Chapter 4

His words struck the room like thunder.

Emma’s purse fell from her hand.

Nina gasped.

Ryan’s mouth hung open as he struggled to breathe.

Chloe stood rooted to the spot, as if she’d been struck by lightning.

She stared at Mr. Lewis in disbelief.

“What did you call her?”

“Are you blind? This is my fiancé’s house!”

Mr. Lewis turned and looked at her as though she were an idiot.

“Ma’am, show some respect.”

“Ms. Sophie Reed purchased Number Seven outright for fifty-eight million dollars.”

“We have a copy of the deed on file. We verified the purchase agreement, tax documents, and bank transfer records.”

“Who do you think you are, shouting in here?”

Chloe staggered back two steps, shaking her head frantically.

“Impossible… That’s impossible!”

“Sophie is broke! She rides a rental bike to work every day! How could she afford a house here?”

I walked up to her and looked down at her.

“I ride a rental bike because I believe in reducing my carbon footprint.”

“That doesn’t make me a thief like you, someone who can’t even afford a two-hundred-dollar vase.”

I pointed at the shattered pieces.

“Mr. Lewis, call the police.”

“Someone broke into my home and, together with another person, destroyed eight point eight million dollars’ worth of property.”

He immediately took out his phone. “Of course, Ms. Reed. I’ll call 911 right now.”

At the mention of police, Ryan fell apart.

He scrambled over and grabbed Chloe’s arm.

“Chloe! You’ve ruined me!”

“You said this was your house! Pay for it! I don’t want to go to prison!”

Chloe shook him off, her face as white as paper.

She knew her act was falling apart, but she still refused to give in.

She glared at me viciously.

“Don’t get so full of yourself, Sophie!”

“This house belongs to my fiancé. He’s the heir to Bennett Group!”

“There must be some misunderstanding. Just wait until I call him!”

I raised an eyebrow.

“The heir to Bennett Group?”

“Go ahead. I’d love to see who that is!”