Chapter 3

The last thread of my sanity snapped. I raised my hand to slap her across the face.

Before my hand could connect, my wrist was caught in a brutal grip.

It was Ethan.

He twisted my wrist hard and shoved me away.

"Chloe! That's enough!"

I stumbled, crashing against the sharp corner of the wooden desk. A sharp, throbbing pain shot through my hip.

Ethan didn't even glance my way.

He pulled Wendy into his arms, shielding her like a precious treasure.

When he looked back at me, his eyes were filled with nothing but pure disgust.

"Look at yourself right now."

"Hysterical, aggressive, and pathetic!"

"Wendy is ten thousand times sweeter and gentler than you'll ever be!"

"Being with her was the first time I ever felt true peace and joy!"

Looking at the two of them, I found the whole scene overwhelmingly surreal.

One was the charity-case boyfriend I had supported for three years.

The other was the stray sister my parents had raised for ten years.

Standing together, they glared at me like I was their sworn enemy.

I let out a low laugh, laughing until tears pricked my eyes.

"Fine."

"Just fine."

I pinned my gaze on Ethan. "Did you forget who paid your private school tuition for the past three years? Who paid the fees for all your academic competitions? Who bought the laptop sitting on your desk?"

I shifted my eyes to Wendy. "And you, did you forget who dragged you out of that abusive drunkard's shack? Without my parents, you wouldn't even have a high school diploma!"

"Anyone on this planet has the right to betray me, but neither of you had the right!"

Wendy's face drained of color.

Ethan, however, let out a cold sneer.

"Just because you helped someone doesn't mean you own them for life!"

"Chloe, your biggest flaw is that you're always looking down on everyone from your high horse."

"You think that just because you throw someone scraps, they should kiss your feet forever."

"Wendy is different."

"She understands me. She respects me. She looks up to me."

As he spoke, his voice carried the smug arrogance of a victor.

Disgust churned violently in my chest. "Is that so?"

I picked up my phone. "Then I'm taking back every single thing my family ever gave you. Let's see if you can stand this tall once you're out on the street."

With that, I dialed my dad's number.

The phone rang for a long time.

No one picked up.

I frowned and dialed again.

Still no answer.

Suddenly, an incoming call popped up on my screen.

It was our head housekeeper.

A cold dread gripped my chest. I answered immediately.

On the other end, the housekeeper's voice was shaking with panic: "Miss Vance! Something terrible has happened!"

"Federal agents just raided the office and took Mr. Vance away for questioning!"

"Mrs. Vance had a panic attack and collapsed! We just rushed her to the emergency room!"

Chapter Four