Chapter 5

**Claire Vance POV**

The next morning, the first rays of sunlight pierced through the mist and into the Sterling estate.

I knocked on Arthur's study door. I was wearing a simple beige trench coat. I was thin, but my eyes were remarkably clear and resolute.

"Grandpa." I sank to my knees before the old man.

"Claire, what are you doing? Stand up!" Arthur gasped, rushing over to help me up.

I stayed down, looking up at him. "Grandpa, I have one request. Help me fake my death. I want to leave the Sterling family, and this city, forever."

Arthur froze, shock and confusion filling his clouded eyes. "Fake your death? Claire, why would you do this? Even if Lucas is gone, you don't have to..."

"Grandpa!" I cut him off, my voice trembling but filled with a desperate finality. "As long as I am alive, as long as I carry the title of Lucas's widow, some people will never let me live in peace. I lost my baby, and I won't lose my life here. Please, help me!"

I didn't expose Lucas's identity. That was the last bit of respect I chose to leave for the Sterling family.

Looking at the despair in my eyes, Arthur let out a long sigh. He had lived long enough to know the dark undercurrents of this house. He looked as if he had aged ten years in a single second.

"Alright. I promise you. I will personally arrange everything. No one will know."

With Arthur's promise, I stood up and bowed deeply.

Before leaving, I needed money. I couldn't take Arthur's cash, but I still had an inheritance my grandmother had left me. The most valuable part of it was a set of vintage sapphire jewelry.

That afternoon, wearing sunglasses, I quietly went to the city's most exclusive underground auction house.

"Miss Vance, this set is exquisite. We can set the starting bid at five million dollars," the appraiser said respectfully, adjusting his glasses.

"Get it on the auction block as soon as possible. I need cash," I said flatly.

"I'll take that set."

A shrill voice cut in. Chloe strutted over like a proud peacock, flanked by several burly bodyguards.

"Claire, this is Grandma's legacy. How could you just sell it off like trash? Why don't you sell it to me instead? I'll give you a million." Chloe stared at the sapphire set, greed flashing in her eyes.

"No," I replied coldly. "This is my personal inheritance. It has nothing to do with you."

"Your inheritance?" Chloe giggled, covering her mouth as if she had heard a hilarious joke. "Claire, are you confused? Everything you have belongs to the Sterling family. What could possibly belong to you?"

The atmosphere turned tense. The auction house staff looked at each other, too afraid to intervene.

Just then, the heavy doors opened. Lucas's personal assistant marched in with several men in black suits.

"Miss Vance." The assistant handed me a document with an expressionless face. "This is the last will and testament of Mr. Lucas Sterling. Before his passing, he legally decreed that all his assets, including marital property and any assets under your name, are to be inherited solely by Miss Chloe Vance."

It felt like a physical blow. I stared at the document.

With trembling hands, I took the so-called "will." The paper was crisp, and at the bottom, Lucas's bold signature was clear.

My finger brushed against the ink.

It was still slightly wet.

This wasn't a pre-existing will! This was a document Lucas had signed just moments ago to strip me of my last hope of survival, all to please Chloe!

He was truly ruthless.

"Do you see it clearly now, Claire?" Chloe snatched the sapphire jewelry from my hand, tilting her chin up triumphantly. "Lucas protects me even from the grave. How are you going to fight me?"

I looked at Chloe, then at the expressionless assistant. A wave of physical nausea washed over me—a reaction to the sheer ugliness of human nature.

"Fine," I whispered, letting my hands fall to my sides. My voice was like a wisp of smoke. "If he wants to drag his own dignity through the mud like this, I don't want it anymore."

I turned around, kept my spine straight, and walked out of the auction house without looking back.

Lucas, since you've gone this far, we are completely, utterly done.

***