Chapter 2

Chloe's POV

Silence stretched over the line for a few seconds. Julian sounded stunned: "Chloe, are you serious? I thought you said you'd never marry anyone except Damon Sterling."

"We're done," I said, staring at my own face on the giant screen. "I don't love him anymore. I'll never see him again."

Julian caught the roughness in my voice: "Did he hurt you?"

"No. I just want to come home," I answered quietly. "I'm wrapping up my projects. I'll be back on my birthday."

I hung up, left the ballroom, and headed straight to my studio to submit my resignation.

Back at our apartment, I pulled out two suitcases and packed my clothes and essentials.

As for the designer jewelry Damon had showered me with over the years, I didn't touch a single piece. I left them locked in the wardrobe.

Damon came home that evening.

He dropped a velvet gift box on the table and wrapped his arms around my waist from behind: "I had a custom gown made for you. Wear it on your birthday."

I slipped out of his embrace and walked toward the kitchen to pour a glass of water: "Why so sudden?"

Damon lit a cigarette, speaking casually: "It's your birthday. It should be grand. I even had someone send an invite to your brother. After fighting him for so long, I ought to hand him a proper gift in person."

I held the glass, saying nothing.

Watching the smirk on his face, a wave of nausea hit me.

Once Damon stepped into the shower, I picked up his phone.

I tried his birthday. Then his usual office PINs.

Wrong. The screen locked instantly.

I set it back down.

I knew the only original copy of those videos was on this phone. I had to wait until the party to find a chance to delete them.

The next afternoon, I was boxing up the last of my things at the styling studio.

The VIP lounge doors were suddenly kicked open.

Victoria Caldwell walked in, flanked by two towering bodyguards.

She glanced at my makeup kit, then tossed a silver envelope onto the counter.

"Let me introduce myself. Victoria Caldwell, Damon's fiancée."

I clicked my kit shut, my face completely expressionless: "Can I help you?"

"Damon and I are getting engaged early next month," Victoria sneered, crossing her arms. "You've been his bed warmer in New York for four years—surely you didn't think he'd marry you? He's only keeping you around to ruin your brother on your birthday."

"Take some money and run back to San Francisco. Don't humiliate yourself."

Victoria stared at me, clearly expecting a hysterical meltdown.

Instead, I glanced down at the invitation, my pulse steady.

Early next month. Exactly three days after my birthday.

He planned to destroy me and my family on my birthday, then seal his dynastic marriage right after.

Seeing my lack of reaction, Victoria snapped: "Being the mistress of your family's worst enemy for four years... don't you have any shame?"

I met her gaze, my voice deadpan: "Miss Caldwell, I know exactly what kind of man Damon is. If you want him, take him. You didn't need to come here to tell me."

I picked up my case, ready to leave.

Enraged by my indifference, Victoria grabbed a heavy hand mirror from the vanity and slammed it against the back of my head.

Crack.

A searing pain ripped through my scalp. Warm blood instantly trickled down into my hair.

Victoria knocked over an electric kettle, scalding hot water splashing across my shoulder, and shoved me hard.

I crashed into a shelf and hit the floor, my vision blurring into black spots.

Right then, the door flew open with a deafening crash.

Damon stood in the doorway, freezing at the sight of me lying in a pool of blood.

His face went entirely pale, then black with fury.

"Victoria Caldwell!"

He lunged forward, shoving Victoria brutally against the edge of the vanity.

He grabbed a glass of iced water from the table and threw it directly into her face.

As Victoria shrieked in shock, Damon had already stripped off his trench coat, wrapping it tightly around my shaking body.

His hands were trembling violently, his voice cracked:

"Chloe... can you hear me? Where does it hurt?"