Chapter 2

"Drop this?" I sneered at her. "She might want to drop it, but I don’t! Slander and defamation—I’m taking this to court."

"Then what the hell do you want?" Austin snapped.

"A 3,000-word written public apology from her!"

Ashley’s eyes flared with anger, but with Austin watching, she had to play the victim. She bit her lower lip, trembling. "Austin... I really didn't know speaking the truth would get me treated like this."

I scoffed. "You better make sure it’s the truth before you open your mouth. You dragged me down in front of him just to get his attention, didn't you? What, every woman in the world is a gold digger except you?"

Her body went rigid. She quickly deflected, "Austin, your girlfriend is just jealous!"

Austin grabbed my wrist. "Enough, Chloe! She was just joking. We're all friends!"

He turned to the officer. "Officer, I'm sorry. My girlfriend is just having a tantrum."

Before I could speak, Austin clamped his hand over my mouth. "That's enough, Chloe. Stop embarrassing me. Fine, I'll make her apologize to you!"

Ashley immediately bowed to me. "I'm sorry, Ms. Sterling. I just have a big mouth. Please don't be mad. It’s really bad of us to waste public resources over such a small thing."

I couldn't take her fake, nauseating act anymore.

I swung my studded handbag and whacked Austin right in the face. The sharp metal studs left a bright red scratch across his cheek.

He went ballistic. "Chloe! Know your limits!"

"Shut your mouth, you bastard!"

I turned to the officer. "Officer, Ashley Vance intentionally fabricated and spread rumors to damage my reputation and character. Under state law, that constitutes criminal defamation. Am I correct?"

Seeing that I knew my rights, the officer nodded. "Yes. Young lady, the demand for a written apology is very reasonable. Miss, you should write it. Defamation can lead to serious legal consequences."

Ashley looked like she wanted to murder me, but she had no choice.

I pointed at Austin. "This is between me and Ashley. I have the receipts. If you say one more word, I’ll have my lawyers charge you as an accomplice!"

Austin was shaking with rage. "Chloe, you are completely delusional! Don't you dare come crawling back to me!"

"We are broken up, Austin. Who the hell would crawl back to you?"

He was speechless. A calculating gleam flashed in Ashley’s eyes before she quickly masked it with tears. Reluctantly, she sat down and wrote the apology.

Once it was done, I took the police report and the signed apology, walked out, and slammed my foot on the gas pedal of my car.

Since I had returned early, the expensive birthday gift I had bought for Austin was still in my bag. I immediately listed it on eBay, sold it within minutes, and called my friends out for drinks.

When they heard I had broken up with Austin, they all laughed.

"Chloe, stop playing!"

"Everyone knows you treated him like a prince. Last time we said he was a jerk, you almost fought us. Now you're broken up?"

"Give it two days, and you'll go crawling back to him once you calm down."

I sighed. I couldn't believe they saw me as some desperate, lovesick girl.

"I’m serious this time."

"Well, Austin is hot," one of my friends shrugged. "Good looks are rare these days. It’s fine if he has an attitude. But if you really dumped him, please tell me you slept with him first. Otherwise, what a waste!"

I shuddered at the thought.

"Just thinking about him and his 'childhood bestie' makes me want to throw up. Sleep with him? I'd rather not catch an STD."

My best friend burst out laughing.

After a long night of drinking and two days of rest, I packed up everything Austin had ever given me and threw it in the trash. Finally, I opened my phone.

The first thing that popped up on my feed was a cozy picture of Austin and Ashley together on Instagram.

Childhood friends, my foot. They hooked up faster than a microwave meal.

I was about to block them, but then I stopped. I’d keep them unblocked—for the free entertainment.