Hearing Patricia's words, Elizabeth was floored, "Casino? You guys actually hit up a casino? Patricia, you rolling in dough or something? How the hell did you think you could outsmart anyone there? You think a gambling addict can just be saved like that?"

Elizabeth never knew Anthony was into gambling.

Back when she was with Anthony, he always put on this perfect act.

To Elizabeth. Anthony was all cultured, kind, gentle, and super considerate.

But now that they were done, she was seeing all these sides ofhim she never knew existed.

Now, in her eyes, Anthony was just a heartbreaker, a liar, money-hungry,and a total cheat.

To put on top of that, now he was crazy about gambling, too.

Elizabeth was more and more thankful she dumped him.

On the other end, Patricia was yelling into the phone again, "Elizabeth,cut the crap! You used to be head over heels for Anthony, and now you're just gonna let him get his fingers chopped off? It's only been a hot minute, and you already don't give a damn? Get over here with Dad's new system,now!"

Elizabeth was stunned by Patricia's nerve.

She sneered and snapped back, "Patricia, you two are seriously shameless.You think I don't know about the shady stuff you and Anthony pulled behind my back? Secrets don't stay hidden forever. If you love him so

much, and your uncle and mom are loaded, why don't you use your own cash to save him? You guys are way richer than me now!"

Patricia screamned hysterically, "What's my uncle's money got to do with me? I'm broke! Wasn't it you who spread the word that Anthony had the new system? If you hadn't blabbed, no one would've noticed him! Or is this some trap you set to get Anthony caught?"

Elizabeth sneered finding it ridiculous, "Did I ever say that? Patricia,even you know it's a trap. Didn't Anthony know? If he knew and still fell for it.that just shows how greèdy he is. Since he knew he didn't have the new system, why didn't he deny it when asked? He didn't deny it, so now he has to deal with the fallout. What does that have to do with me? Handle it yourselves!"

"Anthony, did you hear that? Elizabeth justadmitted it, this is her trap to screw you over. She wants to see you suffer! Anthony, now you know. I'm the only one who truly loves you. You used to be so devoted to Elizabeth and felt guilty towards her, but look at how cold and ruthless she is now!She doesn't care about you anymore; she's letting them chop off your fingers!" Patricia shouted.

Anthony's voice came through the phone, filled with despair and fear,"Elizabeth, I'm begging you, save me! You didn't give me Robert's new system, but why did you tell others that you did? Now I've lost money gambling, and if you don't save me, no one else in this worldI can.Patricia and I are broke, the only thing that can save me now is Robert's new system!"

Stunned by his shamelessness, Elizabeth snapped, "Since you knew you didn't have the new system, why didn't you deny it when folks lent you money? Anthony, you gotta face the music for your scrow-ups. You

brought this on yourself. I can't save you!"

With that, Elizabeth was about to hang up when Anthony yelled,panicking, "Elizabeth, don't hang up! I know who's out to get me! It's gotta be Michael! No one else would dare pull this on me! Are you at the villa now? Please, Elizabeth, go beg him for me, ask him to call off these guys. His word will work. If he says to let me go, they won't touch me.Please,Elizabeth!"

Hearing that, Elizabeth was taken aback for a moment.

She initially thought it was Charles behind this.

After all, she believed only Charles knew she had given the new system to Anthony. How could Michael know? Then it hit her-there was nothing Michael couldn't find out. He must've already dug into it, and even on the night she was kidnapped, Michael knew everything she said.

Elizabeth didn't see this as Micháel showing affection or concern. Instead,she felt like she was constantly under surveillance, no matter where she went.

She felt a huge sense of suffocation.

She hung up directly, opened the door, and walked out.

In the living room, Michael anad his buddies were still chatting.

Michael was lounging on the couch, smoking a cigarette, and talking on the phone, "Yeah, okay, you handle it, no need to ask me again."

Elizabeth walked up to him, staring at him with a blank expression.

Michael looked up at her, puzzled, and asked, "Elizabeth, what's the

matter?"

Elizabeth's voice was icy, "Michael, it's you, isn't it? Why did you do that to Anthony?"

Michael flicked the ash from his cigarette with a trembling finger and

replied nonchalantly, "So, you're defending your precious Anthony now?Feeling sorry for him?"

The air was thick with tension.

The people in the living room quickly stood up and said their goodbyes to Michael,leaving the two of them alone.

Neither of them spoke again, but their eyes met, and it was as if sparks were flying.

After a few seconds, Michael's gaze turned cold as he sneered, "Elizabeth,you still care about that Anthony, don't you? Even though you're not carrying his kid anymore, you can't forget him, right? Now you feel sorry for him."

Elizabeth felt his anger.

The coldness in Michael's eyes seemed to want to freeze her whole body.

She still uttered calmly, "You think I'm here to plead for Anthony? He's not my concern since forever. Michael, aren't you planning to have his fingers chopped off? Go ahead! I will never hand over my dad's system to you. This is your fumily mess, don't drag me into it, and don't involve my dad's new system!"