If Isabelle were just an ordinary person, collecting evidence would be straightforward.
But Isabelle was the only daughter of the Richardson family.
Richardson Tower operated industries across the country, wielding power comparable to the Gallagher family, along with a far-reaching reputation and an extensive network of connections.
Molly had once believed that Isabelle was as pure and kind as the legends suggested, but she was shocked to discover how cruel her methods were, manipulating lives during a time of peace.
As she recalled her grandma's unexplained death, a chill ran from her toes to her head, and her eyes burned with anger.
Seeing her so distressed, Joshua Thompson felt a surge of concern.
If Molly Walker was truly his sister, she had suffered too much over the years.
With that thought in mind, his voice softened.
"You can tell me what you want first."
Molly clenched her teeth, suppressing her hatred. "I want her to be punished by the law—she should pay with her life for the murder."
Joshua Thompson nodded, unsurprised. "To bring Isabelle down, we first need to take down the Richardson family's foundation."
The Richardson family was wealthy and powerful. Even if Isabelle were sent to prison, they would likely find a way to reduce her sentence.
"Recently, our family entered into a cooperation with the Richardson family. If this partnership succeeds, Richardson Tower won't have to worry about its revenue for the next three years. How about I help you ruin this cooperation?"
He crossed his arms and leaned against a nearby tree, watching her with a nonchalant expression.
"What can I do to help you, Mr. Thompson?"
Since Joshua Thompson was offering such a significant temptation, she knew there would be a corresponding price to pay.
"I want to ask you for something," he said, his bright eyes fixed on the back of her head. "Your hair tie."
What kind of request was this?
In the moment Molly hesitated, Joshua had already taken action.
His movements were swift. Molly barely felt a sting in her scalp before he had removed her hair tie.
He held it up to the light, inspecting it. His beautiful peach blossom eyes curled slightly, and his delicate features were striking—more captivating than a celebrity's. Yet this beauty carried a hint of wildness, making him all the more alluring.
He was undeniably good-looking. It was no wonder he had such a charming allure to fool around.
Molly felt a twinge of unease.
"Just a hair tie?"
She couldn't believe this was actually Joshua Thompson's request.
"Mhm." Joshua examined the hair tie once more, nodding as if confirming something. With a sly smile, he added, "It's not entirely for your sake."
Just for the cruel words Isabelle had thrown at him in the bar last time, he intended to teach her a lesson.
As for the hair tie, mixed with strands of hair, he planned to get a DNA test.
If his suspicions grew stronger, it was better to clear his doubts.
Watching his strange behavior, Molly felt uneasy and reaffirmed her belief that Joshua Thompson didn't take this matter seriously.
What about bringing down the towering Richardson family? It might have just been a joke from the third son of the Thompson family to amuse her.
From the beginning, she shouldn't have trusted Joshua Thompson's words.
Why would the Thompson family help her for no reason?
Molly politely said goodbye, refraining from asking when he could ruin the cooperation, as she didn't believe that Joshua Thompson would actually help her.
Watching Molly leave, Joshua Thompson considered following her but stopped when he remembered the hair tie in his pocket.
The most important thing now was to get a DNA test done with her hair.
It wouldn't be long before he discovered whether Molly was his sister.
...
"She actually gave her hair tie to Joshua Thompson! Could it be that she and Joshua Thompson..."
At the entrance of the villa, Isabelle looked at Michael Gallagher with slight surprise.
Michael furrowed his brow, his dark eyes like a vortex, making it impossible to discern his emotions.
"I'll take you home."
He strode forward, and Isabelle hurried to keep up.
Molly had actually had an affair during her marriage...
Isabelle was concerned about how to deal with her, but she didn't expect Molly to hand over the advantage so easily.
She quickly composed a text message on her cellphone and sent the explosive news to the biggest media outlet in the city.
The next day, Molly visited the hospital where her grandma had lived before her death.
She intended to gather more evidence.
But she didn't expect to run into an old acquaintance at the entrance.
It was Isabelle Richardson.
Watching Isabelle sneak into a doctor's office, Molly felt a surge of curiosity and instinctively followed her inside.
"Is everything from last time taken care of?"
Inside the room, Isabelle's voice trembled with anxiety and nervousness.
"Don't worry, I'll keep this a secret for you."
The man's voice was gentle, calm, and soothing.
Molly's heart skipped a beat as she squinted and cautiously approached, only to suddenly lock eyes with a sharp gaze.
She looked up and met the intense gaze of Michael Gallagher.
He was dressed casually, his hands resting leisurely in his pockets. His thin, cool lips tightened as he regarded her with a lazy expression that belied the coldness in his eyes.
Molly had no idea when he had arrived or how much he had witnessed.
"Mr. Gallagher," she said with a seductive smile.
Michael Gallagher remained silent.
Unlike her usual well-behaved demeanor, today she was dressed quite attractively. A strappy dress that ended just above her knee, paired with a small cardigan cinched around her waist, perfectly accentuated her alluring curves, making her look dazzlingly beautiful.
He couldn't help but notice her hair tie—different from the one Joshua Thompson had taken.
Stepping closer, he lowered his voice. "Molly, let's talk."
Talk?
In their three years of marriage, he hadn't given her a proper look. Why did he want to talk now?
Molly laughed, not knowing if she was laughing at her own three years of devotion or her own foolishness.
...
In a coffee shop not far from the hospital.
Michael Gallagher had originally intended to confront her about her relationship with Joshua Thompson. However, recalling his bold proclamation when he let her go, he swallowed his words. Instead, he said, "You can't afford to offend Isabelle Richardson."
"Are you warning me?"
The words came out like a threat.
Molly offered a bitter smile, her eyes reddened.
She couldn't afford to cross Isabelle Richardson, especially not with the powerful connections behind her, including Michael Gallagher himself.
Reflecting on the events from the previous day, Michael frowned. "The Richardson family is gathering evidence against you for slandering Isabelle."
"Slander?" Molly's eyes widened with intensity, "My grandma was killed by her!"
"You have no evidence."
"I will." She smirked, the smile not reaching her eyes, "Before the Richardson family kills me, I'll kill her first."
"We'll see if you have the ability."
Michael Gallagher's voice was icy cold, like a steel knife viciously stabbing into her heart.
For a moment, Molly felt a tightness in her throat and bit her lip hard to hold back the tears that threatened to spill.
"Michael Gallagher, my grandma was good to you." Her heart trembled violently. "Can you promise me not to interfere in my matters with Isabelle Richardson?"
Molly felt a flicker of hope.
Taking on the entire Richardson family alone was daunting enough, but having Michael Gallagher against her would make it truly impossible. If he could stand idly by, it would be her greatest advantage.
Under her expectant gaze, Michael Gallagher slowly averted his eyes.
"I'm sorry."
I'm sorry…
He was determined to protect Isabelle Richardson regardless of the consequences.
As expected, three years of affection had gone to waste.
Her husband, whom she once yearned for, had become the backbone of her enemy.
"It doesn't matter." Molly smiled, pinching her thigh hard to force back the tears in her eyes. "Isabelle is really lucky."
Despite her terrible actions, Isabelle had so many people protecting her, including her own husband.
Michael Gallagher thought she would give up, but this only fueled her determination.
He didn't want to see Molly like this—lonely and paranoid, so different from the well-behaved girl he once remembered.
"Michael Gallagher, from today on, you are my enemy too."
Enemy...
The word felt harsh.
Michael Gallagher narrowed his deep-set eyes, a trace of irritation inexplicably rising in his chest. "If I'm your enemy, what about Joshua Thompson?"