Chapter 3

From start to finish, the entire murder was swept under the rug by a high-priced corporate lawyer.

The man who owned the yacht never once showed his face. Rumor had it he was already busy chasing another Hollywood starlet.

It took me months to uncover his name.

—Julian Vance. The untouchable heir to the Vance corporate empire.

His latest flame was Victoria Ward, an heiress in her own right who treated acting like an expensive hobby, only to fall head-over-heels for a notorious player like Julian.

A spoiled socialite used to being worshipped, Victoria couldn't stomach the existence of a kept woman like me.

So the very next afternoon, she showed up on set, clinging to Julian’s arm.

I was scheduled to shoot a scene where my character falls into a lake, and I was going over the choreography with my stunt double.

Victoria drifted over like a puffed-up peacock, listening for a second before letting out a sharp scoff.

"I heard you won Best Actress last month. Tell me, did your stunt double do all the heavy lifting for that, too?"

I lowered my head, keeping my voice soft and timid. "Miss Ward, it’s... not a good time of the month for me to be in cold water, but I promise I’m taking my role seriously..."

As I spoke, I peeked anxiously at Julian through my lashes.

Actors using doubles for dangerous stunts was standard practice. She was picking a fight, plain and simple.

The Vance Group was the lead financier of the film, so the director immediately sidled up to Julian, sweating nervously. "Mr. Vance, what do you think...?"

Julian patted Victoria’s hand affectionately, his tone chillingly casual. "Using a double does make a mockery of that Best Actress title. Chloe, do the stunt yourself. Keep shooting until it’s right."

Their families had massive business ties. Julian knew exactly which side his bread was buttered on.

Everyone on set knew it. Including me.

In the biting chill of late autumn, I threw myself into the freezing lake over and over again.

I had to thrash in the water, screaming for help until my lungs burned.

The icy water soaked through my thin costume, chilling me right down to the bone.

My lips turned blue, my limbs grew numb, and it felt like the blood in my veins had frozen solid.

Only after the fifth take did she finally deem it worthy of mercy.

"Now that looks authentic."

Dripping wet and shivering violently, I dragged myself out of the lake.

I bowed my head humbly. "I'm glad it met your standards, Miss Ward."

Standing straight again, water dripped from my hair and clung to my eyelashes, highlighting the ghostly pallor of my face. I looked utterly broken, fragile beyond belief.

I saw Julian watching me, his throat working as he swallowed hard.

My assistant, Mia, rushed over with a thick wool blanket. But as she went to wrap it around my shoulders, she let out a piercing scream:

"Blood! Chloe, there's blood running down your legs!"

I looked down. Crimson stains were blooming rapidly across the hem of my pale dress.

The plan was running perfectly on schedule.

With the tension snapping, the adrenaline faded, and a sharp, tearing agony tore through my lower abdomen straight into my skull.

Black spots crowded my vision.

Right before the world went dark, I saw Julian’s mask slip, his face twisting in genuine panic as he lunged toward me.