Chapter 2

Chloe finally snapped out of her shock.

Instantly, she threw on her signature damsel-in-distress mask.

Tears streamed down her cheeks.

"Summer, I know you resent Tyler for falling in love with me."

"But how could you hire a hacker to break into my laptop?!"

"You stole my source files and ran off to register the copyright under your name!"

"You’re trying to ruin my life!"

Her twisted reversal of the truth truly broke every record of delusion.

Looking at her pathetic, tear-streaked face, my stomach churned.

"Your password is six zeros."

"Who the hell needs a hacker for that?"

"Chloe, could you at least try using a brain cell before you lie?"

Tyler pulled Chloe into his arms with fierce devotion.

He glared at me as if I were a hardened criminal.

"Summer, you are disgusting and vile!"

"I watched Chloe draw those sketches in my apartment every single day!"

"You secretly filed the copyright just to steal credit for her work!"

"You’re just eaten up with jealousy because she’s naturally gifted!"

Looking at Tyler’s self-righteous face, I realized how blind I had been to ever consider marrying an idiot like him.

"You watched her draw it?"

"Fine. Let's test her right here, right now."

I raised the microphone, my voice slicing clearly through the room.

"Chloe, the centerpiece of 'Nirvana' uses a rare, custom-cut blue diamond."

"Tell me: how many facets does the cut have?"

"What engraving technique was used on the band’s filigree?"

"And how did you calculate the metal stress points in the structural blueprint?"

Tyler froze, looking down at Chloe.

Chloe’s eyes darted frantically across the room.

She stammered for what felt like an eternity, unable to squeeze out a single word.

"I... I was just riding a wave of pure inspiration!"

"My head hurts... my depression is flaring up!"

"I can’t remember! I really can't remember anything right now!"

She clutched her head, wailing in theatrical agony.

I let out a mock laugh.

"So setting facts aside, you conveniently forgot every single detail of your own masterpiece?"

"Even early-onset dementia wouldn't wipe your memory that clean."

Brenda threw herself in front of Chloe like a protective hen.

"Shut up! You’re interrogating her!"

"You won’t be happy until you drive Chloe to suicide, will you?!"

My dad snapped too, stomping forward with a thunderous face.

He clamped down on my wrist with bruising force.

"Summer, that is enough!"

"Turn that damn screen off and apologize to Chloe right now!"

I wrenched my hand free, leaving angry red marks on my skin.

"Why the hell should I apologize?"

"She stole my life's work, and you want me to bow down to her?"

"Dad, did you sell your conscience for scraps?"

My mom stepped onto the stage, her eyes red as she tugged at my gown.

"Summer, do you really have to destroy this family?"

"Chloe is about to become the Chief Designer at Pinnacle Group."

"She can’t have a scandal like this!"

Looking at my mother, the last lingering warmth in my chest went cold.

"Her future matters, but my hard work is garbage?"

"Mom, I’m the child you carried for nine months."

My mom sighed, speaking as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"You were going to marry Tyler and be a stay-at-home wife anyway."

"What do you even need a design award for?"

"Chloe is different. She needs this trophy to open doors at Pinnacle."

"You’re the older cousin. What's wrong with giving her the credit?"