Chapter 3

When I woke up, I was in a hospital bed, with Chloe sitting beside me.

Seeing my blank, emotionless face, a flicker of guilt crossed her eyes.

I didn't want to look at her.

I had no idea how our marriage had degraded into this nightmare.

Back in college, Julian and I were roommates.

He was the golden boy on campus—wealthy, popular, with parents who dominated the music industry.

I was just a nobody on a scholarship.

Once he realized my songwriting talent, he bullied and pressured me into ghostwriting for him.

Every hit song that shot him to fame was stolen from me.

I tried to expose him, but nobody believed me. They all mocked me, saying I was just a jealous loser trying to drag Julian down with cheap slander.

Except Chloe.

At the time, Chloe was Julian’s girlfriend.

They were from the same wealthy social circle, celebrated as the power couple of the campus.

Chloe had initially fallen for Julian’s supposed talent. But after dating him, she realized he wasn't the genius he claimed to be.

His lack of basic music theory and superficial talks about songwriting made her doubt everything.

That was when Chloe started paying attention to me.

Back then, the devastation of having my work stolen had plunged me into deep depression, and I had attempted suicide multiple times.

Chloe found me in time and rushed me to the emergency room.

Seeing the private drafts in my notebooks, she finally confirmed that the talent she admired had belonged to me all along.

Later, with her family's influence, Julian was forced to leave the country to avoid a full-blown public scandal.

"His family has deep connections. Let's just let it go. Can we leave all the bad memories behind and move on?"

Chloe had gently pleaded with me back then, asking me to drop the charges.

Looking into her earnest eyes, I agreed. I buried the past.

Looking back now, she was only trying to protect Julian.

In her heart, Julian was always the one who mattered.

That was why, even after promising never to see him again, she rushed back to his side the moment he returned.

Staring at Chloe, I couldn't help asking, "You’ve never really gotten over Julian, have you?"

Chloe shifted her eyes, deliberately brushing off the question.

"I already told you, he's back to rebuild his music career."

"We're in the same industry. We’ll cross paths all the time. Stop overthinking things."

"Rebuild his career?"

My voice spiked with outrage.

"He's a proven plagiarist! What right does a fraud like him have to work in this industry?"

Chloe’s expression turned troubled. She hesitated, looking conflicted.

Finally, as if making up her mind, she spoke.

"That's why I need your help with something."

My stomach dropped, an uneasy dread spreading through me.

Sure enough, she dropped the bomb:

"Could you come forward as the original whistleblower, clear Julian’s name, and publicly apologize to him?"

"Clear his name?"

I couldn't believe my own ears.

Chloe avoided my gaze, stammering, "Whatever happened back then, he already paid the price by living abroad for years."

"Besides, he promised that if you clear his name, he'll give you a massive financial settlement..."

I drilled my eyes into hers, utterly crushed.

"A settlement? You think money can wipe away the hell he put me through?!"

"You knew better than anyone how he destroyed me and slandered me back then!"

"I could take anyone else telling me this garbage, but not you, Chloe! Never you!"

My voice grew louder and raw with pain, startling her.

The door swung open, shattering the silence.

Julian strutted in, wearing an annoyed sneer.

"Are you done crying yet? You're just holding out for more cash, aren't you? Cut the act."

"A street rat like you should be thanking your lucky stars that you married into the Sterling family!"

"Take the payout and shut your mouth! Don't think wearing the title of Chloe’s husband makes you untouchable."

Chloe frowned slightly, but she didn't defend me.

Instead, she sighed and turned back to me to continue her pitch.

"It's just a public statement saying it was all a misunderstanding..."

"Chloe."

I cut her off. My voice was eerily calm, stripped of all emotion.

"Let's get a divorce."