Chapter 4

The moment Julian saw me sinking like a dead weight, he abandoned Chloe without hesitation.

He swam toward me in madness and hauled me onto the riverbank.

By the time he dived back in to pull Chloe out, she was already unconscious and turning blue.

He sped her to the nearest hospital in a panic.

The baby was lost.

Inside the sterile emergency room, Chloe sobbed until her throat bled, her manicured nails digging deep into Julian's forearms:

"Julian! I hate you!"

"You killed our baby! It was you and that cold-blooded bitch!"

Julian's eyes carried an agonizing remorse I had never seen before.

Yet, when he turned his gaze to me, all that was left was chilling fury.

I cocked my head and mocked him:

"Crying? That's a rare sight. A billionaire shedding tears."

"Why bother dragging me out of the river then? If you let me drown, everyone would have gotten what they wanted."

Julian snapped. For the first time in five years, he raised his palm and slapped me across the face.

His chest heaved violently, his voice laced with venom:

"Summer! Don't you dare push your luck just because I love you!"

The slap sent a stinging fire across my cheek.

For four years, this man had never even raised his voice at me.

Now, he struck me for his mistress.

Without missing a beat, I whipped my hand back and struck him across the jaw with full force:

"You're the pathetic one here, Julian! I told you weeks ago to sign the papers and be with her!"

"Your greed is what killed that baby!"

I turned on my heel and walked out of the hospital, leaving him frozen in shock.

From that day on, Julian never came back to the penthouse.

Not a single text, not a single missed call.

I used that quiet week to hire top-tier private investigators to track down Vincent Sterling.

Finally, the truth came out.

Five years ago, after Julian deceived Vincent with a charred corpse, Vincent never left France. He turned Paris inside out searching for the truth, refusing to believe I was dead.

Seven days later, Julian finally returned.

Without a word, he grabbed my wrist, shoved me into his car, and sped toward a private cemetery on the city outskirts.

He stopped in front of a small, white marble tombstone.

Chloe was standing there in black lace. The moment she spotted me, she lunged like a feral animal:

"You murderess! You killed my child!"

"I will end your life!"

I arched an eyebrow, glancing at Julian.

This time, he didn't shield me.

Instead, his boot struck the back of my knee, forcing me down onto the damp grass before the tombstone.

"You took Chloe's baby. Apologize to the grave!"

I gritted my teeth, refusing to bow my head, and struggled to stand:

"She jumped off that bridge of her own accord! Were you born blind, Julian?!"

Julian snapped back with twisted logic:

"She jumped because you pushed her over the edge! If you hadn't provoked her with that recording, she wouldn't have done something so reckless!"

Emboldened by Julian's cruelty, Chloe swung her hands and delivered two vicious slaps across my face.

The force split my lip, swelling my cheek instantly.

Julian watched with conflicted eyes, murmuring softly:

"Just apologize, Summer. Why must you be so stubborn?"

I wiped the blood from my chin and stared straight into his soul:

"I will remember every single second of this day, Julian Hayes."

Julian shrunk slightly under my gaze. Guilt flickered across his face. He turned to Chloe:

"You've punished her. Can we let her go now?"

Chloe sneered:

"Only because Julian asked. Now get lost."

Julian ordered his driver to take me back, leaning into the car window to whisper:

"Once Chloe recovers, I swear I'll cut all ties with her."

"Summer... I still love you."

I leaned back, sighing faintly:

"Julian, your love makes me want to vomit."

What he didn't know was that two hours ago, my investigator had confirmed Vincent Sterling's private estate address in Paris.

As soon as the car dropped me at the penthouse, I grabbed my passport, packed a single duffel bag, and booked a one-way ticket to France.