Videl was drugged and dumped in a hotel room. She struggled to stay conscious, but the drug was too strong. By the time she opened her eyes the next morning, her world had already collapsed.
"Eric Walker's fiancée caught in a cheating scandal with another man." The photos went viral instantly. Connections helped get them taken down, but the damage was done.
When Videl arrived at the Walker mansion, the family's furious stares met her. Henry Walker's face was red with anger as he slammed his cane on the floor, pointing it straight at her.
"You ingrate!" his voice boomed across the room, making Videl flinch. "How dare you cheat on my grandson? After everything we did for you, this is how you repay us?"
His breathing became rough and uneven, and for a moment it looked like his own rage might overpower him.
Eric stepped forward quickly, placing a steadying hand on Henry's arm. "Grandfather, calm down. Please. Your health is more important. Let me handle this."
Then he turned toward Videl.
"How could you do this to me, Videl? I trusted you. I thought we could at least try to make this relationship work. I never imagined you would betray me like this. Why?" His jaw tightened, and his hands curled into fists at his sides. Anyone who looked at him could see the storm in his eyes, the raw pain. The sight made their hearts ache.
Before he could say more, Erica Walker, Eric's twin sister, stepped forward, her voice sharp and furious.
"Videl Fredericks! How could you be so heartless? My brother loved you. How could you betray him like this?"
"Heartless? She is far worse than that. A vile, unfaithful wretch with no shame," Gretta, Eric's mother, added, her eyes cold and unforgiving.
"Aunty Gretta, Erica, please," Pamela said, stepping forward slightly. "You shouldn't judge Videl so harshly. I'm sure whatever happened wasn't intentional. Right, Videl?"
Videl's cold eyes swept over them, a sneer curling at her lips. These four would make great actors. If she hadn't known better, she might have felt guilty and tried to explain, but she knew better. Every one of them was cunning, vile, and deceitful—the very people who had set her up.
Her mind flashed back to last night: Erica insisting they go to a club to "have fun" and "bond as future in-laws." Foolishly, Videl had trusted her and let her guard down, unaware of their plan.
She remembered every word.
"Don't blame me, Videl. I warned you to stay away from my brother, didn't I? But you just had to keep clinging. You even cried to Grandpa, and he threatened Eric because of you."
"Pamela is the only one who deserves to be his wife. She saved our company from bankruptcy. She earned that title, not a nobody like you, Videl Fredericks."
Videl's chest tightened. It hurt, but what hurt even more were Erica's last mocking words replaying in her mind. "Bye-bye, Videl. Have a wild night. Let's go, Pam. Mom, and Eric is going to be happy when they hear our plan worked out."
Her fists clenched.
Every single one of them, Erica, Gretta, Pamela, and even Eric, her own fiancé, had been part of the plan.
Why?
They had been together for two years.
It was not a love match at the beginning. Their relationship existed only because Henry Walker arranged it.
But along the way, something had changed.
Eric had grown close to her. He laughed with her, protected her, and made her believe he cared.
One night, he had even taken her hand and whispered, "They can say whatever they want, but I'm not letting anyone come between us."
Her chest ached at the memory.
He had looked her in the eyes when he said it.
And yet he had thrown her to the wolves without a second thought.
Why exactly?
The answer was staring at her. Pamela Brooks. His first love and the so-called savior of the Walker empire.
Ever since Pamela returned from overseas, Eric had been eager to break up with her but she had never imagined he would go this far just to get rid of her. A bitter laugh escaped her lips.
How foolish she had been to think she could win his heart.
That hope was dead now.
Fine. Since they wanted her out of their lives, she would leave. There was no reason to stay anymore.
She shrugged lightly, as if they hadn't just accused her of every sin imaginable.
"Oh, it was intentional, alright. Eric's boring in bed, so I figured I'd try someone who can actually keep up."
A sharp hush swept over the room.
Eric's face darkened. They had never been intimate before, and yet she dared to call him boring.
But Videl wasn't finished.
She tilted her head slightly, her tone calm and steady.
"Honestly, I don't even blame myself. If I had known Eric was this disappointing, I would have looked elsewhere a long time ago."
Gasps rippled through the room.
"Videl Fredericks, you bitch!" Erica exploded, her face contorted with rage. "How dare you stand here and insult my brother after everything you've done? You have no shame!"
Gretta stepped forward, her voice sharp enough to cut.
"Shameless girl. You seduce men, bring disgrace to this family, and now you open your filthy mouth to mock my son? Have you no dignity at all?"
Henry Walker's cane struck the floor with a sharp crack.
"You've brought enough disgrace into this house with your filth, Videl," he said coldly. He pointed toward the stairs.
"Pack your things and get out of my house."
Videl didn't flinch. She simply shrugged, then briefly met Eric's furious gaze before turning toward the stairs.
"You didn't need to tell me. I wasn't planning to stay here any longer. I only came back to pack my things."
As she took a step up, Gretta's cold voice stopped her.
"Stop right there! Don't you dare set your filthy legs upstairs!"
Videl froze, her jaw tightening. Before she could say a word, Gretta snapped,
"Anna! Throw her bag down!"
Anna appeared at the top of the stairs and without hesitation tossed the bag over the railing. It crashed loudly onto the floor.
Videl watched in silence as the bag fell, hitting the floor with a heavy thud. She said nothing, picked it up, and turned to leave.
"Not so fast, Videl."
Gretta's voice sliced through the air again.
Videl frowned. "What is it this time?"
Gretta strode toward her without answering. Before Videl could move, Gretta's hand shot out and yanked the necklace from her neck.
Videl gasped, a sharp sting shooting across her skin.
"Gretta, stop it!"
Henry's voice boomed, but Gretta didn't stop.
She grabbed Videl's wrist next and tore off the bracelet. Videl winced again, barely recovering from the first pain when the second hit.
"Gretta!"
Still ignoring him, Gretta narrowed her eyes at Videl, hand stretched out.
"The ring. Hand it over, or should I take it from you too?"
Videl stared at her for a second, then slowly pulled the ring off her finger and placed it in Gretta's palm.
Without saying another word, she turned and walked away.
The moment Videl stepped out of the gate, her eyes dimmed. She couldn't hold back the tears anymore. It hurt more than words could explain. She had loved Eric with everything her heart, her dreams, her future. And yet, all she got in return was betrayal.
She walked aimlessly, her mind a storm of anger and heartbreak. The street around her blurred.
Then came the sound.
A low, sharp roar of an engine tearing through the street.
Videl turned her head, just in time to see a black car speeding toward her fast, too fast.
Her heart jumped. She tried to move. But it was too late.
Tyres screeched.
Metal slammed into flesh.
She was thrown off her feet, her body crashing to the pavement with brutal force. Pain shot through every nerve as the air was knocked out of her lungs.
Silence.
Moments later, footsteps echoed across the asphalt—measured, steady.
A phone beeped as the call connected.
"Miss Brooks," the man said coldly. "It's done."
A pause. Then, a low voice on the other end replied,
"Make sure she doesn't survive".