Chapter 2

The line went silent for a few seconds before Ethan's voice returned, suddenly sounding pathetic and desperate.

"Chloe, the wedding with Tiffany is just a business arrangement. The Sterling Group has a strict policy that only married executives can lead this new project.

I'm doing all of this for our future! Once I get my share of the project dividends, I'll divorce her. Then, I'll buy us a mansion and give you the grandest wedding ever, okay?"

"A business arrangement?"

I couldn't believe he was still trying to feed me this garbage.

I shut him down instantly. "So the downtown condo you bought her with corporate funds is a business arrangement? The $5,000 monthly allowance you wire her is also part of the contract?"

"Ethan, do you think I'm an idiot?"

I was practically shouting, my chest heaving with rage.

"How... how do you know about that?"

His voice panicked. "Chloe, listen to me, those were just..."

"Save it."

I cut him off coldly. "I only have one question. When are you paying back the $35,000 you owe me for rent, and when are you releasing me from the $800,000 debt I co-signed?"

Hearing me mention money, Ethan's tone turned vicious.

"Chloe, don't push it! It's just a few thousand bucks! Are you really going to ruin my entire career over this?"

"I'm warning you, go apologize to Tiffany right now, or don't blame me for what happens next!"

He slammed the phone down, not even giving me a chance to fire back.

I opened my bottom drawer and pulled out the yellowed debt-guarantee agreement.

Three years ago, Ethan had literally dropped to his knees, begging me with teary eyes to co-sign that loan.

He said he would marry me once the company succeeded. He said he would never let me suffer. He said our future would be beautiful.

But I was never in his future.

I was just a tool—someone whose trust and credit he could exploit to fund his lifestyle and charm another woman.

I took a photo of the agreement and drafted a text message.

"Ethan Vance's co-signed debt of $800,000, plus $120,000 in accumulated interest, totaling $920,000. Please sign as a co-debtor, Tiffany."

I attached a voice clip of him begging me to sign the papers three years ago and sent it to Tiffany.

"Congratulations, Tiffany. The moment you sign that marriage certificate, half of his debt becomes yours."

I don't know how much time passed before my office door was slammed open.

"Chloe! What the hell is wrong with you?"

Ethan marched in, his eyes bloodshot, completely stripped of his usual polished demeanor.

"Tiffany is locked in her room crying, trying to cancel the wedding! Mr. Sterling has put the entire project on hold! Are you trying to ruin everyone?"

I looked up at him, my eyes devoid of any emotion.

"Everyone? Do you mean you, or Tiffany?"

He choked on his words, his tone suddenly softening.

"That money... Aunt Sarah said I could pay her back slowly..."

"Oh, slowly?"

I let out a sarcastic laugh. "So you're slowly paying back my aunt, while using company funds to buy Tiffany a luxury condo downtown? Ethan, how many years in federal prison do you get for embezzlement again?"

Ethan’s voice dropped, trembling. "What do you want?"

"Two choices."

My voice was dead calm. "First, wire the $920,000 into my aunt's account before the wedding tomorrow, and I’ll keep my mouth shut. Second, I walk into that wedding venue with all the evidence and hand it to every single guest, especially the bank executives Tiffany’s dad invited."

"How would you even get my financial records!"

"Did you forget?"

I whispered softly. "Your company's online banking is tied to my phone number. I receive a text alert for every single suspicious transaction."

Realization dawned on Ethan. He tried one last desperate attempt to gaslight me. "Chloe, we've been together for five years. Are you really this heartless? You want to destroy me?"

I looked at him blankly. "You did this to yourself."

In the end, Ethan left the office, his face pale as a ghost.