Chapter 3

The second threat came much faster than I expected, and it was far more terrifying.

Thirty days until the wedding.

I went to a luxury bridal salon for my final dress fitting. Because of the previous incident, Julian had two bodyguards standing right outside my fitting room.

The salon had been completely cleared out for me. Only two designers and I were in the studio.

I stood in front of the massive floor-to-ceiling mirror, wearing a cathedral-length gown encrusted with thousands of tiny diamonds. Suddenly, the old phone—which Julian insisted I keep with me for "location tracking"—vibrated in my purse.

I froze. The designer kneeling to adjust my hem didn't notice.

Taking a deep breath, I pulled out the phone.

It was a photo.

In the picture, I was wearing this exact dress, shot from behind. The photo clearly showed the small section of the waist that was temporarily pinned because I had lost weight.

Below it was a text:

"Thirty million. By the way, you've gotten thinner. Are you skipping meals, or are you too terrified to sleep?"

I whipped my head around!

Behind me, there were only empty racks and large windows. The building across the street was at least fifty yards away.

"Someone is watching me!" I screamed, pushing the designer away and running out of the room, clutching my heavy skirts.

The bodyguards rushed in, immediately drawing all the heavy curtains.

I curled up in the corner of the fitting room, shaking violently. Cold sweat ruined my makeup. The feeling of being watched like a trapped rat choked the air right out of my lungs.

By the time Julian arrived, I was on the verge of a total breakdown.

Seeing my pale face, his brows furrowed deeply. He snatched the old phone, staring at the photo. Then, he called his security chief, his voice icy. "Pull all security footage from the building across the street for the last hour! Don't let a single soul slip away!"

I grabbed his arm, my nails digging into his skin. "Julian, take me away... He's nearby. He's watching me right now!"

"Chloe, look at me." Julian grabbed my wrists. His grip was so tight it hurt. His gaze was intense and domineering. "The more you panic, the more you play into his hands. He's just a rat hiding in the shadows. You are going to be Mrs. Vance. You cannot let a cheap trick break you."

I looked at him, tears streaming down my face. "But he took a picture of me inside the fitting room! What's next? Is he going to stand in front of me with a knife?"

Julian swept me up into his arms and walked toward the elevator. "There won't be a next time. Starting today, you are moving to the Apex Estate. Not even an unregistered bird can fly in there. We are throwing away your phones. Your only contacts will be me and your parents."

"But the wedding..."

"The wedding goes on," he said firmly, leaving no room for argument. "If we cancel the wedding over a few text messages, the Vance family will lose face. And I will not back down."

Once I moved to the Apex Estate, I was completely isolated.

No internet, no social media. Even if I wanted to call my best friend, Julian would stay by my side under the guise of "keeping me company."

He took the old phone, claiming he sent it to a top-tier hacking team to trace the IP.

I became a golden canary locked in a gilded cage. My only connection to the outside world was Julian, who came home every evening to have dinner with me.

On the third night, Victoria came by to drop off the guest list.

Seeing how pale and exhausted I looked, a flash of smug satisfaction crossed her eyes.

"Chloe, aren't you being a bit dramatic? If you're this fragile, what are you going to do if someone sets off a firecracker at the wedding? Pass out on the altar?"

I bit my bloodless lip and said nothing.

Julian walked over, carrying a bowl of soothing chamomile tea. He handed it to me and frowned at Victoria. "That's enough. Leave the list and go. Chloe has a sensitive stomach, she doesn't need you stressing her out."

Victoria threw the list onto the table. "Julian, I'm saying this for your own good. The price is up to thirty million now. What if they offer a hundred million? Can you guarantee she won't take it? There are too many gold-digging women out there who would run with that kind of cash."

"Get out," Julian said. His voice wasn't loud, but it was freezing cold.

Victoria's face paled. She bit her lip, turned on her heels, and stormed out.

Once the door closed, Julian pulled me into his chest, rubbing my back. "Don't listen to her. I know my Chloe isn't like that. Even if they offered ten billion, you would never betray me, right?"

He was asking me a question.

But his tone sounded more like he was demanding a vow of absolute submission.

I leaned against his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat, and whispered, "Yes."