Chapter 4

A look of absolute shock flashed across Julian’s face.

"Chloe, did I do something wrong to make you act like this?" Serena chimed in, her voice shaking.

"Please don't. If you and Julian are fighting because of me, I'll never forgive myself. Julian and I have nothing going on, he's just like a big brother to me."

"I'll make him apologize to you, okay? You don't have to make up a fake wedding just to make him jealous."

Serena tugged anxiously at Julian’s sleeve. "Julian, hurry up and say something to comfort Chloe."

But Julian violently shook her hand off.

"Comfort her for what?" His sharp, predatory eyes locked onto mine.

"You're threatening me with marriage now? Chloe, do you have any idea how pathetic you look right now?"

I kept my face completely blank as I walked toward my old room. "And do you have any idea how cheap you and your 'little sister' look?"

Julian’s enraged shouts echoed in the living room behind me.

I could have sent an assistant to pack my clothes, but there were two things I couldn't trust anyone else with.

One was a designer reception gown that had been delivered a few days ago, and the other was a vintage fountain pen I had cherished for years.

But the moment I opened my bedroom door, my jaw dropped.

My wardrobe had been ransacked.

And the gown I had carefully pressed and hung up was thrown carelessly onto the floor, covered in dirt.

My eyes swept over the messy vanity table. Panicking, I searched for the fountain pen.

It was gone.

Seeing the used eyeshadow palettes and opened lipsticks, I knew instantly who had done this.

I stormed back into the living room, grabbed Serena’s arm, and demanded, "Where are my things?"

Serena panicked, stuttering, "What are you talking about?"

Her eyes darted around guiltily.

"My fountain pen! Give it back!"

My teeth were clenched, my heart hammering against my ribs. It was the first time I had ever shown real anger in front of them.

Frightened by my intensity, Serena whimpered and looked at Julian. "Julian, help me..."

Julian immediately stood up and grabbed a silver pen from the coffee table, tossing it carelessly onto the floor.

"Let go of Serena! It's just a stupid pen. Take it and get out!"

I let go of Serena without another word, dropping to my knees to pick up the pen like it was the most precious jewel in the world. I carefully wiped the dust off it.

But there were already deep scratches on the barrel.

I had been too afraid to even use it all these years, and they had ruined it.

Yet Julian acted like it was nothing.

Serena glanced at the bedroom, a sly smirk playing on her lips. "Chloe, I was only trying to help."

"I just went in there to find a pen, and I stumbled upon your little secret."

"That gown in your closet is beautiful. You’ve been planning to marry Julian for a long time, haven't you? And today, you lied about marrying someone else just to get his attention."

"Julian, look how much Chloe loves you. She went through all this trouble, even printing fake invitations. Let me guess? Is Julian's name printed on the groom's line?"

The room erupted into laughter.

Julian’s smug satisfaction reached an all-time high. Right in front of my face, he grabbed the red invitation and tore it to shreds.

"Drop the act, Chloe. This trick doesn't work on me."

I clutched the scratched pen tightly in my fist.

"You all have a seriously delusional level of confidence. Julian, I will settle every single debt we owe each other, down to the last penny."

"From this moment on, we are absolutely nothing to each other."

I turned to leave, but Julian grabbed my wrist with a iron grip.

He pulled me close, his voice dripping with venom. "Oh yeah? Why don't you bring this mystery groom of yours out so we can all have a look?"

But before he could pull me closer, a powerful hand gripped his wrist, forcing him to let me go.

"Mr. Pierce, putting your hands on another man's bride is incredibly bad manners."