Chapter 4

My mind went completely blank. "What did you say?! Why would he be under investigation?!"

The housekeeper was sobbing. "They said someone filed an anonymous whistleblower report, accusing Mr. Vance of corporate fraud and financial embezzlement..."

My fingers tightened around the phone until my knuckles turned white. My blood chilled to ice.

Right then, a soft chuckle came from behind me.

I slowly turned around.

Ethan was wrapping his arm around Wendy's waist. The guilt on his face was completely gone, replaced by naked, triumphant malice.

"Chloe. How are you going to take everything back now?"

I glared at him, my heart sinking into an abyss. "You did this?"

Ethan grinned.

"Yeah, I filed the report."

"Your dad took plenty of legal shortcuts over the years to aggressively expand the Vance Group. I just gave the authorities a little nudge."

"Your family is completely finished."

"Did you really think you'd get to play the untouchable billionaire heiress forever?"

He took a slow step toward me, every syllable dripping with venomous delight.

"Without your parents..."

"What the hell are you?"

My entire body trembled.

When rage reaches its peak, words become utterly useless.

Wendy nestled into his chest, letting out a delicate sigh.

"Chloe, honestly, you should thank Ethan."

"If it weren't for him, you would never learn how to bow your head and be humble."

I looked at them as if staring at two rabid animals.

Yet the most nauseating part was still to come.

Ethan suddenly softened his tone.

He even put on that gentle, devoted mask he used to wear.

"Look, Chloe."

"Since you've been with me for so long, I'm not totally heartless. I can still throw you a lifeline."

A dark premonition crept up my spine.

Sure enough.

In the very next breath, he smiled smoothly:

"You won't be heading to Columbia's Honors Program anymore, but we can still have a wedding ceremony."

"Once we turn of legal age, we'll make it official on paper."

"Wendy's health is delicate, and she's terrified of pain, so she doesn't want to go through childbirth. You can bear two kids for us first."

"When Wendy finishes her advanced degree abroad, the three of us can live together under one roof."

Dead silence fell over the room.

I looked at the disgusting pair before me.

And then, I laughed.

I laughed so hard my shoulders shook.

Ethan frowned. "What are you laughing at?"

I raised my head and locked eyes with him, the last trace of warmth in my eyes vanishing completely.

"Ethan, do you really think you've won?"

Chapter Five