Chapter 2

The blood in my veins turned to ice water.

This was the boy I had raised with every ounce of my youth.

The night I was hospitalized for internal bleeding, he had rushed in wearing his faded school uniform, eyes swollen, weeping until his whole frame shook.

He had held my hand and promised: *Chloe, I'll take care of you when I grow up. Once I make real money, I'll support you, and you'll never have to suffer like this again...*

And now, for the sake of another woman, he looked at me with pure disgust.

Like I was his worst enemy.

I shut my eyes.

Amber spoke up softly, "Alright now, Leo, don't fight with Chloe."

Her eyes flickered, nudging him with a sly look. "Didn't we have something important to discuss with her today?"

Leo gave her a nod, sucked in a breath, and turned back to me.

"Chloe, since everything's out in the open, I won't beat around the bush."

"Amber and I are getting married."

"We need a hundred and fifty grand for the wedding and our starter fund. Wire it to my checking account in the next couple of days."

My head snapped up. "What did you just say? A hundred and fifty thousand dollars?"

Leo acted as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Why act surprised? Your money is going to be mine eventually anyway."

For a second, I genuinely thought I was hallucinating.

He demanded my hard-earned fortune without a shred of hesitation or shame!

Greed danced shamelessly in Amber's eyes.

Leo continued as if checking off a shopping list. "Oh, and one more thing."

"Amber's son has mediocre grades. He probably won't get accepted into that elite magnet prep school."

"You sit on the board and know the trustees, don't you? Drop twenty grand as a donation to grease the wheels and pull strings to get him enrolled."

My entire body stiffened. "You want me to spend money buying a spot for another man's kid?"

"What do you mean, *another man's kid*?"

Leo's face darkened instantly. "He's going to be my son!"

"Besides, do you know how hard it's been for Amber to raise a kid alone? What's the big deal with helping out?"

"You're rolling in millions. Is twenty grand really going to break your bank?!"

I couldn't take it anymore. I raised my hand and swung it across his face.

*SLAP!*

The living room went dead silent.

Leo's head jerked to the side, his cheek blooming violently red.

He looked back at me in utter disbelief. "You... you hit me?"

My chest heaved violently. "Leo Vance, what kind of selfish monster did I raise?!"

"You got sterilized for a woman, and I swallowed it!"

"You humiliated me for her, and I swallowed that too!"

"And now you have the nerve to target my company? My assets?!"

"You want me to pave the way for her kid?!"

"Do you honestly think I owe you this?!"

Leo sneered, his face contorted with bitter hatred. "Don't you?"

"When Mom and Dad died, you were the one who insisted on keeping me!"

"I didn't beg you to raise me!"

My brain exploded with a deafening ring. The chill sank all the way to my bones.

He screamed, his eyes wild with fury. "All these years, you hold raising me over my head every single day! Aren't you sick of repeating it? Because I'm sick to death of hearing it!"

"You think I enjoyed walking on eggshells around you every second of my life?!"

"Chloe, I've had enough of you!"

"Amber actually loves me. She understands me. She doesn't act superior and try to control every breath I take like you do!"