Chapter 3

That evening, Ethan brought Chloe straight into our house, slamming two files down onto the dining table.

One was Chloe's medical assessment, showing minor fluctuations in her vital signs. The other was an asset transfer agreement, demanding that I hand over full management rights of my company to Chloe.

A dry laugh escaped my throat. "Are you just straight-up robbing me now, Ethan? Even with normal recovery, heart conditions fluctuate all the time. She doesn't even show signs of deterioration, and you expect me to hand over the company I built from the ground up with my own blood, sweat, and tears?"

Dropping all pretenses, Ethan resorted to open threats. "If you hadn't attacked Chloe, would she even be in the hospital? I thought stripping you of four million would teach you some humility, but you're still completely unrepentant!"

"You had the nerve to lay hands on Chloe today, so we're settling everything, old and new. Four million isn't enough anymore. Hand over the company, or prepare to face charges in court!"

I shook violently with rage.

"Ethan, after all the years I've given you, are you really going to be this ruthless?"

Ethan sneered with contempt. "What did you ever give me? Don't act like I don't know the truth. You only managed to build that business because my parents backed you. Without the Miller family, you'd be nobody!"

"If you had known your place, shown some gratitude, and quietly worked for me, my family would have kept you around in luxury. But the moment you got your hands on some loose change, you started bossing me around and targeting the people closest to me. I've had enough of you!"

I closed my eyes as past memories flashed through my mind.

Ethan had never been good at business. He chased skirts, lived recklessly, and surrounded himself with parasites and opportunists.

Because his parents had entrusted him to me, I stepped in to cut off those toxic influences, terrified he would fall into ruin. I worked endless nights without sleep, managing to keep the Miller empire afloat after his parents fell ill.

And all I got in return was his bitter hatred.

Opening my eyes again, the warmth in my gaze was completely gone, replaced by chilling detachment. "Then go ahead and sue me. From this moment on, Ethan, I will never lift a finger to help you again. Everything will be handled strictly by the book."

As for the past, and Chloe's pathetic smear attempts, I didn't care to explain myself anymore.

Ethan wasn't worth wasting another breath or another drop of emotion on.

With that, I turned around and headed straight to the hospital to check on his parents.

As I stepped into the elevator, my phone began streaming an audio feed of Ethan and Chloe talking.

To protect myself against Chloe's schemes, I had slipped a micro-recorder onto her clothes while we scuffled at the hospital earlier that day. Just a precaution.

I hadn't expected Ethan to be the one plotting my downfall.

"Chloe, even though Serena triggered your attack, the evidence is a little thin. If we take it to court, it'll be hard to squeeze much more out of her."

"Don't worry, though. This time, I'm going to make sure Serena loses everything so she never has the power to touch you again!"

"She only talks big because my parents back her up. Once we make my parents despise her and cut her off, she won't have any leverage left. She'll have to crawl back and beg on her knees..."

What Ethan didn't realize was...

Every single word he said was being heard loud and clear by his parents.