My Revenge Partner
Three months ago, Frankie Silva and I escaped from the rainforest.
We stayed in the rainforest for forty-seven days.
He shielded me from the jaguar attack and gave me the last half pot of water when I ran out.
Back then, I thought we shared a bond stronger than life.
After we returned to the city, my grandfather's health deteriorated.
He entrusted me with the inheritance rights of the Gresham Group.
Frankie Silva became my assistant, accompanying me to various meetings every day.
He would quietly brew a cup of hot coffee when I worked late and was always the first to stand up for me whenever the shareholders gave me a hard time.
One night, after the company's cocktail party, he walked me home.
Downstairs, he suddenly grabbed my hand.
He said, "Caroline, I'm yours for life. Like the most loyal dog the Gresham Family has ever raised, I will never betray my master."
At that moment, my heart fluttered.
Grandpa also thought he was reliable and quietly approved of our relationship.
I even began preparing the engagement ring.
Then Helen Zamora appeared.
Helen Zamora was Frankie's childhood friend.
The first time I saw her was at the coffee shop downstairs from the company.
She wore a white dress and stood shyly beside Frankie Silva.
Frankie Silva introduced, "This is my friend; she just came from our hometown."
I was very polite to her and even asked Frankie Silva to look after her.
But later, things began to take a different turn.
One time, Frankie Silva and I went to watch a movie.
His phone kept buzzing with messages from Helen Zamora.
I said, "Why don't you reply to her first?"
He replied, "No need, it's nothing important."
But halfway through the movie, he excused himself to the restroom and ended up making a call for half an hour.
Another time, during a company team-building event...
Someone jokingly said Helen Zamora was Frankie Silva's little lover.
Before I could say a word, Frankie Silva snapped, "Anyone who talks nonsense again can get out of the company."
The way he protected Helen Zamora made me deeply uncomfortable.
What truly opened my eyes to who he really was happened during that assassination attempt.
That day, I had just stepped out of the company gate.
A black sedan suddenly sped toward me, and two masked men jumped out, knives in hand.
I was so terrified that I froze on the spot.
Frankie Silva stood right beside me.
I thought he would protect me first.
But instead, he abruptly pushed me aside and lunged at Helen Zamora.
He held Helen tightly in his arms, turning his back to shield her from the knives.
I watched the knife slice through his clothes, then saw myself fall to the ground, my knee bleeding.
In that moment, it felt as though something had struck my heart, shattering it completely.
The two assassins were later subdued by the security guards.
Helen buried her face in Frankie Silva's arms, crying, "I was so scared."
Frankie comforted her by gently patting her back, then glanced back at me.
His eyes held no apology—only reproach.
He said, "Caroline, why weren't you more careful? You almost got Helen into trouble."
I could hardly believe my own ears.
I asked him, "Frankie, I'm your fiancée—so why were you protecting her first just now?"
He frowned and said, "Helen is so timid—what if something happened to her? You're the heiress to the Gresham Group, and you have so many bodyguards around you. Nothing will happen to you."
I looked at him and suddenly felt like a stranger.
After I got home, I locked myself in my room.
Grandpa called and asked if I had quarreled with Frankie Silva.
I didn't say a word; I just cried.
The next day, I went to the company to find Frankie Silva.
He was in the office tending to Helen Zamora's wound.
Helen's arm had only a shallow scratch, but he was incredibly anxious.
I walked in and placed the engagement ring on the table.
I said, "Frankie, let's call off our engagement."
He froze for a moment, then stood up angrily.
He said, "Caroline, don't throw a tantrum. Isn't it just that I didn't protect you first yesterday? Helen is so pitiful; can't you cut her some slack?"
I looked at him and suddenly smiled.
I said, "Frankie, don't forget who you are. You once said you were my family's dog."
"But now, this dog has changed; it no longer wants to recognize its owner. It's fine, it's just a dog. If its heart drifts away, just get another one."
His face instantly went pale.
Helen Zamora tugged on his sleeve beside him and whispered, "Frankie, it's all my fault. Don't argue with Ms. Gresham."
Frankie Silva pushed her hand away and pointed at me, saying, "Caroline, don't regret this."
I turned and walked out of the office without looking back.
I knew that from this moment on, everything between Frankie and me was completely over.
I woke up from pain.
I opened my eyes to a white ceiling and the sharp smell of disinfectant.
