Chapter 3

"No... it's fine, Natalie," Chloe whimpered, lowering her gaze. "I just lost my balance."

I looked at her with pure disgust.

Just then, Mrs. Harrison's personal assistant walked over. "Ms. Vance, this way, please."

I nodded and followed her without sparing Marcus or Chloe another glance.

They stood there, looking utterly humiliated. Marcus hurriedly tried to follow me.

"Natalie! You were meeting Evelyn Harrison?! Why didn't you tell me?!"

"Excuse me, sir," the assistant said, stepping firmly in front of Marcus. "Mrs. Harrison is only seeing Ms. Vance. The private lounge is ladies-only."

I didn’t even bother looking back as the elevator doors slid shut.

I saw Marcus clenching his fists in frustration, and I didn't miss the venom in Chloe's eyes.

I ignored it. Chloe was running out of time. Her belly would start showing soon, and there was no way she’d let her baby be born a bastard without a fight.

The more desperate she became, the calmer I felt.

My meeting with Evelyn went smoothly, and we shook hands on the deal. When I finally stepped out of the VIP lounge, Chloe suddenly jumped out from around the corner, clutching her stomach with tears streaming down her face.

"Natalie! I didn't mean to borrow his money! Marcus told me you found out and that you're suspicious of him. It’s my fault! I just wanted to buy a home so my baby would have a roof over its head!"

"And what about the father?" I sneered. "He's making you do this as a single mom?"

"He is not!"

Chloe snapped, her voice trembling with emotion. "He promised to give me the best life! I am the love of his life!"

I let out a mocking laugh. "The love of his life makes you scrounge for pennies to buy an apartment?"

"Chloe, high-value men aren't just sitting around on clearance. If you thought this pathetic loser was your ticket to the top, you bet on the wrong horse."

"Trash belongs in the dumpster. Don't go picking up garbage I'm done with—you'll only dirty your own hands."

Her face twisted with rage.

I leaned in, whispering into her ear, "Do you really think I don't know what you and Marcus have been doing behind my back? If you're so confident, convince him to divorce me. Otherwise, that bastard in your belly will stay a dirty secret forever."

She went deathly pale. "No... I don't believe you. Marcus told me I'm his one true soulmate!"

"Is that so? Where’s your proof, Chloe? Keep dreaming."

I dug my nails into my palms, waiting.

Right on cue, Chloe whipped out her phone, aggressively showing me photos of them in bed together, and even a video of them exchanging rings in a church behind my back.

"You've been married to Marcus for six years and couldn't even give him a child! This is his firstborn! I’m willing to start a family with him! I love him a thousand times more than you ever could!"

"Let me tell you the truth—we’ve been together for months. Marcus was just too polite to break it off with you. But I’m not! Natalie, you’re an old hag, and it's time for you to step down!"

I actually laughed. "Really? So he rented your uterus for six hundred bucks a month?"

My mockery completely pushed her over the edge. "What do you know?! A barren woman who can't even get knocked up has no right to judge me! What makes you so special anyway? If it weren't for your family’s money, you think Marcus would've stayed with you this long?!"

I smiled faintly. "Exactly. It's because of my money and family that Marcus will never dare to leave me. Want to bet? If he sees you right now, he'll tell you to get lost, and I will always remain his legal wife."

Chloe snapped. Clenching her teeth, she glanced down the hallway behind me, suddenly grabbed my arm, and raised her voice to a shriek: "Natalie, I'm sorry! But just because you have money doesn't give you the right to treat me like dirt! Ahhh!"

She threw herself backward toward the staircase.

This time, I didn't let her stage it. I gripped her wrists, shoved her with all my strength, and sent her tumbling down the marble stairs.

She crashed to the landing below. A dark stain of blood slowly seeped through her skirt.

Chloe's face was completely drained of color as she gasped in agonizing pain.

"Chloe!"

Marcus sprinted from around the corner, dropping beside her in a panic. He glared up at me, his eyes wild with fury. "Natalie, are you fucking insane?! How could you be so evil?!"

"She's just a kid!"

"She's just a kid?" I scoffed, staring down at him from the top of the stairs. "Then how dare you sleep with her, Marcus? How dare you knock her up?"

His lips trembled. His face went entirely white.

"Marcus," I said coldly. "We're done. I want a divorce."