Chapter 267: Anna’s Ruthless Plan
At that very moment in the grand hall, Melissa approached Anna with a solemn look, pulling her aside to speak in hushed tones. “I followed your instructions, but she’s Carter’s wife. If things go wrong, Carter won’t let the Hudsons off the hook.”
Anna’s expression remained cold and unbothered. “Relax, it’s just a few photos. Once we have this bargaining chip, the Boltons will have no choice but to comply. Isn’t that the cooperation your family has been aiming for?”
“But I…” Melissa hesitated, her voice shaky.
“Don’t worry,” Anna interrupted coolly. “I’ve made it clear to those men—nothing serious will happen to Zoey. It’s just about scaring her and snapping a few compromising photos. Jeffrey values his reputation above all else. He’d never allow such images to be leaked. When the time comes, you’ll be able to set any terms, and Carter will have no choice but to comply.”
The reasoning was flawless, yet Melissa, inexperienced in such schemes, couldn’t help but feel a lingering sense of unease. If Carter hadn’t been so unyielding, they wouldn’t have been forced to take such measures. In the cutthroat world of business, deceit and manipulation are common. Besides, Carter himself wasn’t exactly innocent, so these schemes were hardly out of place.
Melissa swiftly pushed aside her nervousness, regaining her composure. Unaware, she didn’t notice Anna slipping away to a corner, where she spoke quietly to Silas. “Make sure she suffers—the worse, the better.”
Anna’s mind flashed back to the humiliation she endured the last time Zoey tricked her at the Boltons, as well as the subsequent painting competition that left her ridiculed. Anna had never been defeated, not once in her life. They say revenge is best served cold, and she intended to make it unforgettable. She had been patiently waiting, carefully planning her revenge, all for this moment. She would repay Zoey’s tricks a hundred times over, in the exact same way. Zoey, do you think you can manipulate others? Well, I’ll make sure you experience what it’s like to be the one deceived. After today, you’ll be known as nothing but a fickle, scheming woman, cast out of the Boltons for good. As for Carter, would he still accept a worn-out, discarded woman as his wife? Anna’s expression was icy, her face resembling that of a demon emerging from the depths of hell.
Ashley approached her and asked, “What are you doing here? The ceremony starts in half an hour. Do you need to retouch your makeup?”
“No need,” Anna replied coldly.
Ashley sensed something was wrong and narrowed her eyes. “What are you and Melissa up to? Listen, today is supposed to be a joyous occasion, so don’t ruin the wedding. If you do, I’ll make sure you regret it! Don’t think I won’t lay a hand on you just because you’re pregnant.”
“At least the child in my womb is yours. Can’t you be a little gentler?”
Ashley scoffed. “Gentler? Fine, if you have the courage, be a daughter of the Gardners. Don’t think I don’t know what’s going on. Your family is falling apart, and you’ve got two older brothers. Marrying you is nothing but a burden. The only thing that holds any value is the child in your belly.”
Once the door was shut, he stopped pretending entirely. Anna held back her fury and replied, “I get it, I’ll fix my makeup now.” Her gaze was icy as she glared at Ashley’s retreating figure, filled with vengeful thoughts.
The Hudsons’ time was running out. By manipulating Zoey, she knew Carter’s sense of justice wouldn’t let the one responsible go unpunished. By that time, Zoey would be thrown out, and the Hudsons’ hopes of any cooperation would be shattered! Carter would make sure the Hudsons went bankrupt. Ashley’s delusions of using the child to climb higher are laughable! Once the Hudsons are ruined, Alisa will no longer be useful to anyone. Why would Jeffrey allow Luke to marry someone from a family on the verge of bankruptcy? Besides, since their marriage hasn’t been made public, she can easily be discarded at any moment. This plan serves multiple purposes at once. It takes down Zoey, eliminates the Hudsons, and forces Alisa to lose her status as Mrs. Bolton. Anna crossed her arms and thought, Zoey, don’t blame me—blame yourself for getting involved. The idea of watching Zoey beg for mercy under another man, only to be cast aside by Carter, filled Anna with excitement. It felt like all the tension and frustration of the past weeks had melted away in an instant. Zoey, you’re finished!
She checked the time and turned to Silas, giving her orders. “In 20 minutes, follow through with the original plan.”
“Are we really going through with this?”
“Of course. She’s caused me too much trouble to let her off. Today, I’ll make sure she’s completely ruined.”
The screen, which had been turned off, flickered back on, now displaying several large men on the big screen. Clothes were scattered across the room, and the woman was held down by the men, her face obscured from view.
“Who turned it back on?” Fiona snapped, her anger rising. “Turn it off, now!”
But Anna feigned surprise, pointing at the dress on the screen. “Oh my goodness, isn’t that Mrs. Bolton’s dress? Could it be that she…”
The people around her nodded in recognition. “Yes, it’s Mrs. Bolton’s dress. It’s so stunning; I was just admiring it earlier.”
“If that’s really Mrs. Bolton, then Mr. Bolton must be so unfortunate.”
For a brief moment, all eyes turned to Carter. Sitting in his wheelchair, the large screen behind him showed a graphic scene of a man and woman caught in a passionate struggle. The crowd stared at him with sympathy, and it became clear—just like the rumors had suggested, Mr. Bolton really was incapable.