Chapter 5

One year later. Paris, France.

At a highly anticipated international business bidding conference, representatives from major corporations were gathered.

Carter, representing Sterling Group, looked extremely confident, determined to win the bid.

But when the rival company’s chief representative walked onto the stage, he froze.

It was me.

I was wearing a sharp, tailored business suit, standing confidently behind the podium.

Beside me stood Sebastian. He was now my business partner and co-founder.

We smiled at each other, looking incredibly close and synchronized.

In the audience, Carter's eyes turned red instantly.

He lost the bid that day. And he also realized he had lost the one thing he used to take for granted—my love.

His regret officially began at that moment.

During the intermission, I went to the restroom.

In the quiet hallway, Carter blocked my path once again.

He smelled slightly of alcohol, and his gaze was even more intense than before.

"Where have you been this past year?"

His tone was still the same—bossy and demanding.

"Withdraw from this project."

It wasn't a request. It was an order.

I looked at him, letting out a soft laugh.

"And why would I do that?"

He took a step closer, lowering his voice in a threatening manner.

"Because I can make sure you never work in this industry again."

"Mr. Sterling," I said coldly. The formal title felt like an invisible wall between us.

"This is a professional conference, not my old apartment. Watch your boundaries."

My coldness visibly unnerved him, his brows furrowing deeply.

"Chloe, don't test my patience!"

Before he could do anything, Sebastian walked over.

Sebastian naturally placed his hand on my shoulder, gently pulling me behind him.

He looked at Carter with a warning glare.

"Mr. Sterling, please stop harassing my partner."

Sebastian's voice was polite, but his stance was incredibly protective.

He smiled and added, "In case you didn't know, Chloe is our chief representative and the brilliant mind behind this entire project."

Every word of praise felt like a slap to Carter's face.

Carter's eyes locked onto Sebastian's hand on my shoulder, his anger flaring.

"Ha," he sneered. "Can't survive without a man, can you? Found a new sugar daddy so quickly? Your taste is still trash."

His words were dripping with malice.

Before I could speak, Sebastian’s face hardened.

But I held him back.

I stepped out from behind Sebastian and faced Carter directly.

I smiled—not out of anger, but out of pity.

"Mr. Sterling, are you jealous?"

With one sentence, I ripped away his arrogant disguise.

"Too bad you no longer have the right to be."

Carter’s face drained of color.

The second half of the conference began.

I walked up to the stage, facing hundreds of industry leaders, and delivered our presentation with absolute precision.

My logic was flawless, my data was bulletproof, and every point was delivered with confidence.

The judges nodded in approval, their eyes filled with admiration.

When it was Carter's turn, he was clearly distracted.

He stumbled through his presentation, hesitated on basic questions, and gave vague answers. It was a complete disaster compared to my performance.

Fiona, who was sitting next to him, felt the threat.

Seeing how successful and beautiful I had become, her face turned pale.

She started whispering frantically in Carter's ear.

Carter's face grew darker by the second.

He probably thought I had come back just to humiliate him.

When the results were announced, there were no surprises.

We won.

Carter had lost the project he was absolutely certain he would get.

He couldn't accept it.

In the underground parking lot, his sports car roared and blocked our path.

He got out of the car, his eyes bloodshot, looking like a cornered beast.

He stubbornly believed that everything I did was still about him.

"Chloe! You did all this just to get my attention, didn't you?" he screamed, his voice filled with desperate denial.

"Fine! I see you now! You succeeded! Are you happy?!"

Looking at his pathetic state, I felt nothing but pity.