Izabe only wanted to get things over. Just as Brett had insisted, slipping into a dress wasn''t going to kill her.


    Might as well y the part of a stand-in model today, and fulfill Brett''sst whimsical request.


    Of course, Izabe wasn''t naive enough to follow his every word. Her phone was hooked up to herptop to transfer a heap ofrge files. It was going to take at least an hour to finish. The stylist brought in the wedding gown. Izabe didn''t bother examining it closely; she just caught a glimpse of the hem sparkling with what looked like tiny stars.


    The dress was tailored to her exact measurements. It took less than five minutes for Izabe to slip into it before the stylist came in to adjust the train and have her sit for makeup. Izabe''s skin was wless, making the makeup artist''s job a breeze. With a simple touch of the brush, she was transformed into a vision; her long hair was pinned up behind her. Looking at her reflection, Izabe felt her mind was racing with strategy. She didn''t trust Brett to not have a backup n. Apart from a fewborers, the only other person around him recently was the doctor. Brett had mentioned firing Liam, but could that have been a ruse to send Liam off on some other errand?


    As to the theme park ident and the car malfunction-if Brett was involved in them, Liam was likely the one carrying out the deeds. And only Liam knew Brett''s email password.


    "Ms. Salotti, you are absolutely stunning. You must be the most beautiful bride I''ve ever seen," the stylist suddenly chimed in, which interrupted her thoughts.


    Izabe replied coolly, "I''m not the bride."


    Noticing Be''s displeasure, the stylist quickly zipped her lips.


    With the file transferpleted, Izabe used the excuse of a bathroom break to grab her phone. Hesitantly, she finally called Casey, but it went straight to voicemail. No one in the Dempsey n answered either.


    Could something have happened?


    Her eyelid twitched again. Izabe wasn''t superstitious-old wives'' tales like left for wealth, right for cmity were just psychological. But now, she could hardly shake off an unsettling sense of panic. Once, Izabe thought she could just wait for death by Brett''s side, but now, with the Windham Group''s secrets on her phone and Brett''s promise of safe departure tomorrow, she wasn''t about to sit back and do nothing if he reneged.


    She reached out to Toby. Time was scarce, so she went straight to the point-get more protection for the Dempsey family, and find Liam.Content held by N?velDrama.Org.


    "Ms. Salotti, President Windham is requesting your presence," someone called out.


    "Got it," Be responded, and pocketed her phone.


    The train was too long and the heels were ufortable for her. Izabe kicked off the stilettos and padded barefoot across the floor.


    As she approached the top of the staircase, she gripped the banister and looked down at Brett, who was impably dressed in a sharp ck suit. His eyes, deep and red-rimmed, were fixed on her, as if he existed solely for this moment.


    Their eyes met briefly before Izabe looked away, and her grip tightened imperceptibly. She descended gracefully, the gown''s diamonds shimmering like a meteor shower.


    Brett''s lips curled into a smile; this was the moment his years of dreams came true. He remembered Izabe once said that he was like a star-once her guiding light, now just one of many. Now, she was adorned with countless stars, their brilliance undimmed by the moon.


    Her baster skin was radiant in the white gown, not sickly, but vibrant and clear. Her features, framed by the dress and her artful makeup, were delicate yet edged with an undefinable sharpness. This was the most alluring Izabe he had ever seen, yet she wasn''t truly his.


    Brett extended his hand to her, but Izabe sidestepped him, coolly stating, "I''ve worn the dress, now keep your promise."


    "Seeing you now, I suddenly don''t want to let you go," Brett confessed.


    Izabe scoffed. "Going back on your word again?"


    "What can you do if I do?" he challenged.


    Izabe''s face remained calm, betraying no anger or weariness. It was as if she had anticipated this very response from a man with a track record of broken promises.


    "Half an hour ago, I transferred the files from yourputer to my phone. If I''m not back at my ce tomorrow, those files will be sent to mypany. You know what I can do with them," she stated with a steady voice.


