Chapter 4: The Game Begins

Audrey's POV

I knew he wouldn't—he was just bluffing. He couldn't bear to hurt me. Otherwise, in my previous life, he wouldn't have let go so easily.

Seeing him like this made my heart ache even more. I understood that Milos lacked security, but I had more pressing matters to attend to. I could explain everything to him properly later.

The call was from Sophia—my friend, mentor, and business partner. Together, we had founded Right Corporation.

As the hidden core of the company, I had always remained in the shadows while Sophia represented me publicly, facing scrutiny and challenges from various power players.

This time, to expose Daniel and his schemes, I decided to mobilize the corporation's resources to uncover evidence of their plotting.

After hurriedly briefing Sophia, she agreed to assign David—one of her most trusted confidants and the corporation's top hacker, skilled in tracking and gathering evidence—to the task.

With David involved, I felt immensely confident about exposing Frank's true nature.

When I returned to the Rolls-Royce, my dear newlywed husband was speaking with William. The atmosphere between them was tense.

I couldn't see William's face, but he spoke rapidly. "Boss, are you certain you don't want someone following Mrs. Audrey? I'm concerned she might rekindle her old flame with Daniel. You saw how she abandoned you at such a crucial moment during the wedding—"

"Enough!" Milos was clearly angered by William's words. "I don't want to hear it. And she is Chatelaine. You will address her as Mrs. Bush."

William fell silent for several seconds. "Yes, Boss. Should I go find Mrs. Bush?"

I spoke up. "That won't be necessary. I'm already back."

Both men turned to look at me. Milos quickly averted his gaze. My heart sank with resignation, knowing that my dismissive behavior ten minutes earlier had wounded this man. I took the initiative to explain.

"Hubby, that phone call was from a female friend of mine. I asked her to help monitor Daniel and Lyanna, but it's absolutely not what you're thinking."

"I'm your wife now. I won't be infatuated with other men anymore. I'm monitoring them only because I know Daniel and his circle are plotting against you. I don't want them to succeed."

Milos hadn't expected me to explain. He studied me intently, his blue eyes like a mysterious and captivating ocean. He asked uncertainly, "So, you're worried about me?"

"Of course." I nodded, then added, "You're my husband."

Milos seemed to accept this explanation. After dropping me off at home, he left again quickly.

I felt confused, sensing he still had something on his mind. But I had already explained myself—what could he possibly still be troubled about? The maid Linda approached, asking about my dietary restrictions for dinner and how to arrange the master bedroom.

I didn't change the master bedroom's layout, only instructing Linda to organize my cosmetics, jewelry, and clothing neatly in the room. As for dinner, if Milos didn't return, she only needed to prepare a bowl of oatmeal with fruit for me.

However, when dinnertime arrived, the rectangular solid wood table that could seat twenty people was laden with nine dishes—lamb chops, roasted beef slices, creamy mushroom caps... Oh, and my requested oatmeal fruit bowl had been transformed into a luxurious version.

"Linda, except for the roasted lamb chops and juice, take everything else away. You and the staff can share the rest."

Linda quickly left the dishes I mentioned and removed everything else.

After finishing dinner, I bathed and prepared for bed. When I finally lay down in the master bedroom's large bed, Milos still hadn't returned. Did he intend to make me spend our wedding night alone?

I felt somewhat angry.

But I had experienced too much today, and my body was urging me to rest. I turned off the bedside lamp. Fine, I'd explain later. Milos and I had all the time in the world.

Right now, I desperately wanted a good night's sleep. In my previous life, during that month-long torture, I had barely slept at all. Now, on Milos's territory, enveloped by his scent, I closed my eyes and fell into a deep sleep almost immediately.

In the middle of the night, I groggily felt the space beside me sink down. A burning hot body embraced me tightly from behind. I vaguely heard a murmur, "Heartless little thing..."

When I woke the next morning, no one was beside me, as if last night's sensation had been merely a dream. Linda had prepared my clothes and brought breakfast to my room.

