Chapter 6

Melanie's POV

I sneered inwardly, watching him with cold detachment.

After only a moment of hesitation, Damien stepped back.

He turned and placed the jewelry box into Chloe Carter's hands, his expression softening tenderly.

"As long as you like it. It was meant for you anyway."

Holding the box, Chloe's eyes lit up.

"Really? I thought it was for Melanie."

She glanced in my direction.

"If I get it and Melanie doesn't, won't she be upset?"

Damien paused for a moment, then glanced again at the watch in my hand.

"She won't. It's just a necklace. She ought to let you have it anyway."

I let out a cold scoff, rolled my eyes, and walked out the door.

Six months ago, when he promised to give me that necklace, he had used the exact same confident tone.

Now I finally understood: any promise he made could be broken at any given moment.

I texted a few close friends, inviting them to dinner at a nearby restaurant.

In a week, I would be leaving for San Francisco. It wouldn't be as easy for us to meet after that.

Arriving at the restaurant first, I chose a window seat and ordered.

Not long after I sat down, Damien walked in, escorting Chloe Carter.

I thought to myself, *What rotten luck. Everywhere I go, I run into these two.*

Damien noticed me immediately as well, walking over with a displeased look on his face.

"Mel, Chloe and I just came here for a meal. Are you tracking me now?"

I laughed out of sheer exasperation.

"Does your family own this restaurant? The two of you can dine here, but I can't? I came here to catch up with my friends. Don't flatter yourself!"

Damien let out a low scoff. "You'd better be."

Guiding Chloe with his arm around her, he went to another table.

Shortly after sitting down, Damien seemed to step out to take a phone call.

Taking the opportunity, Chloe waved her wrist at me, her newly bought bracelet sparkling under the lights.

Ignoring her, I looked down to reply to my friends' messages.

Suddenly, my phone rang, showing an incoming call from a San Francisco number.

I got up and slipped out through another exit of the restaurant to take the call.

By the time I finished the call and returned, Summer Lennox, Nicole Sloane, and Kelly Hume had already arrived. The moment they saw me, they waved enthusiastically.

"Mel, hurry over! We've been waiting for you!"

When I told them about my upcoming departure, Nicole's eyes instantly reddened, and she clung tightly to my arm, refusing to let go.

Kelly insisted on throwing a yacht party to send me off.

Summer claimed a yacht was too cliché and suggested they just fly out to San Francisco to stay with me for a couple of weeks instead.

We chatted and laughed, the table lively with conversation.

I took a few bites of the salad.

Before long, my throat tightened. Breathing became difficult, and my face rapidly flushed red.

Summer was the first to notice something was wrong. "Mel, what's happened?"

They all gathered around me in a panic.

I looked at the salad—there were peanuts in it.

I struggled to speak. "My bag... the medicine..."

Nicole frantically rummaged through my purse.

I saw Damien's face change drastically as he rushed over in large strides.

"Mel, how are you? Did you bring your EpiPen?"

Nicole cried out, "Found it!"

Damien immediately took the auto-injector, popped the cap off, and was about to administer it to me.

Just then, Chloe Carter's tearful wail came from behind.

"Damien, I feel so sick..."

Damien froze mid-motion, then turned and bolted toward Chloe.

"Chloe, what's wrong?"

Chloe's neck and arms were covered in massive hives. Clutching her throat, she choked out her words.

"There's mango in this... but... only Melanie went back to the kitchen..."

Damien's expression turned stern, his grip tightening hard around the auto-injector.

Kelly stamped her foot in frustration. "Damien Lawrence! Bring Mel's medicine back right now! She can't breathe!"

Damien looked at me, his eyes full of conflict.

Leaning weakly against him, Chloe grabbed the hem of his shirt with a pitiful look, tears streaming down her face.

Grit teeth clenched, Damien jabbed the auto-injector into Chloe's thigh.

He cast a deep look at me before turning to Chloe. "I'm taking you to the hospital."

Scooping Chloe up in his arms, he walked out without looking back.

My vision went dark. The last thing I heard was Summer's choked sobs as she dialed emergency services.

When I woke up, I was lying in the hospital's observation ward.

Nicole was keeping vigil beside my bed, her eyes swollen red from crying.

"Mel, you're finally awake! You scared me to death! That bastard Damien Lawrence carried Chloe Carter out and left, and he hasn't even called once up until now!"

Listening to her, my heart remained entirely calm.

I had long since given up on Damien Lawrence. Nothing he did could surprise me anymore.

I stayed in the observation room until evening. Only after the doctor confirmed there were no serious issues did Nicole Sloane drive me home.

That night, I was resting at home alone.

The front door swung open, and Damien Lawrence walked in with a dark expression, heading straight for the bedroom.

He spoke, struggling to keep his temper under control.

"I never thought you could stoop so low. You know damn well Chloe is allergic to mangoes, yet you went ahead and put mango in her food! Come with me right now and apologize to her!"

I sneered.

"Did Chloe Carter tell you that again? You believe everything that comes out of her mouth. If she told you she was carrying your child, would you believe that, too?"

Damien froze.

Embarrassed and enraged, he roared, "Chloe is pure and kind! Unlike you—arrogant, unreasonable, and full of lies!"

"Right! Your precious Chloe is so pure and kind, so what are you doing back here with a villain like me? Hurry up and marry her then!"

"Damien Lawrence, I'm done with you. We're over. Get the hell out of my house right now!"

Damien's eyes burned red with fury.

"Fine! You said it! Don't you dare regret this!"

He slammed the door behind him with a deafening crash.

Over the next few days, Damien and Chloe were constantly spotted by reporters and netizens.

They dined at a three-star Michelin restaurant, booked out entire private movie theaters, and went shopping together at luxury boutiques. They arrived and left together everywhere, their interactions dripping with intimacy.

Rumors flooded the internet claiming that Chloe Carter was the Lawrence Group CEO's girlfriend and that the two were about to tie the knot.

When I saw the headlines, I merely scrolled past without giving them a second glance.

In a week, I would leave this place for San Francisco, cutting all ties with Damien Lawrence and Chloe Carter forever.

A few days later, I attended an elite charity gala as promised.

The moment I stepped into the hall, I spotted Chloe Carter.