Chapter 3

3.

I blinked innocently. "Chloe, what are you talking about?"

"Mr. Sterling and I simply share the same hobbies and happen to be business partners. We've developed a casual friendship. Why are you so panicked?"

Chloe's hysterical words instantly made Julian suspicious.

"Chloe, do you know Amber? What did she promise you? And what does it have to do with me?"

Chloe panicked even more, her voice tight and trembling. "It has nothing to do with you! This is between Amber and me. Get in the car. I'll deal with you later!"

She chased away the paparazzi she had brought and dragged me to a secluded corner.

Once we were alone, I violently shook off her grip. "My dear sister, you're overthinking. I promised I wouldn't tell anyone about the past, and I keep my word."

"Besides, aren't you and Julian happily married? I only accompanied him to a concert. Are you really that terrified?"

Chloe grabbed my collar, her eyes filled with a murderous glare. "Me, afraid of you? You're just a country bumpkin who got lucky enough to get pregnant with Julian's child. You think you can steal him from me by acting like a cheap slut? In your dreams!"

"Julian and I were together back in college. Even without the family arrangement, we were each other's first loves! Who do you think you are? How dare you think you can shake my place in his heart?"

I narrowed my eyes at her. "Then you have absolutely nothing to worry about."

"I'm not worried. You're the one who should be terrified!"

"Amber, ten years ago I made you crawl and beg on your knees, and I can easily do it again! Oh, I forgot to tell you—your precious son has been sickly since he was a baby. He's had high fevers that nearly killed him multiple times. Do you want to bet if the family doctor will conveniently be unavailable next time he gets sick?"

My face went completely blank. The polite mask fell away, leaving only a bone-chilling coldness. "Chloe, I told you before—if anything happens to my son, I will personally end you."

That year, when I woke up to find my luggage and passport gone, abandoned in a remote, dangerous town in Eastern Europe, I used a sharp rock to break the leg of a local thug who tried to kidnap me. I held him at knifepoint and forced him to drive me to the airport.

When I finally tracked down Chloe, she was holding my newborn baby, her fingers wrapped tightly around his tiny neck.

I had fallen to my knees, begging her, "I won't marry Julian! I won't touch a single dime of the Wood family's inheritance! Please, just give me my baby and take me home. I'll do whatever you want!"

I had meant every word.

Growing up isolated with my grandmother in Iowa made me desperately crave a family.

But my parents and Chloe showed me a side of humanity colder and more vicious than any monster. My baby was all I had left. I didn't care about anything else.

But instead of giving him back, Chloe had squeezed his neck even tighter. "What kind of life can he have with you? If he comes with me to the Sterling family, he'll live like royalty."

"If you don't want your precious son to die, stay abroad and shut your mouth. Understood?"

Looking at my baby’s flushed face as he gasped for air, I had completely broken down, screaming, "Chloe, if you ever hurt my baby, I will kill you!"

For ten long years, I dreamed of my baby almost every single night.

That was the only thing that kept me alive. I crawled my way up, using every dirty trick to survive. I learned fencing, piano, and mastered everything Julian was interested in.

Meanwhile, Chloe was too stupid.

She became Mrs. Sterling, helped the Wood family grow, and thought she could control Julian forever. That made her incredibly arrogant.

"Amber, your son calls me Mom now. If you both behave, why would I hurt him?" Chloe sneered.

"But don't think Leo is irreplaceable. Even without him, I can easily adopt another kid."

"Do you really think Julian is only with me for love? Please. He's tied to the Wood family's business now. No matter how much you throw yourself at him, you can't take him away. You'll only make me angry and dig your own grave!"

After patting my cheek mockingly, Chloe turned around and walked back to the car.

The wiretap on my phone clicked on, playing the conversation between Chloe and Julian.

Julian had calmed down. His voice carried a placating tone as he said, "Chloe, Amber and I really just went to a concert. Since Marcus is your guy, you should know we did nothing wrong."

Chloe scoffed. "You are never to see Amber again."

"Julian, my parents only partnered with your company because of me. One word from me, and your entire business will suffer! I also have those paparazzi photos. If you don't want a public scandal, you'd better behave."

Julian laughed softly. "Fine, Chloe. I'll do whatever you want."

I smiled. It was almost time for my move.