As I was chewing on cherry tomatoes, Sophia sent me a link. When I clicked it, I found it connected to surveillance of Daniel and his group. The screen was divided into three sections.

Starting from the upper left, they showed Daniel's home, Lyanna's home, and footage of the four of them at Harvard Hospital.

This was David's handiwork. The surveillance was crystal clear—I could even hear their conversations and see their expressions distinctly.

I watched as Daniel's father Frank's face darkened. "We can't let this go. Some Bush family brat dared to lock my son in a psychiatric hospital. I'm going to expose his crimes!"

My father Robert, who had been so arrogant in front of me, seemed like an indecisive gentleman before Frank.

"I understand your anger. My younger daughter also suffered torture. My elder daughter is a monster. If there's anything I can do to help, just say the word."

Frank said thoughtfully, "We can use the power of public opinion to accuse Milos and his family's hospital of abusing their authority, using ordinary people for experiments, even torturing those he dislikes."

"If this succeeds, not only will Milos and Audrey be utterly disgraced, but his family will abandon him over the losses. Meanwhile, we can leverage this to secure a substantial commission from the enemies of the Bush and Windsor families—"

"With congressional elections coming up, I'm certain they'll need this."

Robert's eyes lit up. "As expected of BBC's news director. Your insight is unparalleled."

They were already fantasizing about what benefits they could exchange with congressional candidates using this information.

Watching this, I felt nothing but disgust. I couldn't even finish my breakfast.

Wearing a floral silk satin dress, I went to the greenhouse conservatory, where my favorite hydrangeas grew alongside roses and irises. The beautiful scenery and warm sunlight dispelled the nausea in my heart.

I asked Linda for a copy of Aulton's Pharmaceutics, paired it with a refreshing cup of black tea, and quietly sat in a corner of the conservatory, enjoying the peaceful moment.

That tranquility was shattered when Linda brought me my phone, saying my father had called, completely ruining my good mood.

The moment the phone reached my ear, the man's voice came through with harsh commands. "Audrey, I don't care where you are. You have half an hour to come back and apologize to your sister. Otherwise, I'll personally smash your mother's urn!"

A chill spread from my toes to the crown of my head. This hypocritical, crocodile-like cold-blooded and vicious man dared to threaten me with my mother's ashes?!

"Did you hear me, Audrey? Answer me!"

I struggled to suppress the urge to curse at him, forcing out through gritted teeth, "I understand."

I would make Robert witness firsthand that once I stopped caring about these illusory things, my destructive power would be immense.

He, along with his current wife and children, had better prepare themselves for my revenge!

"Linda, did the master say when he'd be back?" I asked the maid waiting obediently beside me.

Linda shook her head. "Only Secretary William knows the master's schedule."

After thinking for several seconds, I decided to call Milos for help.

"Aud, what's wrong?"

Through the phone, Milos's voice carried no emotional fluctuation, like a robot.

I stated my purpose directly. "Hubby, I need you to send me several bodyguards with high combat skills. I need to go to Beverly Hills."

Bodyguards could protect me and help me teach people lessons, but that wasn't enough. I also needed to bring weapons intimidating enough to frighten them.

Want to threaten me? Bully me?

Then they were in for disappointment. I wasn't going back to show weakness—I was going to tell them that starting today, I would be the one in control!

I, Audrey, had returned for revenge!

Milos didn't hesitate. "Okay, I'll have William arrange personnel for you within ten minutes. But I didn't expect you to ask me for help."

"Darling, you're my husband. Of course I'd come to you."

Silence followed for several seconds.

I said to him, "Darling, I love you."

His breathing seemed to grow heavier. I smiled. "Come home early tonight. I miss you."

"Okay."

After chatting with Milos for a few more moments, I hung up.

Sure enough, five minutes later, Linda informed me that the bodyguards had assembled outside the estate.

I went to the dressing table in the master bedroom and retrieved a silver box from underneath. From inside, I took out an M1911 pistol and a dozen bullets, carrying them with me.

Outside the estate, ten Porsches lined up in two rows, as if awaiting their queen. At my command, they sped toward Beverly Hills at full throttle.