Chapter 4

"Yes, everyone, you saw that right," Mia said in the video, looking sadly at the camera. "That was the wedding of that desperate older woman. Who would've thought she’d get caught cheating by her husband right at the altar? Guess what happened next?"

"I heard she actually posted her own contact info in a male stripper group chat. Talk about thirsty!"

"Here are the screenshots, guys."

"If any of you like wealthy older women, feel free to hit her up. I heard she’s loaded."

Mia had leaked my photos from the wedding, and she hadn't even blurred out my phone number.

Immediately, my phone began ringing off the hook. Spam calls and disgusting text messages poured in every second.

I had no choice but to have my assistant get me a new SIM card.

It wasn't a huge hassle, but explaining the number change to all my business clients was going to be annoying.

Whatever Mia’s goal was, she had officially messed with the wrong woman.

I dialed Ethan’s number, intending to warn him that I was going to ruin Mia.

But he didn't pick up. When I called a second time, he declined it and sent a text instead.

\[Are you done? Mia is so traumatized by you that she can't even eat or drink. Are you satisfied now?\]

\[I’m telling you, the wedding is off. Don't even think about marrying me until you've reflected on your behavior and apologized to Mia.\]

I laughed out loud. Had his parents not told him?

I was the one who canceled the wedding.

I replied with a single text: \[I’ve already filed a lawsuit against Mia Hayes. If you want to save her, prepare to trade your company's shares for her freedom.\]

Since the love was gone, Ethan and I only had business to talk about.

Before the wedding, the financial agreements had already been drafted.

Even the luxury villa Ethan and I had been living in was a pre-marital gift bought entirely by my parents.

It wasn't that the Sterlings couldn't afford a house, but I preferred living on the south side of the city, and since my parents owned a villa there, they just let us use it.

On the way home, my parents were worried I’d be heartbroken. My mom kept gently nudging me. "Chloe, sweetie, there are plenty of fish in the sea. Please don't do anything reckless..."

Seeing the worry in their eyes, I immediately held up my hand. "Mom, Dad, I promise you, I don't love him anymore. He's dead to me."

Hearing this, they both let out a massive sigh of relief.

After dropping my parents off, I drove back to the villa.

I planned to have the housekeeper pack up all of Ethan’s trash and throw it out. But the moment I pushed the door open, I saw Mia.

She was wearing one of my expensive silk robes, lounging casually on my sofa. "Oh, you’re back? I thought you’d have some pride and run back to your parents' house. Didn't you say the wedding was off? Why are you still lurking in Ethan’s house? How shameless."

Staring at her smug, condescending face, I took a deep breath. "Maria..."

"Yes, Miss Chloe, you're back," Maria, the housekeeper, hurried over.

Seeing my furious expression, Maria looked incredibly anxious. "Mr. Ethan brought her here... I couldn't really stop him..."

"Pack up everything that belongs to Ethan Sterling. Call his family to come pick it up."

"Yes, ma'am."

With my direct order, Maria quickly gathered the other maids and started packing.

Hearing this, Mia jumped off the sofa. "Are you out of your mind? The wedding is off! Do you seriously think you can steal Ethan's house?"

"Who told you this house belongs to Ethan?"

I stared at Mia with a cold, piercing gaze.

She sneered. "What? Don't tell me you’re going to claim this mansion is yours?"

"And you think it's yours?" I countered.

Mia lifted her chin proudly. "Yes! Ethan said he’s giving this house to me. It's mine now."

"Great. The deed is worth ten million dollars. Are you paying for it, or is he?"