Chapter 3

The last thread of my sanity snapped.

That was the last, most precious piece of my mother left in this world.

"Natalie, I'm so sorry! It was an accident!"

Chloe covered her mouth as fake tears rolled down her cheeks, playing the innocent victim to perfection.

"I just wanted to hand it back to you... My hand slipped..."

"Please don't blame Carter, it's all my fault!"

Seeing her cry, Carter immediately pulled Chloe behind his back, comforting her softly.

"It's okay, Chloe. It's just a damn bracelet. It's broken, big deal."

Then, he turned to me and shouted with unearned righteousness.

"Natalie! Why are you looking at her like that?"

"She already apologized! What more do you want?"

"It's just a piece of rock! I'll buy you a new one later!"

Eleanor let out a sharp laugh.

"Exactly. Something left by a dead person brings bad luck anyway. It's good that it broke!"

"Wiping your tears like someone died again—who are you performing for?"

I stared down at the fractured pieces on the floor, an agonizing ache ripping through my chest.

But within seconds, the sorrow calcified into pure, blinding fury.

I looked up, locking eyes with Chloe's barely hidden smirk.

"Chloe."

"Do you honestly think your cheap life is worth that bracelet?"

Chloe shrank back from the sheer venom in my eyes.

"Natalie, you're scaring me... Carter, I'm terrified..."

Carter flew into a rage and raised his hand toward my face.

"Natalie! How dare you threaten Chloe! I'll teach you a lesson, you crazy bitch!"

Before his palm could touch my skin, I caught his wrist in an iron grip.

I had five years of competitive kickboxing training under my belt. Handling a soft, alcohol-soaked lightweight like Carter was child's play.

*SLAP!*

I brought my other hand across his face with everything I had.

The crack echoed through the room. The impact whipped Carter’s head to the side, blood instantly splitting his bottom lip.

The VIP lounge fell dead silent, save for Carter’s ragged breathing.

"You... you hit me?!"

Carter clutched his cheek, his eyes wide in absolute shock.

Eleanor shrieked like a banshee.

"Have you lost your mind?!"

"You little whore, you dare lay a hand on my son?!"

"I'll tear your hair out!"

She lunged at me like a feral animal.

I sidestepped effortlessly, grabbed a glass of vintage red wine off the table, and splashed it directly into her face.

"Ahhh!"

Eleanor shrieked as the dark liquid soaked her designer dress and ruined her hair.

Chloe trembled in the corner, so terrified she forgot how to cry.

I dusted off my hands and looked down at them with supreme disgust.

"Touching you makes my hands feel dirty."

"Lucky for you, the engagement party is about to start."

"The guests outside have been waiting long enough."

I pulled a wet wipe from my clutch, casually cleaned my fingers, and tossed the used wipe onto Carter’s chest.

"Let's go, Mr. Vance. Mrs. Vance. And your precious little sister."

"Let's go out there and settle this tab in front of every media outlet in the city."

Carter clutched his bruised cheek, his teeth grinding in fury.

"Don't get cocky, Natalie."

"Every elite family and business titan in the city is in that ballroom."

"If you dare humiliate the Vance family out there, I will blacklist you from every industry in this town!"

I smiled.

"Is that a promise?"

"Let's see who gets blacklisted."

I turned on my heels, pushed open the grand double doors, and walked into the ballroom.

The crystal chandeliers glowed brilliantly above hundreds of high-society guests.

In an instant, hundreds of eyes shifted toward me.

On the massive projector screen hanging above the stage, a blank slide was currently displayed.

I walked straight to the AV control booth, plugged my phone into the system, and hit play.