Chapter 2

I blinked back my tears, but they still soaked into the wounds, sending sharp, stinging pain across my face.

My phone was nowhere to be found, but Arthur had left his laptop on the bedside table.

With trembling hands, I opened the local news. When I saw the headlines, my mind went entirely blank.

The internet was flooded with articles detailing my assault.

With Arthur and Brandon pushing the narrative behind the scenes, the media shamelessly labeled me as "damaged goods" and "ruined."

Even though I had prepared myself, the words still pierced my heart like physical blades.

Suddenly, a notification popped up on Arthur's laptop. It was a message from his lawyer.

"Mr. Mitchell, are you sure you want to transfer all your real estate and company shares to Amber Mitchell?"

Arthur replied: "Yes. This is all for Amber's dowry. She isn't like Chloe, who was born with everything. I want to give Amber everything Chloe used to have!"

Even Brandon had gifted several luxury sports cars and his personal estate to Amber.

They always claimed they had neglected Amber.

But when I opened Amber’s Instagram, I saw that she had every single luxury item I owned.

In fact, she had things I didn't even have.

Our birthdays were only one day apart. Every year, Arthur and Brandon would give me expensive gifts but claim they had to fly to Europe for urgent business trips.

Now I knew they were flying to be with Amber, celebrating her birthday without ever missing a single one.

She had posted cozy photos with Arthur and Brandon, captioned, "My happy family."

She posted photos of a field of lavender, claiming Arthur and Brandon had planted it with their own hands just for her.

The happiness I thought I possessed was nothing but a delusion.

I let out a cold, hollow laugh.

I picked up the hospital phone and called my maternal grandmother, who lived in Switzerland.

Not long after I hung up, the sound of laughter echoed from the hallway.

Amber walked in.

Arthur and Brandon followed closely behind her.

The moment they saw me, their smiles vanished, instantly replaced by masks of deep concern.

"Chloe, you're awake! How are you feeling? Are you in pain?"

But Amber’s smile remained bright and mocking.

"Chloe, I heard from Dad about what happened to you. Please don't be too sad."

She offered her shallow condolences, then pulled several designer dresses out of her shopping bags.

She said cutely, "I dragged Dad and Brandon out this morning to help me choose my wedding rehearsal dresses."

"Brandon says this red one looks stunning, but Dad insists the white one suits me better. Chloe, you have such great taste. Can you help me choose?"

She grabbed the hem of her skirt and spun around innocently.

But every movement was laced with smugness and showing off.

I laughed coldly. "Don't call me your sister. I don't recognize the daughter of a mistress as my family."

Amber’s face turned pale, and her eyes welled up with tears instantly.

"I... I just didn't know what style Logan prefers. I thought you knew him best, so I wanted to ask..."

"I know I'm just a daughter born out of wedlock. Marrying Logan was an accident anyway. If it makes you this unhappy, I'll just leave!"

She ran out of the room crying.

Instantly, my father and brother rushed to her defense.

"Amber was just excited and wanted to share her joy with you. Chloe, you've gone too far!"

Arthur roared at me, "Chloe Mitchell! I have spoiled you rotten! You have absolutely no manners! When Amber heard about your accident, she was so worried she couldn't sleep all night. And this is how you treat her?!"

"Apologize to Amber right now!"

Arthur and Brandon chased after her.

Even though I already knew where their loyalties lay, a pang of sorrow still hit my chest.

The next morning.

Brandon gently took the bowl of porridge from the private nurse, blew on it to cool it down, and fed me.

It was as if the person who had yelled at me yesterday for Amber's sake didn't exist.

"Chloe, about yesterday... I already apologized to Amber for you. She said she doesn't blame you."

Arthur came in after taking a call, ready to take me out.

"I've found the best plastic surgeon in the country to reconstruct your face."

They bustled around to get me discharged, completely ignoring the fact that my body was still incredibly weak and I couldn't even walk without a wheelchair.

But when I got into the car, I realized this was not the way back to our estate.