Chapter 4

The press conference erupted into chaos.

Reporters scrambled to capture the drama. Arthur and I were tearing at each other, trying to kill one another. Julian, Christian, and a few police officers rushed up to pull us apart.

But before my hand could even touch Mia, she threw herself backward onto the floor, clutching her head and crying in pain.

Julian and Christian immediately stopped pulling Arthur and rushed to Mia’s side.

Julian was furious. He grabbed my arm and violently threw me away.

"Chloe, you've gone too far!"

"Have Christian and I spoiled you too much? There are so many media outlets here! Not only did you ruin the event, but you also put your hands on Mia! You are completely out of control!"

My body flew backward, and I crashed hard into the sharp corner of a heavy wooden desk.

A sharp, agonizing pain shot through my abdomen. I clutched my stomach, my strength instantly draining as I slid to the floor.

But Julian, who used to panic whenever I so much as frowned, only looked at my pale face with a cold, mocking sneer.

"Are you done acting?"

"Christian and I already told you, once we pay Mia back, we will treat you just like before. What are you throwing a fit for? You keep causing trouble, and now we owe Mia even more."

I gasped for air, a heavy, dull pain dragging my lower abdomen down.

With what little strength I had left, I reached out to Julian.

"It hurts... Julian, it hurts so much..."

Julian thought I was still faking. He didn't even look at me, keeping his arms wrapped tightly around Mia.

I had to turn to Christian.

He was a doctor. He could save me.

But Christian only looked at me with a cold, disgusted face, pulling his coat away from my bloody fingers.

"The ambulance will be here soon. Don't block the way."

"Quick, lift Mia onto the stretcher!"

"Mia, does it hurt? Don't worry, I’m a doctor. With me here, you’ll be fine."

Christian held Mia’s hand as they walked away.

Beneath me, a warm, thick pool of blood began to spread across the floor.

Remembering how Christian once promised to "keep me safe and healthy forever," I felt a wave of sickening irony.

In my weakest moment, Arthur sneaked over.

Slap!

He slapped me hard across the face, cursing with a smug grin.

"Stupid bitch. Just like your sister. You don't know what's good for you!"

"With Mr. Sterling and Dr. Brooks backing my sister, what can you do to me? Even though I killed your sister, you still have to bow down and call me a hero."

"Now that no one’s looking, I’ll beat you to death!"

He raised his hand to strike again, but thankfully, a couple of police officers rushed over and dragged him away.

Suddenly, someone in the crowd pointed at me and screamed:

"Blood!"

"She's bleeding so much!"

When I woke up, I was lying in a hospital bed.

The nurse told me I had suffered a miscarriage.

It was Julian’s baby.

I stared at the medical report, my mind completely blank.

Mia walked into my ward, strutting like a peacock.

"Tsk, tsk. Look at the great Chloe Vance, the princess of the Upper East Side. Look at you now, like a dying dog. How pathetic."

"This is what you get for targeting my brother. Don't blame me for ruining your life!"

I turned my back to her and pressed the call button for the nurse to kick her out.

Before she left, Mia hissed:

"I’m telling you, this is just the beginning. The Vance Group, your fiancé, your childhood friend—I will take every single thing that belonged to you! You bitch, soon you'll be the one begging for my scraps."

I kept my head down, silent.

My fragile appearance made the nurse feel incredibly sympathetic.

As she was about to comfort me, I spoke up first.

"My phone is gone."

"Can I borrow yours to make a call?"

Without suspicion, the nurse handed me her phone.

I dialed the number Victoria had tattooed on her waist.

Ring... ring...

The call was picked up after two rings.

A deep, gentle male voice answered.

"Victoria?"

Hearing someone call my sister's name so tenderly, my tears broke through.

The pain washed over me, and I couldn't even speak. I could only sob into the receiver.

The man on the other end seemed to realize something was wrong.

His voice grew tense.

"Chloe? Is that you? Why are you calling me? Where is Victoria?"

"Why are you crying? Your sister always told me you were the sweetest rose of the Upper East Side, a little princess. Who dared to make our Chloe cry?"

"Tell me, and I promise I will make them pay a thousand times over!"