Chapter 2

Chloe's POV

That night, Julian slept in the guest bedroom.

By the time I came downstairs the next morning, he was already gone.

On the kitchen island sat a stack of divorce papers and an black American Express card.

According to the documents, he was leaving me the penthouse, my studio, and several other properties.

His compensation was generous and neat.

But seeing his signature, "Julian Vance," at the bottom of the page only made my stomach turn.

I didn't sign it. I threw the entire file straight into the trash can.

For the next two weeks, Julian never came home.

He was using the silent treatment to force me into submission.

Meanwhile, on Instagram, the trending topics about him and Scarlett changed every single day.

#JulianAndScarlettYachtParty

#JulianVanceSplurgesMillionsOnFiancee

#ScarlettSterlingSoonToBeMrsVance

Every headline felt like a dull knife carving into my heart.

I forced myself to focus on work.

In the studio, my assistant, Penny, looked at my pale face with worry. "Chloe, are you okay? Maybe you should take a few days off."

"I'm fine," I forced a smile. "Did we prepare the ingredients for today's vegetable soup video?"

"Yes, it's been simmering on the stove for eight hours."

I habitually reached for a bowl to taste the broth.

Just then, the glass door of the studio was pushed open.

The sharp click of high heels echoed on the hardwood floor.

"So, this is Chloe Lynn's studio? Honestly, it's a bit cheap."

I looked up and saw Scarlett Sterling walking in, wearing sunglasses, flanked by a group of burly bodyguards.

She was dressed in head-to-toe Chanel couture, carrying a limited-edition Hermes bag. She looked like a walking billboard for luxury brands.

"What are you doing here?" I asked coldly.

Scarlett took off her sunglasses, scanning me from head to toe with a mocking sneer.

"Just wanted to see what Julian's little pet looks like in person."

She walked over to the stove, looking at the bubbling pot of soup, and pinched her nose in disgust.

"Smells like trash. Chloe, don't you know? Julian's tastes have changed. He only eats food prepared by three-star Michelin chefs now. He's sick of this garbage you make."

My fingers clenched tightly into my palms, my nails digging into my skin.

"Miss Sterling, this is my private studio. You are not welcome here. Please leave."

"Feisty, aren't we?" Scarlett sneered. Suddenly, she reached out and picked up the bowl of hot soup I had just poured.

"Let me taste what kind of magic soup kept Julian amused for so long."

But as soon as she lifted the bowl, she suddenly let go.

"Oops!"

The boiling liquid splashed directly onto the back of my hand, and the rest shattered on the floor.

The sound of breaking ceramic was deafening in the quiet studio.

"Ah!"

I gasped in agony. The back of my hand turned instantly red, blisters blooming on my skin.

"Chloe!" Penny cried out, rushing to grab ice water.

Scarlett, however, took two steps back, putting on a show of being terrified.

"Chloe! What is wrong with you? I just wanted to try your soup, and you threw it at me?"

"That's a lie! You dropped it on purpose!" Penny yelled angrily.

"What's going on here?"

A deep, cold voice came from the doorway.

My whole body went rigid. I looked up and saw Julian walking in with fast, angry strides.

The moment Scarlett saw him, her eyes welled up with tears. She threw herself into his arms.

"Julian, thank God you're here. I just wanted to visit Chloe and try her soup, but she suddenly snapped and threw the boiling soup at me. It almost burned my face..."

Julian's eyes swept over the broken mess on the floor, finally landing on me.

He saw my blistered, red hand. His eyes flickered with a brief moment of hesitation, but it was quickly replaced by cold disappointment.

"Are you done making a scene, Chloe?"

His voice was heavy with disgust.

"Scarlett came here out of goodwill, and this is how you treat her? Since when did you become so violent?"

I stared at him, my heart freezing over.

My hand was badly burned, my body trembling from the pain.

Yet, he didn't even ask if I was okay. He immediately declared me guilty.

"Are you blind, Julian? She threw it herself!" I choked out, my eyes burning with unshed tears.

"Enough!" Julian cut me off harshly. "Scarlett was raised in a gentle family. She would never do something so trashy. Stop lying, Chloe."

He wrapped his arm around Scarlett's shoulder, holding her like she was a fragile glass doll.

"If you don't sign the divorce papers, I have other ways to make you do it. Stop testing my patience."

With that, he guided Scarlett out of the studio without looking back.

I stood there, watching their retreating figures. Tears finally streamed down my face, dripping onto the shattered ceramic on the floor.

My hand burned like hell.

But it didn't compare to the pain in my chest.