Chapter 2

Chloe's POV

A charity gala in London.

The venue was incredibly luxurious.

I wore a black haute couture gown, sitting quietly on a sofa in the corner. I was eight months pregnant, my belly heavily swollen, my face deathly pale.

Not far away, in the center of the crowd, Vanessa Kent stood in a white dress, smiling sweetly. She held a beautiful boy of about three in her arms.

"Mommy, I want that cake," the boy pointed at the long dessert table, his voice clear.

"Okay, sweetie. Mommy will get it for you," Vanessa pampered him, leaning down to kiss his cheek.

The socialites around them showered them with compliments. "You are so lucky, Mrs. Sterling. Sebastian spoils you to death. And your son is so smart and cute."

"Yeah, everyone in London knows Vanessa is the only woman Sebastian Sterling loves."

Hearing those words, my fingers tightened around my glass, my knuckles turning white.

Mrs. Sterling?

I, Chloe Vance, was Sebastian's legal wife.

And that boy calling Vanessa "Mommy" was Ethan. The son I carried for ten months. The son I spent a whole day and night in agonizing labor to bring into this world.

But now, my own son called my enemy his mother. And I, his biological mother, could only sit in the corner like an invisible ghost, watching them play happy family.

The click of high heels drew closer.

Vanessa walked up to me, holding a glass of champagne. She looked down at my swollen belly, a smirk playing on her lips.

"Chloe, why do you look so awful? Is the pregnancy too hard on you?" Vanessa's voice was barely a whisper, meant only for the two of us.

I didn't look up. My voice was ice cold. "Get lost."

Vanessa didn't get angry. Instead, her smile widened. "Sebastian said that once this baby is born, whether it's a boy or a girl, I will raise it. He said I'm too weak to conceive, and since you're so healthy, you should have more babies for me."

I snapped my head up, glaring at her.

Vanessa flinched slightly at the coldness in my eyes, but she quickly recovered her smug, victorious look.

"Don't look at me like that. You know Sebastian would never have married you if it weren't for the Vance family's influence in Europe. You're nothing but a surrogate to him."

"Shut up," my voice shook.

"What? Can't handle the truth?" Vanessa laughed softly. "Chloe, so what if you hold the title of Mrs. Sterling? I am the one Sebastian loves. Your son calls me Mommy, and the baby in your belly will call me Mommy too. You get nothing."

Just then, the heavy doors of the ballroom pushed open.

Sebastian walked in, dressed in a sharp, bespoke black suit. He was tall, his face cold and handsome, radiating a powerful, intimidating aura.

The moment Vanessa saw him, her smugness vanished, replaced by a weak, fragile look. She swayed on her feet, as if she were about to faint.

Sebastian rushed over, catching her by the waist.

"What's wrong? Are you feeling sick?" There was a rare note of panic in his deep voice.

"I'm fine, Sebastian." Vanessa leaned into his chest, her eyes red as she shot me a timid glance. "I just wanted to come over and check on Chloe. I think I said the wrong thing and upset her."

Sebastian's cold gaze swept over to me.

I sat there, my back straight. I met his gaze without explaining, without flinching.

"Chloe," Sebastian's voice was low, laced with warning. "Vanessa is fragile. Don't push her."

I found it almost laughable.

Me? Pushing her?

"Sebastian, which of your eyes saw me push her?" I asked coldly.

Sebastian frowned. I knew he hated it when I spoke to him in this tone.

After all, I used to be soft, gentle, my eyes always filled with love and a desperate need to please him.

"You better behave yourself," Sebastian let go of Vanessa and looked down at me coldly. "Remember your place. You are just a trophy wife. The children belong to Vanessa. Don't cause any more trouble, or I won't hesitate to send you back to the countryside estate early."

My heart felt as if an invisible hand was squeezing it, making it hard to breathe.

This was the man I had loved for ten years.

I took a deep breath, forcing down the bitterness, and let out a mocking laugh.

"Fine," my voice was flat, devoid of emotion. "Since you care about her so much, Mr. Sterling, keep her on a leash. Don't let her run around like a mad dog, biting everyone she sees."

"Chloe!" Sebastian snapped.

People around us were starting to stare.

Sebastian lowered his voice, his eyes dark and menacing. "Have you lost your mind?"

"Yes, I have," I stood up. Because of my large belly, my movements were slow. I looked him dead in the eye. "I lost my mind the day I married you."

Without another glance at them, I turned and walked toward the exit.

Behind me, I heard their voices.

"Sebastian, did I make things difficult for you?" Vanessa asked, her voice cracking.

Sebastian's tone softened. "No. I'll have someone take you and Ethan home first."