    "Izabe, I''m a man on my deathbed; do you really think I still care about money and fame?" he retorted.


    But Izabe was no longer the same person who would let Brett manipte her. With the secrets of the Windham Group in her grasp, she was ready to y her hand if he dared to defy her again.


    At the brink of despair, one trulyprehends that a lifetime of struggle, the wealth and fame amassed through ruthless means, mean nothing in the face of death. What cannot be taken along, will forever be left behind.


    Izabe simply stated, "I''ve called the cops."


    Brett paused, "What did you say?"


    Lifting the hem of her heavy gown, Izabe spoke, while straightening it, "I said I''ve called the police. The Windham Group''s secrets are now with me. You may not care, but


    without the Windham can''t


    е


    money and power, you can''t touch the Dempseys. I absolutely won''t allow you to harm the people I care about this time!"


    Brett took a deep breath andughed, "Aren''t you worried I have a fallback?"


    Izabe''s voice dripped with sarcasm, "Do you have a fallback left? If I''m not wrong, only Liam is still loyal to you. The ident at the amusement park was his doing, wasn''t it?"


    Brett''s expression didn''t change, but his pupils darkened a shade.


    Izabe always liked to shoulder things on her own. It wasn''t that she didn''t trust those around her, but it was just her way—she had grown up alone, taking on the responsibility of the Salotti family as soon as she came of age, supporting her father and brother. She could only rely on herself.


    If one isn''t strong, they''ll be devoured by those who are. Thew of the jungle was a principle she understood from a young age.


    The reason Izabe had willinglye to him was crystal clear-a matter of the Dempsey family and someone named Casey.


    From the moment Brett voluntarily shared hisputer password with Izabe, he had conceded defeat.


    As Izabe had said, without its wealth and influence, the Windham Group was no more than a house of cards. He, a man who asionally coughed up blood andy in a hospital bed sustained by medication, could do nothing.


    But in truth, Brett had never intended to do anything more. He had sworn to himself not to hurt Izabe ever again.


    Life is all about letting go of things we can''t hold on to.


    With the foundation of the Windham Group in Izabe''s grasp, plus his inherited fortune, no one would dare cross her from now on.


    As to him, the "final boss" of this game was about to be defeated.


    As for the Dempseys, Brett thought of something and actually smiled.


    "Izabe, what you need to learn is how to depend on others, and how to trust the people around you."


    Izabe was silent for a moment, and chose not to argue with Brett''s words. "Maybe." she mused.


    "Come sit over here, and keep mepany for a bit," Brett suggested with a nce. The living room had been cleared out, with a white porch swing at the edge, adorned with flowery vines. Izabe walked over and took a seat. Instead of sitting next to her, Brett had a chair brought over to sit beside her. Cameras around them captured the moment.


    "Izabe," Brett spoke, "even though you often say there are no ''what ifs'' in this world, I can''t help but wish, it only today was that day in the past. The right wedding, the right dress, the right ring." The more he spoke, the more he felt he owed Izabe.


    Izabe, on tiptoes, gently rocked the swing, gazing at the darkening sky outside and said, "It''s toote."


    She meant more than just the time.


    Muddy water cannot sustain a fish that yearns for cleanliness, a bted sun cannot revive a wilted sunflower, and water doesn''t cool in an instant, just as the day doesn''t turn to night in the blink of an eye. "Izabe, will you remember me in the future? And do you wish for my death?" Brett''s voice was hoarse and cautious, torn between wanting to hear the answer and fearing it wouldn''t match his expectations. He was like a man who''d just climbed out from the abyss; the light was so piercing for him that he could only half-close his eyes and wait in silence.


    After a long pause, Izabe replied, "Sometimes, Brett, I wish you''d just die and stop haunting me. Other times, I hope you could live. As long as you''re alive, the miseries of this world won''t let you be."