I suddenly remembered that after leaving the company yesterday, while walking down the street, the wound on my knee hurt so badly that I fainted.
A mocking voice came from beside me: "Well, Ms. Gresham, finally awake?"
I turned my head and saw Howard Chandler.
Howard Chandler is the heir to Chandler Group and my sworn enemy.
We've been at odds since childhood.
He always liked snatching things from me—when we were kids, it was toys; now, it's business deals.
He's done plenty of crazy things.
Once, to seize a piece of land, he even had people tear down the entire fence around it.
I frowned and said, "Howard, what are you doing here?"
He sat on the chair by the bed, idly playing with an apple in his hand.
He said, "I was passing by the hospital and heard that Ms. Gresham was abandoned by her own dog, so I came to watch the commotion."
I ignored him and tried to sit up.
But he reached out and pressed me down.
He said, "Don't move. The doctor said your knee wound is infected and you need to rest properly."
I looked at him, feeling very strange.
He usually treats me like dirt, so why is he acting so kind today?
It was as if he had read my mind. He smiled and said, "Don't get the wrong idea—I'm not here out of concern for you."
"I just want to see where that Frankie Silva, who once promised to be forever loyal to you, is now."
Mentioning Frankie made my heart ache once again.
Howard Chandler continued, "I heard you were attacked yesterday, and he protected that woman named Helen Zamora first? Caroline, your judgment is really awful."
Just then, the hospital ward door swung open.
Frankie Silva walked in.
Seeing Howard, his face immediately darkened.
He said, "Howard, what are you doing here?"
Howard raised an eyebrow and said, "I came to see Caroline, unlike someone who only shows up after his fiancée is hospitalized."
Frankie Silva ignored him and walked over to my bed.
He said, "Caroline, how are you?"
I turned my face away, not wanting to look at him.
He was about to say something when Howard Chandler suddenly took out his phone and opened a video.
In the video, Helen Zamora was tied up in an abandoned warehouse, her mouth sealed with tape, her eyes full of fear.
A man's voice said, "Frankie Silva, if you want to save Helen Zamora, come to the abandoned factory in the Eastern Suburbs immediately. You must come alone. No police. Otherwise, you'll be waiting for her corpse."
Seeing the video, Frankie's face instantly drained of color.
He grabbed Howard Chandler's hand and said, "Was it you who did this?"
Howard Chandler pulled his hand away with a smile and said, "You think it was me? I'm not that bored."
"But I can help you—if you agree to one condition."
Frankie Silva asked urgently, "What condition?"
Howard Chandler pointed at me and said, "Go to Caroline right now and tell her you never loved her—that the person you loved was Helen Zamora—and that you'll never have anything to do with her again."
Frankie Silva hesitated briefly, then looked at me.
His eyes showed guilt and struggle, but above all, worry for Helen Zamora.
I looked at him, and the last shred of hope inside me shattered.
He took a deep breath and said, "Caroline, I'm sorry, Helen must be protected—she still has her grandmother to care for."
I closed my eyes, tears slipping down the corners of my eyes.
Howard clapped his hands and said, "Very well, Frankie—I'll give you credit for having guts."
He gave Frankie Silva the address of the warehouse.
Frankie Silva grabbed his phone, turned, and ran out without even a word of concern for me.
Only Howard and I remained in the hospital ward.
Howard handed me a tissue and said, "Stop crying. He's not worth it."
I wiped away my tears and said, "I'm not crying."
He smiled and said, "Caroline, you're just too stubborn. Honestly, if you'd gotten to know me sooner, you wouldn't have had to suffer this kind of hurt."
I looked at him and said, "Howard, don't think I don't know what you're really after."
"You just want to take advantage of the rift between me and Frankie, win me over, and use me to cooperate with Gresham Group."
He didn't bother to hide it and said, "That's right, I want to partner with Gresham Group. But I also truly believe Frankie Silva isn't worthy of you."
I remained silent, my mind swirling in turmoil.
I knew from the moment Frankie Silva chose to save Helen Zamora that I had completely given up on him.
The next morning, before I even got out of bed, I heard a commotion outside the hospital ward.
A nurse rushed in and said, "Ms. Gresham, there are a lot of reporters outside. Do you want to avoid them?"
I frowned and asked, "What are they here for?"
The nurse said, "They say they received news that you threatened Helen Zamora, and there are even photos proving you killed your parents."
