Chapter 5

I didn't dance around the topic; I laid out everything regarding the will.

When I finished, Robert remained silent for an eternity.

"Uncle Robert, you know Grandpa's handwriting better than anyone. Can you testify for me?"

A heavy sigh came through the receiver.

"Chloe... I was there when your grandfather signed that will. I watched him do it with my own eyes."

The room seemed to spin.

"What did you say?"

"Two weeks before he passed, Arthur called me to the house. He said he needed an official witness for a notarized will," Robert said gently. "I stood right there and watched him sign his name and place his thumbprint."

"That's impossible."

"Chloe, I know this is devastating, but it's the truth."

"Stop fighting this, sweetheart. Ryan seems like a decent, capable young man. Just stay by his side and live a peaceful life."

My fingers trembled so hard I could barely hold the phone.

"Uncle Robert... are you telling me you actually read the clause leaving the entire empire to Ryan?"

His voice was firm. "Arthur told me himself. He was terrified you were too young and frail to survive the corporate sharks. He wanted Ryan to hold the reins for you."

I was silent for a long time.

"I understand, Uncle Robert. I'm sorry for bothering you."

If Robert wasn't lying... then he was manipulated.

Or he had been bought out too.

The next morning, I reached out to an investigative reporter at a local newspaper.

I pitched the core of the story. The journalist sounded thrilled on the phone.

"Mrs. Vance, this is explosive! A corporate dynasty will forged from within? We're talking front-page material!"

"Can you publish my story?"

"I'll meet you at your hotel this afternoon. Sit tight!"

I waited all afternoon. He never showed up.

I dialed his number. First call went unanswered.

Second call went straight to voicemail.

I assumed an emergency came up. But by evening, the line just gave me a busy signal.

The next day, I used the hotel room's landline to call his office.

He picked up.

"Dave, this is Chloe Sterling. We had an appointment."

A pause. "Mrs. Vance, I'm sorry. I can't touch this story. Find someone else."

"Why? Did someone get to you?"

"No comment. Please don't call this line again."

*Click.*

A cold sweat broke out across my back. Ryan’s web had already trapped every outlet in the city.

Vivian showed up at my hotel on the fourth day.

Carrying a carton of organic milk and a basket of fruit, she lunged forward and hugged me tightly the moment I opened the door.

"Chloe, look at you! You've lost so much weight... it breaks my heart!"

Her eyes were red, her voice trembling with emotion.

"I'm fine, Vivian."

"How can you say you're fine? Ryan told me you checked into a dingy hotel alone, and I couldn't sleep a wink!"

She set the groceries down. "Have you eaten? Let me order some takeout."

"I already ate."

"You're lying. You're as pale as a ghost."

She pulled me to sit on the bed, holding my hand warmly.

After chatting for a few minutes, she stood up to pour a glass of water from the electric kettle.

"Here, drink some warm water while I tidy up your room."

She placed the glass in my hands.

I glanced down. The water was clear, odorless.

But out of the corner of my eye, I had seen her right hand slip into her jacket pocket just before picking up the glass.

It was a lightning-fast movement. But I caught it.

"Drink it, Chloe. Your lips are completely chapped."

I brought the rim to my mouth, tilted my head, and made a swallowing motion.

In reality, my lips stayed tightly pressed together; the water merely touched my skin and dribbled back into the glass.

Vivian stared at my throat for two seconds, then relaxed into a wide smile.

"Lie down and rest. I'll wash some apples for you."

The second she disappeared into the bathroom, I dumped the entire glass behind the nightstand, letting it soak harmlessly into the carpet.

When Vivian returned with the sliced apples, she sat by the edge of the bed, chatting softly.

"Chloe, are you getting sleepy?"

I was exhausted—not from any drug, but from four days of pure agony and sleepless nights.

I let out a heavy yawn.

"Go ahead and sleep. I'll stay right here with you."

I pulled the duvet over my shoulders and closed my eyes.

Vivian remained perched beside me. I could feel her predatory gaze burning into my face.

Ten minutes passed.

"Chloe? Chloe, are you asleep?" she whispered.

I didn't twitch a muscle.

She waited another two minutes before pulling out her phone.

The room was pin-drop quiet. Every word of her phone call was crystal clear.

"She's out cold. You can come up now."

"Yeah, small dose, but she'll be out for at least four or five hours."

"Same hotel, Room 1208."

"Hurry, I'll be waiting."

She hung up, walked over to the window, and peeked through the blinds.

"Don't hate me, Chloe. A girl's gotta survive."

My eyes snapped open.

Vivian turned around, her smug expression shattering instantly into pure terror.

Without bothering with my shoes, I shoved her backward with all my might and bolted out the door.

I sprinted down twelve flights of stairs and burst onto the freezing street.

Panting violently, I collapsed onto the curb, my bare feet burning against the icy pavement.

My phone buzzed in my pocket. Vivian was calling.

I blocked her number instantly.

Crouched by the roadside, watching headlights flash past in the gray dusk, my entire body shook.

There wasn't a single soul left in this world I could trust.