But in a flash, she snapped back to reality. Claire spun around to check on Robert. He was hanging mid-air, completely out of her reach.

"Robert, Robert!"

Robert caught the sound of Claire's voice and slowly lifted his head. He looked like a puppet with its strings cut, as if his very soul had been sucked out.

"Ch...air...man..." he managed to utter.

Hearing Robert's voice sent chills down Claire's spine, making her shiver slightly. "Who did this to you?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

At that moment, Claire realized the seriousness of her situation. Whoever had orchestrated this scenario was definitely not a friend. Quite the opposite, they were likely an enemy. But who could it possibly be? Who had the resources and heartlessness to pull this off? Was it some kind of warning? Was she the ultimate target?

Robert, racked with pain, could barely form words. "Ms. Claire, just end it... please, I'm begging you..."

Claire's fingers tightened into a fist. She felt an overwhelming sense of danger. Then, laughter echoed from backstage.

"Who's there? Show yourself!"

The laughter grew louder, and the voice seemed oddly familiar. Finally, a woman stepped out from the shadows, dressed in a smoky gray dress. Even though she was middle-aged, she was remarkably well-preserved. She wasn't traditionally beautiful, but she had a certain grace that reminded Claire of Southern elegance.

Claire's eyes widened in shock. "Vivian! How can it be you!"

Vivian sauntered over to Claire. "Surprised? You never thought you'd end up in my hands, did you?"

Claire was taken aback, staring at Vivian in disbelief. This was the same woman who once wouldn't dare meet her eyes, now standing confidently before her, mocking her outright.

"Vivian, who do you think you are!"

Claire's face was a mask of disdain, but Vivian remained unfazed. Instead, she laughed.

"Who am I? I'm the lady of the Taylor

family, the new owner of Paradise

Island, and right now, the one who holds your fate in my hands!" Vivian's voice was steady and commanding, lacking any hint of her former meekness.

Claire was dumbfounded. Paradise Island was now Vivian's? She was just a second wife with no real standing in the Taylor family. Where did she get that kind of money?

"Vivian, so all this time, you were just pretending in front of me?"

Vivian waved a delicate fan with an air of nonchalance. "Claire, do you know your biggest flaw? You've

always looked down on everyonenet

underestimated me, thinking I was still the helpless performer from back then? Now, I'm Mrs. Taylor, the lady of the Taylor family, and soon, the entire Taylor estate will be mine."

Claire chuckled, "The Taylor estate,

yours? Dream on. As long as

Lando's alive, you won't get away with such bold claims. The Taylor family will end up in my son's hands, and then you'll just be a parasite living off others' charity."

Claire smirked, adding, "The only reason you have a place to stay is because of

my son's kindness."

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