Chapter 8 Iris's panicked sobs pierced Leo's heart like a thorn . ] For the first time , he realized that the woman before him was no longer the Vera who had once allowed them to control her , who came running at their beck and call . ] I looked coldly at Iris on the ground . [ ] Like a dog , she crawled across the venue on all fours , clinging to my legs with tears streaming down her face , her makeup completely ruined . ]] All her former arrogance and bullying had now turned into humiliation and desperation . [ ] " Vera ... no , sister Vera ! Please save me ! If you help me , I'll work like a slave for you forever ! I'll never dare again , never again ! I really can't take it anymore ! " [ ] " I can't even leave the house or turn on my phone ! If they keep exposing me like this , I'll go insane ! " ] ] Her desperate pleas were grating to the ears . ] But they couldn't move my heart in the slightest . [ ] I raised my eyes calmly , my gaze falling on Leo standing behind her . ]] His expression was rigid , his self - proclaimed pride finally stripped away . [ ] The arrogance and coldness in his eyes had been replaced by fear and panic . [ ] " Vera ... " [ ] His voice was hoarse , his Adam's apple bobbing . ] " I was wrong . I was too arrogant before , failed to protect you properly , failed to see your value . Come back - the Stone family can't survive without you . " ] I laughed softly, but the sound was filled with coldness . ] " Leo , what would I go back to the Stone family for ? To continue being your servants ? To continue living that life where you didn't even see me as human ? " ] " I remember you saying the Stone family didn't need me , that I'd be nothing without you . " [ ] " So. " 1 " What about now ? " My words struck like a sword straight to his heart . [ ] Old Mr. and Mrs. Stone rushed over at that moment . Mrs. Stone still put on that fake loving act , her voice gentle . [ ] Vera , Mom knows you've suffered all these years . " [ ] Chapter " But no matter what , you're still part of the Stone family . " [ ] " The Stone family is in trouble now we're family , so we should weather this storm together . " ] ] " Exactly . " Old Mr. Stone followed , suppressing his anger but still speaking like he was giving orders . [ ] " Vera , if you come back , the Stone family will give you an official position . We can have a proper wedding , publicly acknowledge your status . " [ ] My eyes turned cold . ] my mother's illness " Three years ago , you used my mother's illness to force me to sign that contract . " [ ] " For three years , I poured my heart and soul into helping you through difficulties , only to be rewarded with humiliation and oppression. " " Now that Stone Corporation is crumbling , you dare say letting me return is a favor ? " ]] " You really know how to play your cards . " ] Old Mrs. Stone's face stiffened , then she shrieked . [ ] " Vera ! Don't be ungrateful ! Without the Stone family , you have nothing ! " ] I met her gaze and said coldly . [ ] " Without the Stone family , I'm still Vera Hart . But without me , Stone Corporation can't even survive ! " [ ] The conference hall fell into dead silence . ]] Sebastian stepped forward , pulling me into his embrace , his tone brooking no argument . [ ] " Hart Corporation never cooperates with conspirators . " Then he threw down the final document - evidence of the Stone family's secret stock market manipulation to cover their funding gaps . The media erupted , camera flashes exploding like fireworks . [ ] Old Mr. and Mrs. Stone went deathly pale , nearly fainting on the spot . ] Iris collapsed to the ground , eyes vacant , muttering repeatedly . [ ] " It's over ... all over ... " ] Leo stared at me intently , as if he wanted to tear me apart . [ ] But deep in his gaze , what he couldn't hide was fear and regret . ] He stepped closer , his voice almost pleading . ] 1479 Chapter R " Vera , if you're willing ... if you'll come back , I can give you everything Stone Corporation has . I looked him straight in the eye , my voice cold as ice . [ ] " Leo , you're wrong . I never cared about anything the Stone family had . " ] " All I wanted was my freedom and dignity . And those two things were trampled to pieces by you over these three years . " ] Leo's body went rigid , as if struck by a heavy blow . [ ] I turned around and never looked back . ] The day the meeting ended , Stone Corporation's stock price crashed to rock bottom , all partners terminated contracts , and banks officially called in their loans . ] Within a week , Stone Corporation collapsed completely , falling from a powerful conglomerate to a laughingstock everyone despised . ] Old Mr. and Mrs. Stone were caught up in investigations due to exposed scandals , their later years miserable . [ ] Iris suffered a complete mental breakdown and was forcibly committed to a psychiatric hospital , surviving on daily medication . Her former arrogance and bullying made her a target of hatred , leading to terrible abuse - someone even stabbed her eye with a syringe , blinding her in one eye . [ ] As for Leo . That man who once thought he could look down on everyone could now do nothing in the face of overwhelming evidence , watching helplessly as his family empire crumbled . [ ] Media cameras caught his final image in a run - down bar , drowning his sorrows in alcohol like a walking corpse . [ ] As for me . ] ] I finally welcomed a new dawn in Sebastian's embrace . [ ] The day my eyes fully healed , he led me out of the hospital room . Sunlight flooded my world , clear and bright . [ ] I saw the light in his eyes , just like when we were young - warm and steadfast . [ ] " Vera . " He called my name softly . ] " From now on , through any storm , I'll be by your side . " [ ] I gazed at him , my lips curving slightly upward . ] Yes , three years of darkness had finally passed . [ ] The Stone family's so - called " favors " had turned to dust . ] And my true happiness had finally arrived . [ ] From Mans Mistress to Billionaire WIG Same Day Different Groom 12.99 Chapter 1