Chapter 2

"Why?"

I started the engine, my voice entirely unbothered.

"I just stopped by to discuss a medical partnership contract. Is there something you're hiding that you don't want me to see?"

Julian clearly hadn't expected that response.

His breath hitched. After a few seconds of dead silence, his voice softened into his usual coaxing, affectionate purr.

"Chloe, what are you talking about?"

"What could I possibly hide from you? I was just caught off guard because you showed up unannounced, and my office was a complete mess."

"Besides, how could I ever betray you? You can look through my things whenever you want."

"And if you were already here, why didn't you come see me directly?"

Hearing his relaxed tone, a trace of curiosity crossed my mind.

Sophie hadn't told him about our encounter yet.

I glanced through the digital evidence on my tablet while listening to his smooth lies.

Three gigabytes of files, detailing years of his double life.

Last Valentine's Day, he claimed he was attending an international medical conference in Europe. In reality, he was chasing the northern lights in Iceland with Sophie.

When my father was in critical condition, I called him over thirty times. Not a single call was answered. He was busy throwing Sophie a lavish birthday party.

"I was worried about interrupting your surgery," I said smoothly. "So once my meeting wrapped up, I left."

"Of course I trust you. But tell me... what's the deal with the designer bag your little nurse was carrying?"

Hearing me bring it up so casually, Julian audibly relaxed.

He pressed his mouth closer to the receiver, dialing up the intimacy.

"Oh, that bag? Remember when my blood sugar crashed and I passed out in the hallway? Sophie happened to be passing by and practically dragged me to the ER."

He paused, adding with an easy laugh, "She stayed by my side all night watching my monitors. I bought her that bag as a thank-you gift. I completely forgot to mention it to you."

Forgot? His memory sure was selective.

He forgot to mention the bag, just like he forgot to mention that they checked into the presidential suite of the luxury hotel down the street that very same night.

And stayed locked in there for three whole days and nights.

I let out an icy, silent sneer.

"She certainly is attentive. She even washed the crisp white shirt you wore that day, ironed it to perfection, and brought it back the next morning."

Julian choked on his breath. His rhythm faltered for half a beat before he forced a laugh.

"Well, you know how these young girls are. Detail-oriented."

"See? You're always overthinking things, Chloe. My heart belongs solely to you."

He leaned in, his voice dripping with honeyed warmth.

"Once this busy streak clears up, let's take a holiday in Paris, okay? You've always wanted to go. Just the two of us."

That tender tone used to melt my heart. Now, it made my skin crawl.

"Sounds lovely," I said, gazing out at the neon city lights flashing past my window, my tone as light as if we were discussing the forecast.

"Make sure you wrap up your business first, though. Don't let me distract you."

"Nothing is more important than spending time with you," Julian promised eagerly, desperate to please.

The chill in my chest deepened.

It wasn't just his betrayal that sickened me; it was the realization of how long these two had been putting on this sickening charade right under my nose.

My knuckles turned white against the steering wheel. I fought down the urge to drive back and confront him right then.

No. I wanted him to admit his relationship with Sophie with his own mouth—right before I dragged both of them down into absolute ruin.

I brushed him off with a couple of short sentences and hung up.

Right then, Sophie's social media feed refreshed.

In the video, she was wearing an intricately designed, diamond-encrusted mermaid wedding gown, practically glowing with smug delight.

[Another side chick tried to cause a scene and steal my spot today, but my Mr. Vance bought me an apology gift—he's finally marrying me!]

[I just casually mentioned wanting a poolside villa wedding, and he literally transferred the entire estate deed into my name!]

She smirked at the camera, casually panning across a property deed.

[And all these hospital equity shares... he actually wants me to run them!]

[How could a silly girl like me manage that? Luckily, my man promised to back me up and show everyone who's boss, so those old executives won't dare bully me for being young!]

Staring at the property deed in the video—which clearly bore my legal signature—a white-hot fury flared in my chest.

That poolside villa was my eighteenth birthday gift from my brother.

Julian had the sheer audacity to use my house to pamper his mistress!

Fine. They wanted to show everyone who was boss?

I couldn't wait to see how they'd pull that off in front of the actual owner.