Chapter 3

I fell silent.

Sera was absolutely right.

Why was I the one running away?

I wasn't the one who committed a crime.

As for the baby... I was angry, but I wasn't cruel enough to take my anger out on an innocent child.

I returned to the Vance estate on the third day.

When Julian saw me walk through the door, he visibly relaxed. He assumed I had crawled back because I had nowhere else to go.

"Chloe, I knew you couldn't bring yourself to abandon this family."

He walked over, attempting to wrap his arms around me, but I swiftly stepped aside.

"Julian, I won't divorce you under one condition—well, actually, a few conditions."

He paused, then smiled, thinking he had won. "Name them. I'll agree to anything."

"First, from this moment on, Melanie Carter is banned from setting foot in this house."

Julian's smile faltered.

"Second, you will write a signed, legally binding confession admitting that you conspired with Melanie to replace my eggs with hers during IVF. If we ever divorce in the future, you will walk away with absolutely nothing—you'll be completely cleaned out."

Julian’s face went entirely dark.

"Chloe Vance, don't push your luck."

"Pushing my luck?" I glared into his eyes. "You lied to me for six years and used me as a breeding machine. And "I'm" the one pushing my luck?"

Julian took a deep, heavy breath, clearly trying to suppress his rising temper.

"Melanie just wanted a child of her own. She never meant to hurt you..."

"She didn't want to hurt me? Then why didn't she carry the baby herself?"

"I already told you, she's a dancer. She couldn't afford to ruin her body."

"So my body was fair game to be ruined? I have stretch marks all over my stomach, and I still suffer from postpartum bladder issues to this day! Who caused all of that?"

Julian opened his mouth, but no words came out.

Looking at his guilty, pathetic face, the hatred in my heart grew like wildfire.

"Julian, listen to me carefully. You either sign my terms, or we see each other in court. Your choice."

With that, I turned and walked upstairs, leaving him standing alone in the massive living room.

That night, Julian didn't come to the bedroom.

He stayed locked in his study all night.

The next morning, he knocked on my door.

"I'll sign it."

His voice was incredibly raspy, and dark circles bruised the skin beneath his eyes.

"But I have one condition of my own."

I stared at him, keeping my expression entirely blank.

"Melanie is still Lily's biological mother. She can't be completely cut out of Lily's life. You have to let her see the baby at least once a month."

I thought about it for a moment, then nodded.

But I was going to make sure Julian put every single word down in black and white.

That very afternoon, a notary and a lawyer arrived at the house.

Julian signed the postnuptial agreement, and we had it officially notarized.

I stared at those legal documents, but I didn't feel a single ounce of joy.

These were things I should have had anyway. Why did I have to fight like a dog just to get them?

That night, Julian returned to our bedroom.

He wrapped his arms around me from behind, resting his chin on my shoulder.

"Chloe, I know I messed up. I'll spend the rest of my life making it up to you, I swear."

I didn't push him away, but I didn't hug him back either.

I just sneered in the silence of my mind.

Make it up to me?

With what?

Can you give me back the years of my life you stole?

In the days that followed, Julian put on a stellar performance of a doting husband.

He came home early from work every day, played with Lily, and helped with the chores.

On weekends, he took me out to fancy dinners and showered me with expensive gifts.

Sera told me over Snapchat that he was just putting on a show and warned me not to fall for it.

Of course I knew that.

A man who could deceive me for six years didn't just magically become a saint overnight.

But I didn't expose him.

I wanted to see exactly what game he was playing.

Sure enough, his act didn't last long.

A month later, Julian started casually bringing up Melanie during dinner.

"Chloe, Melanie's mental health hasn't been great lately. She misses Lily terribly. Do you think we could have her over for tea?"