Chapter 4

On the eleventh day after they cruelly "killed" her in the kidnapping scheme, they secretly came to get their marriage license.

What a coincidence!

Winnie stood there fiercely, overwhelmed by suffocating pain, deep-seated hatred that pierced her heart, and a chill bursting from her eyes.

All the past mockery was like a dagger piercing through her heart!

"Winnie, I'll definitely marry you. You'll be Mrs. Davis right away."

"Winnie, you're a genius. Help Ava with the designs again. She must win the jewelry competition!"

"We'll get our license after the wedding, don't worry, I won't betray you."

But after the wedding, He simply wanted her dead!

The man standing tall beside her released her clenched fist and asked in a cold tone, "Do you need a few minutes?"

Winnie pressed her pale lips together and shook her head.

The polite staff escorted them in.

It only took about two minutes to obtain the documents. Winnie glanced at the cold man working diligently in his chair, dominant, indifferent, and perfunctory.

Did she just enter a lonely marriage? It seemed like getting the license was only a way to satisfy his mother.

He knew nothing about her, and she didn't know who she had just married.

At that moment, Winnie suddenly saw Daniel and Ava walking into another office room from outside, with Ava carrying a bag and heading to the restroom.

She smirked, her cherry lips curling, and said to Lawrence, "I need to take care of something."

The assistant, Bryan, looked at the cold and slender back of Winnie, then asked his boss with a lowered voice, "Mr. Rodriguez?"

Lawrence's gaze didn't leave his work, only furrowing his brows, "Go with her, and protect her."

In the restroom, Winnie retrieved a broken lipstick and water from her bag, using them to smear a piece of paper. She then discreetly placed it inside one of the cubicles, offering a cold smile before leaving.

Outside City Hall, Winnie asked the driver to stop the car for a moment.

After waiting quietly for a few seconds, a panicked and delicate figure tumbled down the steps, screaming without caring about her image, "Daniel!"

Daniel ran toward her, finding Ava with a flushed face.

Trembling, Ava pulled out a bloodstained piece of paper.

"Look... a birthday greeting in blood, matching the deceased, with Winnie's name on it! It just appeared in my bag. Is it Winnie? Has she returned to claim our lives?!"

Scared by the bloody paper, Daniel took two steps back, furrowing his brow as he supported Ava. "Nonsense. She's already dead! Stay calm, and let's not attract the paparazzi."

"Daniel, I'm so scared..." Ava's eyes darkened, her face pale.

Looking at the couple huddled together and scanning their surroundings, Winnie coldly smirked and snapped a photo with her phone. The wound in her hand throbbed. The excruciating pain reminded her of her stepmother's words, and her pupils dilated.

"What's harsh, my dear? You were the one who wanted to groom Winnie for the sake of protecting Ava!"

The painful truth cut deep, and from now on, she vowed to become Ava's catastrophe!

Winnie glanced at the afternoon funeral news, her lips curling into a cold smile. The appetizers were served; the main event would soon follow.

With deep-seated vengeance brewing within, she would settle everything and take back what was rightfully hers.

She cradled her hand, which was spasming in pain, and said, "Mr. Rodriguez, you can drive now."

Suddenly, her pale hand was grabbed by a larger hand, and the man beside her momentarily shifted his attention from work, asking about her hand, "Does it hurt?"

His deep, low voice made Winnie freeze in an instant. Almost at that moment, the tears she had been holding back were about to stream down her face.

"Don't cry! Let me massage it for you." Lawrence frowned and gave it a light rub. There was no emotion on his profile, just a cool and solid presence.

Winnie stared blankly at this nobleman, and he asserted, "I don't care what you're planning to do, just promise me that our baby will be safe!"

"I promise!" It was a transaction from the beginning, and Winnie didn't expect him to help her seek revenge, especially since he doubted her true intentions.

But she needed a place to stay, and this marriage was her best move.

"Drop her off," He said as he continued working on his laptop, obviously busy. He did not state any destination.

Winnie gazed at his upright figure in a suit and told the driver, "Please take me to Sunset Funeral Parlor!"

Meanwhile, in the VIP lounge of the funeral home, Sophia scoffed as she tore up the bloody paper. "It's just a prank with lipstick. Don't be frightened!"

Ava was still a bit traumatized. "But no one else knows about the ghost marriage we arranged for her!"

Sophia disdainfully said, "Even if everyone in her company has sided with us, she will still have one or two rotten friends. It's just a petty prank."

"Hmph, the funeral is about to begin. Your father will publicly announce that all her inheritance rights belong to you, and there will no longer be a person called Winnie in this world!"

"She's dead. There's no way she can come back." Matthew was firm.

Hearing that, Ava regained her composure, a victorious smugness appearing on her face.

At two o'clock in the afternoon, many people came to attend the funeral.

The Anderson family was a well-known aristocratic family in Lymington. Particularly, the sensational Winnie Anderson had made a name for herself by launching her business at the tender age of 18, showcasing both talent and remarkable beauty.

Her demise was now a shocking reality, and the disgraceful manner of her death had ignited a considerable commotion.

Squinting her eyes, Winnie stood on the side of the road, making a public phone call. Despite having nothing now, she still recalled some familiar media contacts.

Concealing the blood plasma purchased by the driver, she donned sunglasses and removed the gauze from her palm as she entered the funeral home.

A cold smile played on her lips-she was back!

The dirge played as Winnie glimpsed at the empty coffin in the middle.

"The once glorious debutante, who would have thought it would end like this," someone whispered.

"Did you not see the news? She was murdered by her lover! Despite her innocent appearance, it's long been rumored that she was promiscuous and got ahead in business by sleeping around. She cheated on Daniel and bullied her step-sister!"

"That's right, I work at Triton Jewelry and have seen Winnie Anderson sleep with the male shareholders. She also constantly tormented Ava Anderson."

"Enough of your gossip," Ava says tearfully, "I am saddened by Winnie's death. I can forgive her for taking credit for my designs"

"She was so arrogant and constantly humiliated Ava. It's all for the better now that that bitch is dead," another person angrily remarked.

Winnie leaned against a corner, tightly clenching her fist with a cold smile.

"Silence, all of you!" demanded an angry female voice, "Ava, you're shamelessly biting the hand that fed you. It's you who stole Winnie's design and spread false rumors about her even after her death. Your heart is damned!"

Winnie stiffened as Olivia, her best friend, appeared at the funeral.

Ava signaled to an employee who immediately grabbed Olivia. "You and Winnie were birds of a feather. How dare you spread rumors about me here? Drag her out!"

Olivia Smith was quickly taken down despite her feeble resistance. But she could only look at the memorial platform and sob, "Winnie, I know you were wrongfully accused"

Winnie's eyes twitched with bitterness as she clenched her fist tightly. She would turn the tables; she silently promised Olivia.

The memorial service began, and Winnie, with disheveled hair, took advantage of the lack of attention and quickly slipped into the wreaths.

Matthew stood on the main podium, tears streaming down his face. "My dear daughter has died, but those who are still alive must continue. According to Winnie's will, she voluntarily bequeathed all of her company assets to Ava"

Suddenly, the coffin moved!

The whole room fell silent. Matthew looked up, and the coffin was right beside him on the left. Bloody things started appearing from the flower-covered coffin.

"What is that? It's... a hand!"

"But, wasn't Winnie's body not found?"