Chapter 2

She really did go tell on me. When Victor stormed back, I was quickly packing up my most important belongings.

"Lynn! Why did you hit her!" He grabbed my wrist. "She's just a young girl—was that really necessary!"

I shook off his hand and slapped him hard across the face.

Victor was completely stunned, as if seeing me for the first time.

"Are you crazy? You hit someone over a necklace?"

"That was my necklace." I looked at him coldly, continuing to stuff documents into a box. "And I hit a thief who took other people's things."

"You!" He choked with anger, his face turning bright red. "Fine, even if the necklace was yours, you still can't hit people! Charlotte's face is swollen! I'm telling you, this isn't over! That slap cost you a million dollars! Consider it compensation for her pain and suffering and medical expenses!"

"Victor, we're breaking up." I zipped up my suitcase. "As for the money, just try taking it and see what happens."

"Breaking up? Did I agree to that?" He blocked the door, his tone irritated. "Lynn, stop being unreasonable, okay? Come back. Let's talk this through properly!"

"Talk about how you used my money to make your little mistress happy?" I looked up, my gaze sharp.

His eyes flickered for a moment, a flash of embarrassment at being exposed, but it was quickly replaced by anger.

I didn't look at him again. I squeezed through the gap between him and the doorframe and left with my suitcase.

The moment the elevator doors closed, I heard him furiously kicking the door and roaring: "If you leave, don't come back!"

I moved to a downtown apartment I'd prepared long ago.

Just as I set down my suitcase, my phone rang. It was Adrian Foster.

"I just finished a meeting." His voice sounded steady and clear. "I saw your message. Are you sure you've thought this through? About the proposal our families discussed?"

"Yes." My answer came without hesitation.

He seemed to breathe a sigh of relief on the other end, then spoke in a warm but firm voice: "Good. I'll finish up the business here as quickly as possible and return home to help you with the family business transition and... our matter."

"Thank you." I paused. "I appreciate it."

"Don't say that." His tone was serious. "Wait for me to come back."

Shortly after the call ended, my mobile banking notification chimed.

I opened it—a transfer debit alert.

[Your account ending in XXXX has debited $1,000,000.00.]

I knew who it was.

I immediately called Victor.

"I transferred the money." He answered quickly, his tone forceful. "You hit someone, you have to pay the price. This million dollars is compensation to buy Charlotte a new necklace. Lynn, we're even now."

"Victor," I said coldly, "that's not your money. Transfer it back immediately."

"Your money?" He sneered. "We've been together this long and you're being this petty with me? Stop making a fuss. Come back home and I'll smooth things over with her about the necklace."

I heard Charlotte's coquettish voice in the background: "Victor, honey, I've drawn the bath for you—"

He immediately hung up.

I sent him a message: "You have twenty-four hours. If you don't return the money, I'll file a lawsuit and make sure your misuse of my trust fund appears in legal notices on every single one of your investors' desks."