying her to avenge you. Everything I did was for you!" He held her waist and gasped for breath. The suffocation gradually set in, but it aroused him as well.

"I'm warning you now, Freddy." She leaned over and slapped his cheek before threatening him through gritted teeth. "The Harpers were originally gangsters. It's a piece of cake for us to kill someone discreetly. Betray me, and I'll make sure you die a horrible death. Got it?"

Freddy shuddered at her intimidation, but he couldn't shake off the sight of Lauren in Cyrus' arms. She had danced so gracefully that night.

The thought of it made him clench his fist indignantly.

At that moment, Zoe received a call from an unknown number. Putting on her bathrobe, she answered impatiently, "Who's this?"

She was greeted by silence. She snapped, "Speak up! Are you a mute?" Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

"Zoe Harper, it sounds like you're having a great time," Betty rasped in a low, heavy voice that sent a shiver down Zoe's spine.

Zoe muttered, "B-Betty Beckett? I thought you had—"

"You think I'll never be back after Jasper sent me abroad?" Betty cackled evilly. "Too bad! Betty Beckett is a tough one. I'm back!"

Zoe clutched her bathrobe with trembling fingers.

"I was the one who gave you the health report that ruined Landon and Lauren's marriage. When we were busted, you got out of it unscathed, yet I was unfairly banished. Do you really think I'll resign to my fate?"

Zoe's expression hardened. Knowing Jasper and Alyssa's capabilities, they might be the ones orchestrating Betty's comeback. Betty wouldn't have been able to come home without external help otherwise.

However, Zoe had no time to mull. She questioned coldly, "So, what is it that you want?"

Betty laughed maniacally. "This is a dog-eat-dog world. I was too kind and soft; I should have hired a bunch of thugs to rape Lauren Beckett before killing and dismembering her corpse into tiny pieces. Only then, Landon, Jasper, and that Taylor bitch would live in grief and remorse forever!"

Zoe felt sick in the stomach when she listened to Betty's gory description. Betty seemed to have lost her mind.

Zoe advised, "That's not a bad idea, but you need to pay the price for murder. What's the point of coming home if it's just to kill Lauren? Do you enjoy being thrown behind bars in Solana City?"

"You were right. I was just saying that for fun. I have other plans." Betty stopped laughing and said icily, "This time, I'm coming home to take revenge. I want to ruin Lauren and put her through the suffering I went through.

"So, old friend, we'll need to work together one more time. Though, it'll be the last."

Zoe furrowed her brows at Betty's request. Her plan had fallen apart after the Hodgsons called off Freddy's engagement to Lauren. Despite that, she was hesitant to work with Betty out of fear that Betty, driven by insanity, might go off a deep end and end up hurting her.

Just as she was considering Betty's proposal, she received a call from Penelope.