Chapter 3

Chloe's POV

I walked in and immediately reached for the vase.

"Give me my comb back."

Mia stepped back, shielding the vase behind her.

"Julian gave this to me," she sneered, raising her chin. "If you want it, go ask him."

I lunged forward to grab it.

We scuffled, the vase wobbling on the vanity as the wooden comb peeked over the rim.

Just as my hand closed around it, Mia let out a piercing shriek. Her foot slipped, and she tumbled off the edge of the bed, crashing hard onto the carpet.

The door was slammed open at that exact second.

Julian burst in, immediately pulling Mia into his arms.

"Where does it hurt?" He bent down to inspect her knees.

Mia's eyes instantly welled with tears, and she sobbed, pointing at me. "She pushed me, Julian! She shoved me from behind!"

Before I knew it, a crowd of curious onlookers had gathered at the door and along the hallway; the commotion had echoed down the entire floor.

People stood on their tiptoes to peer inside, whispering among themselves, every gaze landing heavily on me.

I stood rooted to the spot, clutching the comb I had just retrieved.

"I didn't push her," I said.

Julian looked up.

He didn't bother checking the scuff marks on the carpet.

He didn't ask what anyone in the hall had seen.

He just stared at me, his voice dangerously low. "Tell me. Do you admit it, or not?"

The weight of every eye in the room pressed down on me.

I opened my mouth to defend myself.

"Your parents moved to that little mountain town recently, didn't they? Riverside Street, building three, third floor, east-facing unit," Julian said flatly. "Am I right?"

The words died in my throat.

Mia whimpered softly in his arms. "Julian, my knee hurts so much..."

"I know," he patted her gently, his eyes never leaving mine. "Tell me. Am I right, Chloe?"

Not only did he know, but he made sure to say it in front of all these people so I would hear it loud and clear.

If I uttered a single "no," his very next move would be just like in my past life—making sure my parents couldn't even survive in that small town.

"Say it!" Mia urged from the side. "Tell everyone you didn't push me!"

I looked at Julian.

"Speak," Julian commanded, his voice crushing down on me, demanding total submission.

Looking at him, I suddenly let out a faint, hollow laugh.

There was a time when if I got the slightest scratch, this man would kneel on the floor just to soothe me.

Today, the marks on the carpet were right beside his feet, and he couldn't even be bothered to look.

He didn't care about the truth at all.

In this house, telling the truth was completely useless.

"Chloe, say something!" Mia pressed again. "Everyone is waiting."

I turned my face toward her and stared at her for a long time, so long that Mia shrank back into Julian's chest.

Word by word, I swallowed the truth back down.

Accepting the blame meant enduring humiliation.

In exchange, it bought my parents a few more days of peace in that town.

Someone in the crowd murmured, "Just apologize and get it over with."

"I admit it," I whispered softly.

Mia sniffled against Julian's chest, unable to suppress the smug smirk tugging at the corners of her lips.

The room went still for a second before erupting into murmurs.

Someone clicked their tongue—whether out of pity for me or sheer amusement, I couldn't tell.

Julian didn't waste another word on me.

He smoothed down the hem of Mia's dress and blew gently on her scraped knee.

Then, scooping her up into his arms, he turned toward the door. "Take her downstairs. Call the doctor."

He carried her straight through the parted crowd, murmuring reassurances the entire way, never sparing me a single backward glance.

Blowing on a scrape to make it feel better... that was something he had only ever done for me.

In the crowd, a woman holding a cocktail glass watched with a mocking half-smile.

It was Vanessa.

Years ago, she was a prominent socialite who chased Julian aggressively. Once, when Julian wasn't around, she slapped me across the face.

Because of that one slap, Julian ruined her family's business connections in high society. Her family had been on a downward spiral ever since, nowhere near as powerful as they used to be.

Now, she strutted up to me, tilted her wrist, and spilled half her drink right onto the hem of my dress.

"Well, well," Vanessa drawled. "Look at the precious Chloe now. Back then, one little slap from me could ruin an entire family. How come you're standing here playing the mute today?"

She leaned in, dropping her voice so only the two of us could hear. "You finally got what was coming to you. I've waited years for this day."

Someone nearby chuckled softly.

I kept my eyes down, motionless.

"Back then, he destroyed my family just for you," Vanessa hissed, glaring at me. "Today, he walked right past you carrying another woman, and he didn't even glance at you. Did you see that clearly?"

I lifted my eyes, glanced at her once, and looked back down.

I didn't bother snapping back.

Talking back required the backing Julian once gave me, but that backing was gone now.

Anything he had ever given me, I didn't want a single piece of it anymore.

Vanessa opened her mouth to say more, but someone beside her pulled her away.

She scoffed and walked off, turning back to shoot me one last glare after a couple of steps.

Once they left, most of the onlookers dispersed.

The wooden comb in my palm felt burning hot. The teeth had cut into my skin, and blood was seeping out, but I didn't let go.

The spilled wine soaked into my dress, freezing cold against my skin, but I didn't bother wiping it off.

I got the comb back. I had won half the battle tonight.

I walked out, taking one slow step at a time.

Just as I reached the doorway, my vision went pitch black.

I reached out to brace myself against the wall, but missed. My knees buckled, and I collapsed straight onto the floor.