Chapter 3

Vanessa wept dramatically into the camera lens.

"Carter and I only separated because of Chloe. She used AI deepfakes to forge photos of me cheating, destroying our relationship out of pure jealousy... But true love always finds a way back, and we finally cleared up the misunderstanding!"

The stream blew up.

Instantly, thousands of viewers flooded the comments, cursing me to die.

They branded me a toxic sociopath who tried to ruin a fairy-tale romance.

I hadn't done any of those things.

When I tried to post receipts and chat logs to defend myself, Carter snatched my phone away.

"Does the truth even matter, Chloe? Vanessa wants to be a top influencer. She needs viral drama to build an audience!"

"Just suck it up. People talk shit on the internet all the time. It's not like words are going to kill you."

A dry, incredulous laugh escaped my lips.

"Are you serious, Carter? Do you two have even an ounce of shame?"

"Because it's not your flesh on the cutting board, you don't feel the blade, do you?"

Over the next two days, the harassment turned my life into a living nightmare.

Everywhere I went, strangers glared and whispered.

"Look, it's that home-wrecker! Get out of our city, you psycho!"

Someone even doxxed my family history.

"The apple doesn't fall far from the tree! Her mom was a dirty mistress, and she grew up to be one too!"

"Disgusting trash! Go jump off a roof and join your dead mother!"

They tore open my deepest childhood trauma, splashing it across the internet for entertainment.

Things escalated when a group of radical followers cornered me in a grocery store parking lot.

They swarmed me, shoving and clawing at my face.

My arms were scratched raw, my lip was split, and my body throbbed with deep bruises.

When I finally limped into the apartment, Carter didn't show a flicker of concern.

Instead, he looked at me with open disgust.

"Good grief, Chloe. Look at your face. How are you supposed to walk down the aisle the day after tomorrow looking like a battered stray?"

Leaning against the wall, Vanessa crossed her arms and sneered.

"Black eyes and bloody lips? Don't embarrass Carter in front of high society."

I looked them both dead in the eye, my voice entirely flat.

"Then cancel the wedding."

Carter paused, rubbing his temples in irritation.

"The venue and catering are already fully paid for. We can't let millions go to waste. How about this... Vanessa can take your place."

"You two have a similar build and facial structure. Under the veil, nobody will notice."

I touched my bruised, swollen cheek.

A bitter smile touched my lips.

Of course.

If I hadn't resembled Vanessa, Carter would never have glanced at me five years ago.

And just like that, the wedding I had spent months planning was handed over to the woman who destroyed my life.

On the day of the ceremony, the grand cathedral ballroom was breathtakingly opulent.

Every seat was filled with socialites, business partners, and press.

Vanessa stood beside Carter in a custom white lace gown, her face glowing with triumph.

Carter sank down on one knee.

He took her left hand and slid the heavy diamond ring onto her ring finger.

It fit perfectly.

As if he had measured her finger a thousand times before.

As if the ring had been crafted solely for her.

The brilliant chandeliers bathed them in a warm, heavenly glow.

Cameras flashed relentlessly, drowned out by the thunderous applause of the crowd.

It was an overwhelming wave of celebration.

I should have felt heartbroken.

Instead, a chilling calm washed over me.

Because their descent into hell was about to begin.

BAM!

The heavy oak doors of the ballroom were kicked open.

A dozen imposing men in tailored black suits marched in, their expressions cold and menacing.

They bypassed the guests and walked straight up to the altar toward Carter and Vanessa.

The music ground to a halt.

The entire venue fell dead silent.

Guests exchanged confused, anxious looks, whispering among themselves.

The leader of the group pulled a crisp document from his jacket and addressed the groom in a booming voice.

"Mr. Carter Vance. This is the ten-million-dollar high-interest loan agreement signed by you and your bride."

"The full repayment deadline is today."

"If you cannot produce the funds immediately, our syndicate will be shipping both of you to our overseas labor facilities to work off the debt."