Attracted By My Ex-wife
Chapter 534 Vengeance

"If you wanted to deal with Kevin and me, you should have just come straight to us. There was no need to involve an innocent party. Colin was completely innocent. For what reason did you hurt him?" Anne's voice quivered with fury.

What she despised and also feared most in her life was the involvement of innocent people in her affairs. There was no reason to involve Colin in this - yet he had inadvertently become part of the mess and go hurt for no reason.

Colin was an up and coming businessman with a stellar future ahead of him. However, he had been kidnapped and tortured by Kim.

She had never imagine that such a thing would happen just because of his proximity to them.

'Bastard!' she thought aggressively.

"Brandon, please tell Kim not to torture or hurt Colin in any way. Otherwise, I will ensure I catch him and make him pay," Anne said through gritted teeth.

Brandon sneered. "Ms. Anne, what are you getting so worked up for? It was just one finger. It's not a big deal. We could have broken his limbs and killed him - but for your sake, we didn't."

With a murderous scowl on her face, Anne whipped her hand up to slap him across the face. But he was too fast for her. He grabbed her wrist, stopping her dead in her tracks.

"Ms. Anne, I have been a very loyal employee of my boss for many years. If you beat me, I assure you that it is in my power to do as I please to Colin as revenge," Brandon threatened her directly. "Bastard!" Grinding her teeth, Anne said softly and menacingly, "If you dare hurt him, I will not let you leave this place alive."

Brandon smiled. He didn't take her threats seriously.

"Ms. Anne, in all honesty, I admire your character." Raising his eyebrows slightly, Brandon continued, "I might as well let you in on something. If you go up to the rooftop right now, you'll be sure to replace my boss there.

Besides, you will be able to see him, but you won't be able to spot all our men surrounding him. If Kevin also goes up there - in all honesty, he may not be able to make it back.

If you really want Colin to stop suffering, you'd better get on your hands and knees and beg my boss for his mercy. After all, Colin's life lies in his hands alone."

Anne was taken aback. Kim was on the rooftop at this very moment.

'How bold is this man?' she thought perplexed.

Today was the celebration of the mayor's daughter's birthday. Many influential people from all over the city were gathered in this building...and Kim was unknowingly above them. This was really astonishing. Kim was really intrepid.

Kevin sensed something was wrong. With his quick reflexes, he instantly held Eliza around her waist, twirled around gracefully and came to Anne's side.

Seeing this, Brandon sneered and pushed Anne out of his arms. Seeing this, Kevin quickly let Eliza go in the same manner.

Kevin caught Anne without missing a beat, as did Brandon catch Eliza.

"What's wrong?" Kevin asked softly, noting the distressed look on Anne's face.

Taking a step back, she broke loose of Kevin's arms and looked back at Brandon. Brandon held Eliza close to him and whispered discretely into her ear. He did not look even a shadow of the vicious, vile man he was moments ago. Instead, he looked like an innocent young man whispering sweet nothings to his lady.

He was indeed a master in the art of camouflage.

Anne took hold of Kevin's hand and pulled him off the dance floor.

Kevin followed. They found a quiet spot. "Kevin, listen to me carefully. Kim is on the rooftop at this very moment."

Kevin's facial expression changed in a flash. "How dare he!" he exclaimed.

Anne nodded quickly and firmly. She repeated everything Brandon had just told her. Hearing her account, Kevin scowled.

What Brandon was saying was that Kim would only meet Anne -- alone.

But how could he not worry that Kim would be up to no good?

It was well known that Kim had an obsession with Anne. He had a crush on her. Kevin couldn't be sure of whether Kim had given up on her or not. But if he let her go, she would inevitably come into harm's

way.

"I can't agree to this - I won't!" Kevin held her hand and said sternly, "I will never let you take such a risk."

Anne forced a smile. "I'm just going to the rooftop to see Kim. There won't be any danger. He has no means to take me away from here."

There were many important and influential people at this ball. The mayor would not have been careless with security. There was a barrage of bodyguards outside.

No matter how daring Kim might be, he was not stupid enough to try and pull a stunt at such a gathering.

Kevin frowned. He could not deny that Anne made a good argument, yet still he couldn't stomach the idea.

"Kevin, trust me. I'll be fine. I'll come back safe and sound for you and the kids! I absolutely hate being away from you even for a moment," she said with a flirty smile. She put her arm around Kevin and nuzzled her face into her chest as if no one else was around.

He frowned. He still did not want her to meet Kim on her own. But before he had any further chance to protest, she had let go of him and waked away.

He ground his teeth in utter frustration but after a moment, he sighed. He turned and left the floor.

To say he was extremely worried about her was an understatement of note. He would not let Kim get a chance to harm her. He had to come up with a plan. He couldn't let him kidnap her.

Seeing the scene in the distance, Brandon smirked with satisfaction.

Plus, it didn't really matter. Kim was not planning on kidnapping Anne.

After asking for direction from a waitron, Anne made her way to the rooftop.

It was a gloomy day. A man stood on the rooftop. A slight breeze was picking up the ends of his hair ever so slightly. His face was hidden from view. But the towering, looming figure inexplicably gave off an aura of vileness.

A familiar feeling made her heart race. Anne closed her eyes for a moment in an attempt to steady herself.

She loathed this man with every inch of being, yet he was so familiar to her at the same time. They had so much history between the two of them. Who could actually list the many times their paths crossed?

