Chapter 3

Me? Torturing him?

Talk about playing the victim.

I guess three years really can change a person.

I still remembered the day we met for our arranged marriage.

He had looked down his nose at me, gripping my chin with sheer contempt.

"To me, you're nothing more than a guy. Don't go catching feelings for me, understand?"

"The only person in my heart is Harper."

Those two lines had completely shattered whatever little hope I had in him.

Back then, I had naively thought that since we were going to spend our lives together, maybe we could try to make it work.

I had even hoped Carter could be the knight who rescued me from my suffocating family.

Turns out, he was just like my parents.

They all wanted me to be a man.

So fine, I became the man they wanted.

Why was he throwing a tantrum now, just like my parents?

Men are so damn confusing.

"Carter, I'm not torturing you. You’re the one who said Harper is the only one in your heart."

"I'm literally doing you a favor here."

I smiled, sliding the contract right in front of him.

"I showed up like you asked. You're not going back on your word, are you, Mr. Hayes?"

"You..." Carter stared at the contract, his patience snapping.

"Aren't you afraid I'll actually end up with Harper?"

"Whoa, leave me out of this," Harper piped up quickly, playing innocent. "Don't make it look like I'm the reason you two are fighting."

Please. She was practically drooling at the thought of claiming him.

I raised an eyebrow mockingly. "Drop the act. You’re dying to hop into bed with him right this second."

"Why you—"

"Fine!" Harper snapped, but before she could finish, Carter pulled her right into his arms.

"We're heading to a hotel right now. Don't you dare regret this, Chloe."

"Sign the contract first."

I waved the paper right in his face.

Seeing that I didn't give a single damn about his threats, Carter was genuinely enraged this time.

With a furious stroke of his pen, he scribbled his signature across the page.

"Thank you, Mr. Hayes. Can I swing by tomorrow to get the corporate stamp?"

"Be my guest!"

Once Carter agreed, I even made him call his secretary on speaker to confirm the instructions.

Only after ticking every box did I tuck the contract away, completely satisfied.

"Since you two are heading to a hotel, want me to book the suite for you?" I offered with a relaxed smile.

Carter’s face was darker than a thundercloud.

Right in front of me, he leaned down and kissed Harper on the lips.

While they were tangled in an intense make-out session, I turned around to leave.

Suddenly, Carter broke away and rushed over to block my path. "Do you really not care at all?!"

"Carter, you've reminded me of our boundaries a million times. I've finally memorized them."

"Chloe, I..."

Carter opened his mouth, looking torn, but the words died in his throat.

Because our girl-bro jumped right back into the spotlight.

"Come on, Carter, let me ask you: what about Chloe is 'cool' or 'chill'? She's a manipulative, two-faced snake, and you're still coddling her?”

“You guys are just an arranged match. If you let her control you now, your whole life is going to be miserable."

Harper sneered at me. "Don't take it to heart, honey. A little kiss between best friends is no big deal. If you make a scene over this, you're going to lose Carter for good."

"He's all yours."

I left them with a sweet, cryptic smile and walked out into the night.

When I got home, I slept like a baby. First thing the next morning, I met with Carter's secretary.

Once the contract was officially stamped, I raced back to my family's firm to execute the deal.

Right on cue, my parents started spamming my phone.

"What the hell happened?! The tabloids are saying Carter checked into a hotel with Harper last night! Is that true?!"