Chapter 3

The guards forced me onto the stage.

Marcus looked at me with smug arrogance. He reached out and tapped my cheek with the back of his hand, laughing.

"Chloe's ex, huh? Running all the way here like a lost puppy—you must really love her, right? Come on, Chloe. Let's give your ex a nice show. Kiss me."

Chloe shot me a look of pure revulsion before leaning up and planting a passionate kiss right on Marcus's cheek.

Watching them flaunt their intimacy, the last ember of warmth in my heart died out. My eyes turned ice-cold as I looked at the two of them.

"So that's how it is. In that case, I wish you two the best. We're done."

Three years of love was gone. Since she had thrown it away, I had no intention of begging.

"You little punk, did I give you permission to leave?"

Marcus grabbed my wrist tightly, sneering with open contempt.

"As Chloe's ex, shouldn't you give her a proper blessing?"

"I had a special segment planned for today anyway, and I think you're the perfect fit to hold the ring tray. You hand the ring to me, and Chloe takes it from my hands."

I let out a soft laugh. "Acting tough, are we? You think you can keep me here against my will?"

Marcus tilted his chin up, sneering down his nose at me.

"You worthless piece of trash, you clearly have no idea who you're dealing with, do you? Let me make this clear: you only leave when I tell you to leave!"

"If I say you stay, even God couldn't get you out of this room!"

The guards beside him were massive, muscle-bound men, their stares dead and threatening.

The smile on my face only widened. It had been a very long time since anyone had dared to threaten me so openly to my face.

I still remembered years ago, an influential industry titan had said something insulting to me behind closed doors. By the next morning, that man had vanished from the entire entertainment industry.

Ever since then, whenever people in the elite circles spoke of my name, they instinctively lowered their voices to a whisper.

Chloe held onto Marcus's arm. Seeing the mocking smile on my face, anger surged within her. She lunged forward and slapped me hard across the face.

"Julian! What the hell are you smiling at? Marcus is speaking to you! Show some damn respect!"

I didn't bother dodging. The slap landed squarely on my cheek.

"Chloe, that slap settles our past. From this moment on, we are completely even."

Turning my eyes toward Marcus, I smiled faintly.

"Take my advice and let me walk while I still feel like leaving. Because if I decide to stay, even if you beg on your knees, it won't save you."

Marcus's expression instantly darkened.

"I've changed my mind. Chloe, what kind of punishment should this punk get for disrespecting our engagement?"

The disgust in Chloe's eyes grew even more intense.

"Julian, I never knew you were so shameless. Who do you think you are, talking back to Marcus like that? Get on your knees and apologize to him right now!"

Seeing that I hadn't moved an inch, Chloe leaned sweetly against Marcus's arm, her voice dripping with venomous spite.

"Julian, on your knees! Being in the same room as Marcus is the greatest honor your family will ever see! He runs this town. Do you really think you can defy him?"

"If you keep acting like a stubborn idiot, a single snap of Marcus's fingers will have you carried out of here in a body bag!"

Hearing Chloe's flattering words, Marcus swelled with pride, boasting loudly:

"Chloe is right! In this room, my word is law! Even if I have you killed right here, nobody would dare say a word!"

"But I'm a generous man. If you drop to your knees right now and give me nine hundred and ninety-nine head-to-the-floor bows, apologizing with every single one, I might just let you off the hook!"

Chloe clung to Marcus, purring with sickening adoration. "You're so merciful, Marcus. I love you more and more every second."

Hearing her nauseating flattery, I actually clapped my hands in amusement.

"So powerful. Forcing me to bow and scrape with a single word. What's next? Are you going to blackball me from the whole industry with another word? Gosh, I'm terrified."