I was stunned.
Killing my parents? That's absolutely absurd.
My parents died in a car accident when I was ten—how could I have killed them?
I threw off the covers and said, "I'm going out to take a look."
The nurse tried to stop me, but I pushed her aside.
Stepping out of the hospital ward, the corridor was packed with reporters.
The moment they saw me, they swarmed around, their microphones nearly pressed against my face.
"Ms. Gresham, may I ask if you threatened Helen Zamora out of jealousy?"
"Ms. Gresham, is it true that the photos circulating online show you killing your parents?"
"Ms. Gresham, did you use illegitimate methods to inherit the Gresham Group?"
One question after another hit me like cannonballs.
I looked at the reporters, feeling utterly calm inside.
I was certain this had to be Frankie Silva's doing.
He had concocted such a vicious lie to slander me, all to defend Helen Zamora.
I took a deep breath and said, "Everyone, please be quiet. As for Helen Zamora, I have never threatened her."
"The accusation that I killed my parents is completely unfounded."
"My parents passed away when I was ten. At the time, the police investigated thoroughly—it was a tragic car accident."
"As for those so-called photos, I believe they are all forged."
The reporters were eager to continue questioning.
Just then, Howard Chandler approached.
He was followed by several bodyguards who promptly blocked the reporters from advancing.
Howard said, "Dear members of the press, concerning the rumors about Ms. Gresham, we will present evidence to dispel them as soon as possible."
"Ms. Gresham needs to rest now. Please refrain from disturbing her."
After speaking, he stayed by my side and escorted me back to the hospital ward.
Once the door was closed, I said to Howard, "Thank you."
He smiled and said, "No need to thank me. But what's your plan for fighting back?"
I took out my phone and made a call.
On the other end was my private detective.
I asked, "What have you found out?"
The detective said, "Ms. Gresham, I discovered that all those rumors were spread by Frankie Silva. He even hired someone to forge photos."
"Also, I found out some things about Helen Zamora."
I asked, "What things?"
The detective said, "Helen Zamora isn't some innocent country girl at all. She used to work as a bar hostess, was even kept by a boss, and had an abortion."
I gripped my phone and said, "Gather all this evidence and send it to me."
After hanging up, I asked Howard Chandler, "Would you do me a favor?"
Howard raised his eyebrows and asked, "What kind of favor?"
I said, "Help me expose Helen Zamora's scandals."
Howard chuckled and said, "No problem, this is exactly my area of expertise."
That very afternoon, Helen Zamora's scandals spread across the entire city.
The internet was flooded with photos and videos of her working as a hostess, being kept by a boss, and having had an abortion.
Helen suddenly became the scapegoat, despised and hunted by everyone.
Frankie Silva saw this and immediately rushed to the hospital to find me.
He burst into the hospital ward, grabbed my hand, and said, "Caroline, was it you? Why did you falsify evidence against Helen?"
I shook off his hand and said, "Falsifying evidence? Frankie, take a look at this evidence— which part of it is fabricated?"
"Don't you know what kind of person Helen is? You slandered me for her—and you still have the nerve to ask me?"
He paused for a moment, then said, "Even if Helen made mistakes before, you can't treat her like this. She's already had enough suffering."
I looked at him and suddenly found the whole thing ridiculous.
I said, "Frankie, don't forget who was the one that lifted you from nothing to where you are now. Who gave you the chance to join the Gresham Group."
"But you? You betrayed me and slandered me for her. Do you really think I would just let it go?"
He looked at me, his eyes filled with guilt.
He said, "Caroline, I'm sorry. I know I was wrong. What do I need to do to earn your forgiveness?"
I thought for a moment and said, "It's simple. You're so protective of Helen, aren't you? If you go and kill her now, I'll forgive you—and even let you come back to me."
His face instantly went deathly pale.
He said, "Caroline, how can you say that? Helen is innocent."
I laughed and said, "Innocent? If she were innocent, there wouldn't be so many scandals surrounding her."
"Frankie, you choose. Either kill Helen, or never show your face in front of me again."
He looked at me, hesitating for a long time.
In the end, he shook his head and said, "Caroline, I just can't do it."
Having said that, he turned and ran out of the hospital ward.
I watched his retreating figure, feeling not even the slightest ripple in my heart.
I knew he would never be able to make a choice.
And I no longer needed his forgiveness.
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