Chapter 3

**Chloe's POV**

For the next few days, I went to work as usual, ran meetings, and finalized designs.

I was as calm as a frozen lake. Nobody suspected a thing.

Until three days before Sterling Jewelry's grand fall launch. I was reviewing the final exhibition catalog when I saw that my masterpiece—"The Crown of Thorns," a piece I had spent an entire year pouring my heart and soul into—now had a different designer’s name on it.

Serena Wood.

I took the catalog and marched straight into Julian’s penthouse office.

Julian was on the phone. When he saw me, he wrapped up the call quickly and hung up.

"What's wrong? You look pale." He walked over, reaching for my hand.

I stepped back, dodging his touch, and tossed the catalog onto his massive mahogany desk. My voice was ice-cold. "Explain this. Why is Serena's name on my design?"

Julian glanced at the catalog. His eyes flickered, and then he let out a long, heavy sigh, adopting that familiar, patronizing tone of patience. "Chloe, I was just about to talk to you about this. Serena slit her wrists again yesterday."

I stared at him, saying nothing.

Julian continued, "She feels like she’s useless, like her life has no value. Her therapist said she needs a sense of purpose. She used to love jewelry design, so... I put her name on 'The Crown of Thorns.' It’s just to give her a reason to keep living."

"A reason to live? By stealing someone else’s life's work?" My eyes cut like glass.

"How can you call it stealing?" Julian frowned, clearly displeased by my words. "Chloe, you are already a top-tier designer in the country. You have countless accolades and glory. But Serena has nothing. Her hand was ruined saving my life! Can't you just be the bigger person? Think of it as charity."

I wanted to laugh out loud.

Why should I donate my blood, sweat, and tears to charity for his "savior" and "wife"?

"And if I say no?" I locked eyes with him.

Julian’s face darkened, a cold edge of warning creeping into his voice. "Chloe, stop throwing a tantrum. The decision is made, and the marketing materials have already been sent out. I’ll compensate you however you want. Shares, bonuses, or the entire next season's collection—it’s all yours."

In his eyes, my passion and my pride were just commodities to be bought and sold.

Looking at the man I had loved for seven years, a wave of profound exhaustion washed over me. I didn’t even want to fight him anymore.

When love dies, even anger feels like a waste of energy.

"Fine," I said, nodding slowly. My calm was almost eerie. "Since you’ve already decided, we'll do it your way."

Julian blinked, caught off guard.

"Chloe..." He took a step forward, trying to wrap his arms around me.

I took a step back, keeping a polite, professional distance between us.

"I have work to do. Excuse me."

The fall launch arrived as scheduled.

This was Sterling Jewelry's big play to break into the international market. The venue was packed with New York’s elite, and the paparazzi’s flashes were blinding.

As the chief designer, I wore a minimalist, floor-length black gown. I looked cool, aloof, and utterly striking—like a dark rose blooming in the snow. I stood beside Julian, playing the perfect, elegant business partner.

Until Serena arrived.

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