Chapter 3

Everyone thought I was just throwing a tantrum and waiting for the day I'd crawl back to Ethan. But I knew there was absolutely no turning back.

Damian didn't press the issue. He just patted my head—a gesture that had seemingly become his habit.

It wasn't that he didn't care; I had simply told him I wanted to handle it myself.

He just told me that if things got messy, he'd be there to clean up the aftermath.

"Are you Chloe?"

I was in the breakroom getting water when a girl in a pastel dress appeared in front of me. I recognized her instantly. It was Hailey.

"Can I help you?"

I had no intention of inviting her into my office.

Suddenly, with a loud *thud*, Hailey dropped straight to her knees in front of me.

It was lunchtime, and the breakroom was packed. The moment she fell, a crowd immediately gathered to watch the drama.

"Chloe, it's all my fault! Please, I beg you, don't punish Ethan!"

She looked like a normal person, so why was she talking like a lunatic?

Hailey's eyes were red, brimming with tears. Classic damsel-in-distress act.

The onlookers started whispering among themselves.

"Ethan and I could have been happy... if only his family didn't force him into this business marriage..."

Ah, I got it. She was blaming me for using my family's wealth to tear them apart.

"Are you done?"

Even if I spoke plain English, she probably wouldn't choose to understand.

I didn't want to waste my time on her. Let her say whatever she wanted; I had zero interest in Ethan anyway.

In that very moment, I realized I had never actually loved Ethan that much. I had just thought we were a good match for marriage.

I didn't know what Hailey told Ethan, but the very next day, he came barging into my office to interrogate me.

"Chloe, I already told you Hailey and I are just friends! Why did you have to humiliate her like that?"

Wow. I couldn't tell if Ethan was just a massive jerk or if Hailey was just a master manipulator.

Yesterday's drama had already been filmed by my colleagues and posted on Snapchat. Besides, I had made it clear multiple times that I was married now.

"Chloe, I know you still love me. I really love you too. Can we please just give each other another chance?"

His constant nagging was giving me a massive headache.

Before I could react, Ethan lunged forward and locked me in a tight embrace. No matter how much I struggled, I couldn't break free.

"I know you don't love Damian. You're just using him to make me jealous. I don't believe you could change your mind in just a few days!"

I was still fighting to push him off. Ethan held me tighter, raising his voice.

"Yes! I don't love Damian! So what? I used him just to show you that I, Chloe Vance, don't need you!"

The second those words left my mouth, I froze. I looked past Ethan's shoulder and saw Damian standing in the doorway.

My heart sank. I had been set up. Ethan must have seen Damian coming and pulled this stunt on purpose.

So, Damian had heard everything? He heard me say I didn't love him and was just using him?

For some reason, a wave of sheer panic rushed through me.

"Damian!"

The moment Damian turned around to leave, I used every ounce of my strength to shove Ethan away and ran after him.

Gosh, I didn't think Damian could be this petty.

I didn't see him for the next three days. Out of a strange sense of guilt, I actually initiated a call to his phone.

It rang for a long time before going to voicemail. It seemed he was truly furious.

Staring at my phone, I felt so childish. I decided I would wait for him to come home tonight and talk things out.

But when I woke up the next morning, it was clear Damian was actively avoiding me.

I decided to go to his company.

"I'm sorry, ma'am, but without an appointment, I cannot let you up," the receptionist said, her eyes filled with thinly veiled contempt.