Chapter 2

Julian narrowed his eyes, as if he wanted to see right through me.

Then he scoffed, a sneer twisting his lips, clearly believing I was overdoing the act.

While Julian was being interviewed, Chloe pulled my hand.

"You're so gorgeous! I heard Julian's ex-girlfriend, the one he dated for six years, is also here today. Do you happen to know who that is?"

I couldn't be bothered to decipher the sincerity behind her words.

I pulled my hand away, a touch of my usual germaphobia kicking in, and wiped it with a tissue from my bag.

Chloe looked down, her face flushing with embarrassment.

"Ava, what's with the act? You've been a total mess since college. Two years gone, and you're still as fake as ever."

Leo slouched opposite me, radiating his usual arrogant idleness.

"Leo, don't say that! Ava isn't like that."

"Chloe, you've only met her once, and she's already got you fooled. I've known her for six years! If it weren't for her, my brother wouldn't have gone bankrupt!"

"What do you mean?"

"Chloe, still clueless? She's my brother's trashy ex-girlfriend."

Leo, with a defiant smirk, spat his gum in my direction.

I used my bag to block it, then stood up and slammed the bag into Leo's face.

"Ava! What the hell was that?! Do you think I'm some commoner like you? I'm Leo Sullivan, the second son of the Sullivan empire! Who do you think you are, touching me? My brother will have your fingers chopped off, I swear!"

"Your Sullivan family means nothing to me. If I could make him go bankrupt once, I can do it again."

This sudden, ugly confrontation completely derailed their interview.

Julian rushed back.

I looked down at the candy stain on my white bag.

I had germaphobia.

I held up the bag, looking him dead in the eye. "Ten grand."

"You seriously expect my brother to pay you ten grand for that? You're doing this on purpose, aren't you? Looks like you haven't been doing so hot these past two years, but your talent for seducing men sure has improved."

I raised the bag again, ready to strike, but Julian clamped down on my wrist.

"What was the last thing you said?"

"Ten grand."

"The one before that."

I thought for a moment.

Unsure if that was the line he wanted.

But if he wanted to hear it, then he would.

"If I could make you go bankrupt once, I can do it again."

Julian smiled.

It was the first genuine smile I'd seen on his face all night.

"I prefer you when you drop the act. You're much more... tolerable."

I pulled my hand free, my arm frozen mid-swing.

But he actually leaned his face closer.

"If that hand lands, I'll make sure your mother's upper body joins her lower one in paralysis."

I was so disgusted I didn't want to touch him, but the moment he finished speaking, my palm connected solidly with his face.

Leo rushed forward first.

"She actually hit you! Are you insane?!"

He grabbed my neck; I yanked his hair.

A clear glass stool crashed against Leo's body, blood streaming down his head.

I picked up a shard of glass and slashed Julian's arm.

Julian, with absolute force, shoved me into the pool.

We tumbled into the pool, our fight a chaotic, undignified mess.

"I heard you've been taking care of your mother these past two years. Must be exhausting, right? How about I arrange a little 'accident' for her? Then you won't have to be tired anymore."

"Your eyes are truly beautiful. Gouge them out and propose to Chloe with them; it would be stunning."

I didn't have as many meaningless words as he did.

I stared intensely at his chest and plunged the knife down.

I wanted to see him try to act tough and talk big then.

And then maybe, just maybe, I'd see him tremble and beg me to make it quick.

But the scene I imagined didn't happen.

Chloe shielded him.

Blood bloomed on her white dress.

"What is wrong with you? Take your rage out on me! Why hurt her?! Don't you know she has a condition, she can't stop bleeding?!"

I twisted the knife even deeper.

"I do now."

"Ava! Don't you dare involve family!"

"Oh, so my mother deserved to be paralyzed then?"