Chapter 3

I stared at the scene inside the car, my face turning pale as if I were in deep shock. My voice trembled:

"Julian...? What... what are you doing? And who is this girl?"

Beside me, my close friend Mia Crawford—a legendary actress with massive clout in the industry—let out a cold laugh.

"Oh, you're finally here, Chloe. This bastard Julian just claimed the girl in his arms was you, and he even promised to announce your relationship tomorrow to save your 'reputation'!"

I took a step forward, pointing at the woman in the car who still didn't dare to show her face.

"She is Chloe Henderson? Julian, what is the meaning of this? Why are you slandering me in front of all these people?!"

"Do you have any idea how important a female artist's reputation is in this industry?"

"If I hadn't shown up tonight, would I have been branded a slut for the rest of my life?!"

"Julian, I have never done anything to hurt you. Why are you trying to destroy me?!"

Victoria Sterling’s face was now as black as charcoal.

Julian stammered, scrambling for words: "Chloe... didn't you say you had an overseas shoot? That you couldn't make it tonight?"

I immediately raised my voice, making sure every single person in the garage could hear me clearly:

"So, because you knew I wouldn't be here, you decided to throw this dirt on me?!"

"Who is this girl? Why are you two conspiring to ruin me? Why did you call her by my name in front of everyone? What is your sick plan?!"

"If Mia hadn't known my schedule and insisted on driving me here to make a quick appearance, I would have had absolutely no way to clear my name!"

Flustered, Julian tried to backpedal:

"No, Chloe, that's not it... I just... I just said your name because I panicked. I swear I didn't mean to hurt you..."

I stopped looking at him and turned to Victoria Sterling. My expression softened into pure, vulnerable grief.

"Mrs. Sterling, you watched me grow up in this industry. Please, you have to do what's right."

"My team and my parents are currently out of the country. I have no one here to defend me."

"Mrs. Sterling, for the sake of the long friendship between your family and my mother, please help me."

I bowed my head, looking like I was about to break down.

Several prominent female producers and brand executives immediately rushed forward to support me.

"Don't worry, Chloe. We are veterans in this industry. We won't let you be bullied."

Eleanor Thorne, the powerful head of Galaxy Pictures, spoke up in a commanding tone:

"Mrs. Sterling, your son committed this disgusting act and then tried to destroy the reputation of an A-list actress to cover it up."

"Don't you think the Sterling family owes Chloe, and all of us here, a proper explanation?"

Mia immediately backed me up, pulling out her phone. "Don't be scared, Chloe. I'm calling the editors-in-chief of the major media outlets right now. This needs to be cleared up tonight! Nobody is throwing dirt on you and getting away with it!"

Victoria Sterling knew that if this wasn't handled perfectly, it would deal a fatal blow to Sterling Enterprises' stock.

She stepped forward, tightly grasping my hands, her voice dripping with urgent reassurance.

"My dear girl, you have been deeply wronged tonight. This is all Julian’s fault, and I will make sure he begs for your forgiveness."

"He must have lost his goddamn mind, getting seduced by some cheap trash!"

She whipped around, glaring at her bodyguards.

"What are you idiots standing there for?! Drag that little slut out of the car! I want to see exactly who had the audacity to pull this stunt!"

At her command, several bulky bodyguards lunged forward to drag the woman out.