Chapter 75: Ruined

Chapter 75: Chapter 75: Ruined

"Don’t pull yet," Renee Morgan said again.

Luckily, the rope from the toolkit was long enough. She tied the other end to a tree behind them so it wouldn’t get dragged in, allowing Kyle Beckett to grab it securely. She was determined to pull him up with all her strength.

Kyle Beckett was already crying, tears blurring his vision. In the haze, he saw a figure and screamed hoarsely, "Kyle, don’t give up! Trust me, rescue is coming soon! Grab the rope, don’t let go..."

Renee Morgan turned, clutching the rope, and saw Zara Chapman and Wendy Aldridge both terrified, frozen in shock: "What are you still standing there for? Come help, the rescue team will arrive any minute. Don’t let anyone sink in!"

Wendy Aldridge and Zara Chapman remembered they were still on camera, frustration flashing across their faces. Yet again, Renee Morgan was getting an opportunity to shine.

"Ah, I was just scared out of my wits. Kyle, you absolutely can’t get hurt, sob..." Wendy Aldridge’s face showed pain and fear, tears streaming down her cheeks as if she herself was about to collapse. She wiped her tears and moved behind Renee Morgan to grab the rope.

Zara Chapman stood behind Wendy Aldridge, and the three pulled together.

It was tough for three women to haul an adult man up, but no matter what, they had to give it their all. Even if they just held out until the rescue team arrived, as long as Kyle hadn’t sunk in completely, it would be worth it.

Wendy Aldridge watched Renee Morgan, who was just a step away from the mud pit. She pulled the rope with all her might, her arms trembling with effort, obviously desperate to rescue them. Suddenly, a bold idea flashed through Wendy’s mind: If she secretly cut the rope with a knife, would Renee Morgan, unable to brace herself, fall right into the mud pit?

The idea took root and wouldn’t leave her. She didn’t hesitate for long. Adjusting her backpack from behind to in front, she used it as cover and pulled out a military-grade knife...

Renee Morgan had sharp hearing. The moment she caught the sound of a helicopter rotor, joy exploded in her eyes. She raised her head to confirm if rescue had arrived, but as she turned, she unconsciously felt the rope in her hand loosening—as if someone was grinding it with a knife?

Wendy Aldridge saw the rescue team approaching, feeling a pang of disappointment. Still, she hadn’t given up on cutting the rope. If Renee Morgan fell in, she’d have to blow her whistle and leave, which meant she wouldn’t get the base access pass.

With one last forceful slice, the rope snapped. A faint smile crept onto the corner of her lips as she prepared to slip the military knife back into her bag, unnoticed.

Chills ran down Renee Morgan’s entire back. She could still feel the dull grinding sensation from the knife. She decided to keep her eyes closed, tightening her grip instead of letting go. When the rescue team’s helicopter thundered above her and the rope finally broke, she was ready. She jammed her feet hard, spun around, and grabbed the military knife from Wendy Aldridge’s hand, her face cold, her voice icy: "Why did you cut the rope?"

"I... I didn’t... The knife just slipped out. I was putting it back." Wendy Aldridge’s face went pale in an instant. She hadn’t expected Renee Morgan to turn so suddenly or to grab the hand holding the knife.

"You’re lying!" Renee Morgan’s cold glare pierced her. With her other hand, she lifted the broken end of the rope. "The rope broke right where you were standing, and both ends bear knife marks. Wendy Aldridge, were you trying to kill me and Kyle?"

Wendy’s eyes rimmed red as she stared at Renee Morgan: "We’re filming a show, how could you slander me like this? Don’t you know you could ruin a girl with accusations like that..."

She stammered in meekness, innocent and wronged, weak and helpless.

Not wanting to ruin her, but she’s here spouting all this nonsense?

In her dreams, Wendy Aldridge always got the upper hand, caused allergies, made her look ridiculous, endured insults, and was driven offline by cyberbullying.

She always thought she’d stop, ease up, but Wendy only pushed things further and further. So it’s no wonder she’s had enough.

In the dream, Wendy rode the show’s popularity straight to the top. If she let her get away with it again, that whole dream would’ve been for nothing.

"You think I want to ruin you?" Renee Morgan stared coldly at her, not loosening her grip but tightening it on Wendy’s wrist. Seeing Wendy’s pain, she said fiercely: "Then tell me, why did you cut the rope? If the rescue team hadn’t arrived right on time and I hadn’t been ready, both Kyle and I would be lost in that mud pit. You care so much about your reputation—why do something like this?"

Wendy wanted to argue, play the victim, tell the viewers the truth wasn’t as it looked. But Renee Morgan’s grip hurt her wrist so painfully, bones twisting, she couldn’t take it anymore.

"Ah, Renee Morgan, let go, it hurts—it hurts!" Wendy Aldridge lost control, her agony twisting her face.

The livestream chat exploded—no one could believe it. In that life-or-death moment, everyone was worrying about Kyle, tagging the show’s official account again and again to get the rescue team there fast. Watching Renee Morgan urge Kyle on, the audience was moved to tears. Life always comes first.

But no one imagined, while everyone across the internet was anxious for them, Wendy Aldridge was actually cutting the life-saving rope with a knife.

Luckily, the rescue team arrived just as the rope broke—otherwise Kyle would’ve been in real danger.

And Renee Morgan, always straining at the front, would’ve fallen into the pit herself if she didn’t let go quickly enough.

Two lives—how could Wendy dare?

The netizens were furious.

Yet there were still some braindead fanboys supporting Wendy Aldridge.

[Maybe it was just bad luck, the rope broke right then. Wendy said her knife slipped, didn’t she?]

[Ropes break naturally sometimes. Just because Wendy was holding a knife doesn’t mean she cut it, right?]

[Wendy’s so kind and gentle, how could she do such a thing? Someone must be framing her.]

[Isn’t Renee Morgan being way over the top? The rope broke—everyone’s fine. Why can’t she let Wendy go? Is she out to ruin her?]

Others couldn’t stand these idiots and practically slammed their heads against their keyboards.

[The broken rope is clean-cut—clearly sliced with a sharp blade. And it snapped right where Wendy was standing. She was holding a military knife—that’s hard evidence. You’re still defending her?]

[I just rewatched the livestream. Wendy’s backpack was always behind her, but when she helped pull the rope, she shifted it in front. She held the rope with one hand, while the other was hidden behind the backpack—you couldn’t see what she was doing. If she was cutting with a knife, it makes sense. No wonder the hidden hand kept pushing upward—she must’ve been slicing the rope underneath.]