Chapter 3

No wonder Dad had suddenly called me. He must have heard some things about Julian.

“Lucas!”

Chloe waved from a distance.

“Perfect timing, you’re here! I was just about to find you to take our wedding photos.”

Lucas awkwardly cleared his throat.

“Well, then let’s go pick out some outfits. Isn’t your birthday in a couple of days?”

Chloe acted as if she'd just noticed me, graciously inviting me to her party, clearly intending to make a spectacle of me.

I ignored her and stepped into the high-end boutique in front of me.

The sales associate at the counter eyed me up and down, then turned back to chat and laugh with her colleagues.

But when Chloe walked in, the women immediately swarmed her with fawning smiles.

I wandered around by myself, my gaze drawn to a fitted dress.

Just as I reached out, another hand snatched it first.

Chloe’s eyes were full of scorn. She glanced at the dress.

“Eleanor, this dress won’t suit you. You’re too big for something like this.”

I tried to take the dress, but the sales associate firmly pushed my hand away.

“Who do you think you are, trying to snatch Ms. Miller’s dress!”

She then fawned over Chloe, guiding her to the fitting room.

“Ms. Miller has such a great figure, this dress will look stunning on you.”

Chloe took the dress, pleased, and went to change.

But when she emerged, she wasn’t wearing the dress, and her expression wasn't good.

The sales associate immediately realized the dress didn’t fit and eagerly offered to find another.

“Give me that one. I’ll pay double.”

“With those bargain-bin clothes, you honestly think you can afford this? Stop bluffing.”

The sales associate scoffed.

“Just give it to her. I’d actually love to see Eleanor in it.”

Chloe smiled, but as she passed me, she whispered,

“I heard your father froze all your cards. Let’s see how you pay for it later.”

I ignored Chloe and walked straight to the fitting room.

As my condition worsened, I’d grown thinner. The fitted, tasseled dress hung loosely on me, with plenty of room to spare.

When I opened the door, I distinctly heard everyone in the room gasp, followed by murmurs of admiration.

Even the sales associate who’d been so rude just moments before immediately plastered on a flattering smile.

“Miss, this dress was practically made for you! You look absolutely stunning!”

Lucas stared at me, completely lost, not even noticing when Chloe tugged at his arm.

“Lucas, Eleanor insisted on taking my dress just now and even bid against me.”

Chloe clung to Lucas’s arm, her voice pitiful.

Lucas’s face turned scarlet with rage.

“Can’t you just let Chloe have her way? You can’t afford it anyway…”

He seemed to realize he’d said too much and trailed off.

I scoffed, a cold smile playing on my lips.

I reached for my card, then remembered that while Dad had unfrozen my accounts, I’d forgotten to bring them.

Everyone in the store was watching me.

Gritting my teeth, I pulled out the black card Julian had given me and handed it to the sales associate. “I’ll take it.”

“And, I didn’t steal it. She couldn’t fit into it herself. I’ve never stolen anything from anyone.”

I spoke deliberately loudly, hoping to make it clear to everyone that I wasn’t a homewrecker.

But Lucas clearly misunderstood.

“That’s Uncle’s black card! You really *are* involved with him!”

He lunged at me, his eyes red.

“You shameless woman…”

He didn't finish his sentence before he was suddenly lifted off his feet and tossed aside like a rag doll.

Julian Sterling’s face was livid.

“Well, well, isn’t it my dear nephew, the one with a penchant for married women? And my wife is *not* someone you get to eye up.”