After receiving my father's approval, I started working at the company.
It was hard, but just the thought of soon being able to step on Charlotte and the others made my blood boil with excitement.
I would occasionally visit the school, but most of my time was spent at the company or with William.
The doctors were helpless when it came to William's eyes.
When the bandages were finally removed, I had braced myself for the worst.
But when I saw those dim, lifeless eyes for real, I couldn't hold back the tears.
It seemed like he knew, because he smiled and reassured me, "It's fine."
How could it be fine? He couldn't see anymore.
I spent my days learning the company's operations while also taking care of William.
With his help, I quickly got familiar with the company.
Next up was revenge!
William patted my hand. "Go ahead and do it. Don't worry, I'll be here to back you up."
I understood what he meant. He didn't want me to be afraid of making mistakes because he would bear the consequences for me.
I hugged William tightly. "Thank you, William."
He lifted his hand to embrace me, rubbing my head gently. "Just do it."
Previously, I had successfully sown discord among Charlotte and the others, and the effects were now becoming evident. Ethan and Zane were mocking each other coldly, no longer on good terms. When Charlotte discovered that William had distanced himself from her because of Ethan, she began to resent him as well, believing Ethan had ruined her dream of becoming a member of the Spencer family.
Coincidentally, recently, the Rubio family and the Rodgers family were involved in a collaboration.
The Rubio family was slightly more powerful, so Zane and Charlotte's relationship seemed to be a deliberate attempt to humiliate Ethan.
I staged a little drama, making it appear as though the Spencer family had a falling out with the Rodgers family, and then I sent someone to get close to the Rubio family, offering them an olive branch.
The Rubio family quickly rejected the Rodgers family's cooperation proposal.
When Zane found out, he came to the school to confront me, angry, but when he faced me, he had to speak in a lowered tone.
"Lana, I don't know what the Rodgers family did to offend you, but why did you snatch their collaboration?"
I feigned innocence. "Collaboration? I don't know about that. My brother handles all the family business."
Zane's expression changed repeatedly as he finally asked me cautiously, "Your brother and Charlotte…?"
I quickly shook my head to deny it. "I told you, my brother has a cleanliness obsession."
Zane's face stiffened, and he stormed off with an ashen look.
I knew exactly what he was thinking.
He must be thinking that William had once shown interest in Charlotte, and after learning about her affair with him, he would feel humiliated and turn against the Rodgers family.
I took the opportunity to intensify the pressure on the Rodgers family.
The irony was that, in the past, the five-member group who had been as close as family were now nowhere to be seen in defending Zane.
I contacted Ethan and urged him to push down hard with the final blow.
Suddenly, the already precarious Rodgers family exploded with more shocking revelations.
Zane, taking advantage of his power, had brutally assaulted countless innocent college girls, his methods exceptionally cruel. Some of them, unable to bear the humiliation, dropped out of school. Others were still holding on, waiting for Zane to get what he deserved.
And some... chose to end their lives.
When the police tried to arrest Zane, they found he had escaped.
With the Spencer family's eyes and ears everywhere, I knew where he had fled and sent him a message.
This bombshell was dropped by Ethan.
And of course, the person Ethan cared most about was Charlotte.
Sure enough, Zane chose to retaliate against Ethan.
He turned himself in and simultaneously leaked to the media that he and Charlotte had maintained a physical relationship for four years, with Charlotte being the one to initiate it.
Once the news broke, the Cooper family found themselves caught up in turmoil.
I didn't immediately pay attention to the Cooper family but instead went to visit Zane in prison.
Zane was given special treatment by the Spencer family, but now he resembled a filthy, nearly dead street dog, huddling in the corner, trembling in fear.
When I opened the door, he looked up, his face covered in grime.
"Veronica…"
He paused for a moment, then suddenly seemed to realize something.
"It's you!"
I smiled lightly. "Yes, it's me."
"Veronica! What did I ever do to offend you, that you want to ruin me!"
Zane rushed toward me in a fit of rage. Just as he was about to grab my neck, the bodyguards behind me surged forward, restraining him and landing a hard kick to his stomach.
It was just like the time when he kicked me in the stomach.
Zane curled up in pain, but the bodyguards still held him by the arms.
The scene was eerily familiar.
Back then, I was the one Zane had tried to assault.
My desperate resistance had enraged him. He slapped me, then ordered others to hold me down and force those vile acts upon me, leaving the filthy remnants on my face and body.
He had said that if it weren't for Charlotte wanting to "play" with me a little longer, he would have killed me right then and there.
I was discarded like a torn rag, thrown to the ground.
They walked off, leaving me behind.
Since then, I couldn't stand the sight of milk or similar things without feeling sick.
I had vowed that I would cut that part of him off!
The bodyguards kicked Zane behind the knee, forcing him to kneel, then stepped on his calf, pinning him in place.
Zane panicked. "Lana, Lana, I know I was wrong, please forgive me."
I shook my head. I had begged for mercy before.
But didn't he spare me?
I clapped my hands, and several burly men entered from the outside.
Zane realized what was happening and shouted in desperation, "Lana, please forgive me! I swear I won't do it again, please, Lana!"
When he saw that begging wouldn't work, his anger took over.
"Veronica, where the hell did I offend you that you have to treat me this way!"
Those women were the ones who came onto him; so what if they got hurt? Didn't I pay them? It was a mutual agreement. Why should I be blamed?
Lana, Lana! I won't let you off, even if I become a ghost, I won't spare you!
I wasn't interested in watching the process; I just listened to Zane's miserable screams from outside. It was so satisfying.
When I went inside, Zane was covered in injuries, with his pale face standing out.
I put on layer after layer of gloves and took out a sharp scalpel.
I kindly reminded him, "My skills are not that great. You'll have to bear with it."
Zane realized what I was about to do, and fear flashed in his eyes. "You... What are you going to do?"
I enjoyed watching him struggle, realizing that no matter how hard he tried, it was useless.
"Lana, I beg you, don't... Ah!"
The scalpel was really sharp.
