Chapter 2019

The bodyguard opened the door, and Stella looked inside.

The man she saw bore little resemblance to the suave businessman she had once known.

Kristian’s face was covered in heavy bandages, giving him a monstrous appearance.

Through the bandages, his gaze found Stella and Matthew, and his eyes gleamed with unhinged fury.

He attempted to rise, but his damaged leg failed him.

Despite his efforts, he could not stand.

Struggling for breath on the edge of the bed, he clenched his fists and let out a pained groan.

Bitterly, he demanded, “You enjoying seeing me like this Before anyone could respond, Kristian lashed out, his anger boiling over.

”

“You did this to me.

I should’ve been tougher back then.

I should’ve paid someone to eliminate you and Bella, so you’d both be gone!”

His words were venomous, and Stella’s anger ignited.

“It wasn’t us who did this to you.

Your ambition and greed are to blame.

You orchestrated your own downfall, trying to harm us step by step, but in the end, you only harmed yourself.

”

No matter how pitiful Kristian looked now, Stella felt no sympathy.

“You only broke one leg, and that’s not enough to make up for what you’ve done.

Remember, you got what you deserved!” Stella spat angrily, her chest heaving.

Especially when she thought about Bella, still unconscious, Stella hated Kristian even more.

Kristian’s face darkened.

Grinning nastily, he said, “I won’t let you off easy.

If I’m not happy, neither will you or Bella! I still have my trump card.

I won’t sit still and wait for death.

”

Neither Matthew nor Stella took Kristian’s bluster to heart.

In their eyes, Kristian, now a shadow of his former self due to his disabilities, lacked the means to follow through on any of his threats.

He was impotent in his rage, a fact they accepted with a dismissive ease.

Just then, the police entered the hospital ward, their expressions unreadable as they approached the bed where Kristian lay.

“Are you Kristian? We have received evidence of your involvement in money laundering.

You need to come with us.

”

Kristian, taken aback by the sudden turn of events, felt his arrogance ebb away as he processed the gravity of the situation.

His eyes flicked to Matthew, suspicion and realization dawning simultaneously.

Had Matthew orchestrated this downfall?

Kristian’s eyes narrowed, his voice icy as he confronted Matthew.

“How long have you known?”

Matthew’s expression remained unreadable.

“From the very first moment we met, I was onto you.

”

A shockwave of realization hit Kristian, leaving him momentarily stunned before he erupted into bitter laughter.

“Excellent…” He repeated the word thrice, his voice laced with sarcasm.

“All this time, you’ve been deceiving me.

Even our so-called business cooperation was a farce.

It was all a trap.

”

Matthew stayed silent, his silence a tacit confirmation.

Kristian’s face contorted with anger.

“Diabolical.

I fell right into your plot.

You’ve outplayed me,” he said, the sting of defeat palpable in his words.