Chapter 5

“Why did you call him Mr. Carter? Does a loser like him even deserve that title?” Chloe pointed at my face, her voice rising in anger. “Look at him! He’s just a nobody who needs my charity to even get a job!”

The clerk looked at me, thoroughly confused.

I met Chloe’s gaze. She let out a dry laugh, crossing her arms as she leaned against a display shelf.

“Ethan, did you hire this actor to play a part?”

“You knew I’d be here today, so you staged this whole drama just to show off? To prove you’re doing great without me?”

“You want me to regret leaving you, don't you?”

“This trick is so outdated. It's pathetic.”

I looked at her smug face. “You think way too highly of yourself.”

I ignored her and went back to picking diapers. Audrey was waiting at home, and she’d worry if I took too long.

“Ethan! Are you seriously ignoring me?”

“What is with that stupid, silent treatment!”

“Diapers! Why are you so obsessed with these stupid diapers!”

Chloe lost her temper and tried to push past, but the clerk stepped in, blocking her path.

“Ma'am, please stop causing a scene. If you continue, I’ll have security escort you out.”

“Also, Mr. Carter is not a nanny. He is buying diapers for his own daughter.”

Chloe glared at the clerk, her eyes wild with fury. “Get out of my way!”

“I said, move!”

The clerk stood firm. Chloe raised her hand and—

*Slap!* A harsh slap landed right on the clerk’s cheek, the sound echoing through the store.

I immediately stepped in, pulling the clerk behind me.

“Chloe! Have you lost your mind?!”

“Me? Lost my mind?” she pointed at the clerk. “He’s the one who was disrespectful first!”

“Doesn't he know the customer is king? Look at his attitude! Does he even know who my fiancé is?”

“My fiancé is the General Manager of this mall! He wants to kick me out? I’ll make sure he gets fired today!”

I turned and patted the clerk's shoulder. “I’m sorry you got dragged into this.”

“Go back to the back office. I’ll handle this.”

The clerk nodded, holding his bruised cheek. “Mrs. Carter said your daughter is waiting. Please hurry home, Mr. Carter.”

“I will. I’ll be right out.”

As the clerk walked away, Chloe suddenly blinked, as if waking from a trance. “Wait... what did he just say?”

“For your own daughter?”

“Ethan, when did you get married?!”

I nodded calmly. “Yes, I’m married.”

“I told you that already, but you refused to believe me. You just love to twist everything to make it about yourself, Chloe. You’re incredibly delusional.”

“Delusional? If you got married, why didn't you tell me? Why?!”

“Why should I? Are we close? Do we even have a reason to speak?”

Chloe stared at me, her voice trembling. “When... when did you get married?”

I met Audrey by accident. It was about a year after Chloe and I broke up.

To escape the heartbreak and clear my mind, I volunteered to do community work in a remote, off-grid mountain community.

On my very first day, I crossed paths with Audrey.

She had been kidnapped by a trafficking ring and held captive there, terrified.

She begged me to help her escape.

I did some digging, realized how dangerous and corrupt the local off-grid group was, and secretly contacted the FBI and local authorities.

We successfully raided the compound and rescued her along with several other victims.

After her rescue, Audrey suffered from severe trauma. I stayed by her side at the hospital, helping her through her recovery and therapy.

Over time, we fell in love.

We got married a year later. It was only on our wedding day that I discovered her true identity: she was the sole heiress of Summit Enterprises.

I thought her powerful family would reject a nobody like me.

Instead, they were incredibly grateful for saving her life. They welcomed me with open arms and eventually handed the mall's operations over to us.

Though the greedy board of directors gave us a hard time at first, we faced them together and won.

True love is forged in fire. My bond with Audrey grew stronger every single day.

She made me realize my own worth. Real love doesn't require you to beg or lose your dignity.

“Chloe, it doesn't matter when,” I said coldly.

“I never wronged you. I only married after we were completely over.”

I grabbed the bag of diapers and turned to leave, but Chloe blocked the exit.

“How could you do this to me? You swore you’d only love me in this lifetime! How could you marry someone else?”

“You even had a kid with some random woman! Ethan, how could you betray me like this?!”

Before I could even open my mouth, a cold, elegant voice rang out from behind her.

“Really? He swore all that to you? How come I never heard about it?”

Chloe and I both turned. Standing there was Audrey, looking stunning and incredibly composed.

She walked up to me, naturally wrapping her arm around mine, and raised an eyebrow. “Is what she’s saying true, Ethan?”

“Not a single word,” I replied instantly, looking down at my beautiful wife.

Chloe’s face twisted in fury.

“You’re lying! In our past life, you—”

She screamed, but suddenly realized she was about to expose her regression and slapped her hand over her mouth.

“Either way, you can't do this to me!” she shrieked, resorting to a childish tantrum.

I let out a cold laugh. “Chloe, don't you think you’re being ridiculous? You’re about to get married, yet you’re trying to control my life?”

“I have a wife and a daughter now. I suggest you stay out of my way, and we stay out of each other's lives forever!”