Chapter 3

"You have quite the twisted taste, Mr. Sterling. Too bad I'm not in the mood to play."

I pushed his hand away and moved toward the exit again.

"Not in the mood? Or is the money not enough?"

He whipped out a thick stack of hundred-dollar bills and slammed them hard against my cheek. "Money is the one thing I have plenty of!"

I slowly bent down, picked up the scattered cash, and smiled mockingly.

"Twenty bottles for a few grand? Still a way better deal than wasting four years funding your fake life."

"Chloe, you..."

Ignoring his stunned scowl, I walked over and shoved the stack of bills right down the front of Sienna's dress.

"I hear Mr. Sterling is getting married soon. Is it to my stepsister? Why don't you keep this cash as her bridal gift?"

A flash of mortification crossed Sienna's face.

"Chloe, stop stirring up trouble!"

Chad raised his hand and slapped me across the face. My left ear rang violently.

"I love Sienna! Even if family rules keep me from marrying her, I'll give her all the money and the future she deserves!"

Tears welled up in Sienna's eyes. "Chad, you don't have to. As long as you have me in your heart, that's enough."

A bystander chimed in, "Chloe, stop trying to drive a wedge between them. Sienna grew up as a high-society lady and travels the world with Chad. A broke nobody like you could never compete with her."

"I bet she's not even pregnant! She's just talking nonsense because she's scared Chad will call her bluff!"

I met Sienna's eyes, not bothering to hide the mockery in my gaze.

Ten years ago, my parents died in a tragic car accident, leaving behind a massive estate.

My aunt and uncle took me in, claiming it was out of the goodness of their hearts, but in truth, it was pure greed.

All these years, they used my parents' money to send Sienna to private elite schools, piano lessons, and ballet academies, while forcing me into the gloomy attic room to wear her hand-me-downs.

Since childhood, Sienna had to compete with me over everything, desperate to prove she was better.

Whatever I wanted, she had to steal—including my men.

Now, she had truly convinced herself she was a born heiress, while painting me as the pathetic Cinderella of her story.

How utterly laughable.

Unnerved by my stare, Sienna hurried over with a teapot, putting on an apologetic smile.

"Chloe, we were just joking around."

Suddenly, her wrist jerked, and scalding water surged toward me!

I instinctively pushed the kettle back. Water splashed through the air, but Chad blocked it with his bare hand.

Before I could even process what happened, another sharp slap landed on my cheek.

"Chloe, your jealousy has crossed the line! Sienna is an actress—are you trying to disfigure her?" Chad roared, his eyes blazing with fury.

I raised my hand to strike back, but he caught my wrist in a vice-like grip.

"You dare hit me?" He sneered, grabbed a cup of boiling water from the table, and threw it straight at my face.

My skin burned with searing agony.

"People like you never learn empathy until you feel the pain yourself."

"You freeloaded off Sienna's family for years, yet you constantly pick fights with her. I must have been blind to ever waste time on you..."

"Chad, so you finally admit your amnesia was a lie?"

"I don't have time for your bullshit! Miller, I don't want to see her on set tomorrow."

With that, he wrapped his arm around Sienna and stormed out.

The private dining room reeked of cheap perfume and stale alcohol, making my stomach churn.

"I'm going to the restroom."

When I came out, the entire crew had already packed up and left.

We were twenty miles from the city, so I had no choice but to find a motel for the night.

Late that evening, right after I stepped out of the shower, Sienna's messages flooded my phone.

Pictures of Chad feeding her cake, Chad rubbing her sore ankle, Chad holding her...

"Chloe, you're nothing but yesterday's news. I suggest you..."

I felt completely numb. "Sienna, are you really that desperate for a man's attention?"

She instantly started a FaceTime audio call. Disgusting, heavy panting echoed through the speaker.

I leaned straight into the absurdity. "Mr. Sterling, you should have told me earlier you needed phone sex!"

"Ten grand a minute. Keep going, I'm listening! Make sure you send the wire right after—don't even think about dodging it, I'm screen recording."

"Chloe, get the fuck out of my life!"

The next morning, while I was packing my suitcase, my motel door was kicked open by Chad.

"Did you drug Sienna's drink last night?"