The sea wind howled, sending waves crashing against the jagged rocks along the shore.

Willow Grant stood at the edge of the pier, her hair whipping wildly in the gale. A mocking smile twisted her lips. "Villains never admit they're villains."

Audrey Sullivan smoothed the hem of her wind-tossed trench coat, revealing slender ankles. She lifted her chin, her gaze icy. "What right does a homewrecker have to judge others?"

"You—" Willow's fists clenched until her knuckles turned white.

Rapid footsteps approached from the distance. Victor Sullivan strode forward with his bodyguards, his expression thunderous.

Audrey shot a cold glance at the newcomers before murmuring to Ethan Sullivan, "Did you call him?"

Ethan kept one hand in his pocket, his demeanor detached. "Let him clean up his own mess."

Victor stopped before Willow, narrowing his eyes. "So it is you. Wasn't the money enough back then? Why reappear now?"

"Money?" Willow burst into laughter, the sound bordering on hysteria. "You think money can buy back my youth? Compensate for what you did to me?"

She yanked open her collar, exposing a grotesque scar on her collarbone. "See this? From when I jumped off a building! If not for my child, I would've—"

Victor recoiled, his pupils contracting in shock.

Hatred burned in Willow's eyes. "Scared now? Where was that fear when you forced yourself on me?"

"Lies!" Victor barked. "It was you who—"

"Enough!" Audrey's voice cut through like shattering ice. "Take your squabble elsewhere."

Willow ignored her, continuing to scream at Victor. "My son survived! He's a hundred times the man your son will ever be! Richard Grant treats him as his own—he'll inherit half the Grant empire!"

The words struck Victor like a hammer blow. His face drained of color, lips trembling soundlessly.

Slap!

The sharp crack of a palm meeting flesh echoed across the pier. Willow had broken free from the bodyguards to deliver the stinging blow.

"That's for my son!" she shrieked. "Every last Sullivan deserves to burn in hell!"

Ethan's eyes turned glacial. His assistant immediately produced a document.

"Crash investigation report." He flung the file at Willow's feet. "Read it before slinging accusations."

Willow kicked the papers aside without looking. "Fabricated evidence means nothing!"

She whirled back to Victor, madness glinting in her eyes. "I'll leave—on one condition. Hand over Sophia Laurent."

The sea wind intensified, whipping up sand and debris. Everyone's expressions darkened.

Audrey's nails dug into her palms hard enough to draw blood. Ethan's gaze dropped below freezing, his entire body radiating lethal cold.

"Impossible," Victor stated flatly.

Willow's lips peeled back in a grotesque smile. "We'll see. I'll collect every debt the Sullivans owe me—with interest!"

She turned toward the pier's end, her silhouette both resolute and unhinged. The gale caught her coat like a vengeful banner.