Her high heels made a sharp rapping sound as she walked across the rooftop flooring. The figure ahead did not move an inch, as if he didn't even hear the distinct sound.

Anne walked up to the man. Looking at his sharp profile, she frowned ever so slightly.

"It has been a long time..." Anne said.

Kim laughed coldly. "If I were the one who died, I'm afraid you would never have had the chance to say that again. Do you think it's a pity that it wasn't me?"

Frowning, she opened her mouth to respond. But nothing came out.

Kim was a terrifying nightmare, the kind of nightmare that was so horrendous one could never even imagine it during waking hours even if one thought of the worst scenarios possible. If she had her way, she would want him to have died at the execution.

Unfortunately, this was just her unrealistic wish. Kim was standing in front of her now, in the flesh and blood.

"So -- you asked Brandon to speak to me specifically as a ploy to get me to come up here. What do you have to say to me?" Anne asked, quickly getting to the point.

Kim let out an evil cackle which made her hair stand on end. She sensed that she was in danger.

He turned around quickly, and grasped her by the shoulder. To her surprise, they were now looking directly at each other.

"How do you feel after knowing what happened to Colin?" he asked.

Scowling, she unceremoniously pushed his hand off her shoulder and responded icily, "If you sought vengeance, you should have come straight at me. What's the need to hurt innocent people?" "Ha-ha..." Kim threw back his head and let out another one of his vile, bone-chilling cackles. "You're right. But I am well aware that you are compassionate and care deeply for the welfare of others. I am just attacking your Achilles' heel."

Anne gritted her teeth in fury.

"If I mete out my revenge solely upon you, you will be pained momentarily, perhaps for a little while. If I make innocent people pay for what you did, you will suffer mental anguish until your dying day." In this dim lighting, Kim's eyes looked blood red and evil.

"Anne, if you had decided to help me out of my execution, I would have left this city and disappeared from your life forever... But you let me down. You made your choice." Kim looked up at her with a heavy sigh.

A few days before the execution, it had become apparent that she did not love him. No matter what psychotic and cruel behavior he displayed, no matter what he did, it did not change the fact that she did not, and would not, ever love him.

So he decided he would let his desire go, and that he would also let her and Kevin be free.

He would only have this kind of clarity once in his entire life!

But Anne and Kevin missed their one opportunity to make use of his once-off benevolence. Instead of letting him go, they caused him to be sent to death row.

After he managed to escape against all odds, he vowed never to let anyone go ever again. He had just one obsessive thought: everyone must suffer equally as he did.

Why should he suffer alone? Why should he be all alone in the abyss of pain? Why should he be unhappy while Anne and Kevin enjoyed a charmed life with their children? If he couldn't have such happiness, he would not let them have it either.

So, since he knew that they had great affection for Ella, he chose to kidnap Colin, and use him to make Anne suffer.

"Colin is just the tip of the iceberg. From this day forward, all the people you love dearly, and anyone who loves you too, will suffer the same fate as Colin.

The way I will make you suffer... I will make you live in hell with me." Kim's voice was becoming more menacing with each word.

All blood had drained from Anne's face. Her exquisitely applied makeup could not even conceal the panic that was overwhelming her entire being.

Kim was a man of his word. Now that he had said it, he would do everything to ensure it was done.

So he would avenge himself by harming those around her.

"No!" She shook her head vigorously, as if trying to shake the idea out of her mind. Kim was indeed a master of controlling others by manipulating their weaknesses. He was right. She could not bear the anguish of being the cause that others were harmed.

"You can't do this!" She tugged on Kim's sleeve urgently. "No matter what punishment you decide to dole out to me, I will bear it willingly. But you cannot involve the innocent. They didn't harm you so you shouldn't want to hurt them this way."

With a deranged smile, Kim pushed Anne's hand off him. He took a tissue out of his pocket and dusted both his sleeved and hand, as if he was contaminated by Anne who was absolute filth.

"Anne, let me show you something, okay?" Kim's voice suddenly had a tender quality about it.

Her body began to tremble and she shook her head immediately. She had a hunch that whatever Kim as about to show her, she would never be able to stomach.

Kim ignored her protests and whipped out his phone, and begun playing a video clip anyway.

It was Colin. He was lying on the ground in an empty room, drenched in blood. His eyes were swollen to a point of being shut, and his chest was almost not moving as if he had no breath left in him. Suddenly, icy water was thrown on him. Shivering, he slowly managed to open his eyes.

Colin was usually a very neat, well-dressed man. He took good care of his appearance and physique. Yet now, he was covered in blood and his face was so gaunt that his facial bones stuck out from his face. The video played on. A young man roughly grabbed Colin, forcing him to his feet. It was Brandon.

With a sickening smile on his face, he lifted Colin and delivered a strong kick directly into Colin's belly. The force sent Colin into the air and he hit the ground several feet away.

Now, Colin's eyes were open wide but they had become glassed over. Through the video, Anne felt Colin's excruciating pain.

Then, Brandon retrieved a small dagger from a nearby table. What he had said to her earlier ran in her mind.

All at once, she realized what was going to happen next. They were going to cut off his finger.

"No!" Although she knew exactly what was going to happen and that it was too late to change it, she shook her head in protest, looking at Kim with tears in her eyes.‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒‒