Chapter 5

I froze, the hairs on my arms standing up.

Ethan slid into the seat next to me, his fingers gently brushing my cheek.

"I'm sorry about yesterday. I really am. But baby, you shouldn't have made that post."

I violently slapped his hand away.

Tears fell onto my hands. He flinched slightly, opening his mouth to speak, but ultimately said nothing.

The car didn't go to the airport. It drove straight to the hospital.

"Chloe saw your post and had a panic attack. She's in the ICU now. You have to give her family an explanation today."

He dragged me out of the car, and I stumbled as he forced me into the VIP wing of the hospital.

The private room was packed.

Victoria, Tyler, Serena, and several members of Chloe's wealthy family...

The moment they saw me, their eyes turned into daggers.

Ethan threw me onto the floor right in front of Chloe's bed.

"Apologize."

Chloe lay on the bed, her face pale, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Natalie, I have no grudge against you. Ruining my wedding wasn't enough? Now you're lying online saying Ethan cheated on you? What do you want from us?!"

I stared at her, and suddenly, I laughed.

"Do you honestly believe I was the one who seduced him?"

"I was with Ethan for five years. We were long-distance for three. I don't believe for a second you didn't notice any clues."

The room fell dead silent.

Victoria's face paled, and she quickly stepped in. "Natalie, shut your mouth! Chloe is sick, don't trigger her..."

"Victoria," Chloe interrupted, her voice weak but firm. "I want to speak with Natalie alone."

She forced a weak smile. "I'm sure she's a reasonable person."

Ethan frowned, throwing me a warning glance before they all filed out.

The moment the door clicked shut, the fragile look on Chloe's face vanished completely.

"Five years... of course I knew he had someone else. I'm not stupid."

"But so what? If I, Chloe, want something, I get it."

"I just didn't expect Ethan to be so greedy. He wanted my family's money, but he couldn't let go of you either. He dragged it out for three years because he was too much of a coward to break up with you."

"I got tired of waiting."

She looked at me, her eyes icy and malicious.

"So, I sent your mother a copy of our wedding invitation and the video of us. I told her that her precious daughter was a shameless mistress begging my fiancé for attention."

Her words felt like a bomb exploding in my head.

I shook violently, staring at her in sheer disbelief. "What did you say?"

Chloe's smile grew wider and more twisted.

"I wanted your mother to confront you herself, to teach her cheap daughter a lesson."

"Who knew she was so fragile? Before you could even book a flight back... her heart just gave out. She died right there."

"But you're really stupid, aren't you? Ethan told you she died of kidney failure, and you actually believed him. You didn't even check the medical records."

"So, I had to push you a little harder."

"I was the one who leaked that video at the wedding. I was the one who leaked your personal info online."

She pointed at her hospital gown. "And right now, I'm faking this panic attack just to torture you. This is the price you pay for taking five years of Ethan's life."

Every word she spoke felt like a rusty nail driven straight into my heart.

Losing my mind, I lunged forward and wrapped my hands tightly around her neck.

"You killed my mother! You monster!"

Chloe choked, her face turning purple, but she was still laughing.

She reached out, violently knocking a heavy glass vase off the nightstand.

Shattering glass echoed through the room, and the door was kicked open instantly.

"Chloe!"

Ethan's eyes widened in horror. He rushed in and kicked me hard in the chest.

I flew backward like a broken doll, slamming heavily into the wall.

"Natalie! Are you insane?!"

Ethan's eyes were bloodshot. He grabbed me by my hair, dragging me off the floor.

"Get on your knees and apologize to Chloe!"

With the last ounce of my strength, I pushed him away.

I stumbled back until my spine hit the windowsill.

We were on the 23rd floor. The window was slightly cracked, and the howling wind blew my tangled hair across my face.

Ethan froze, stepping forward cautiously.

"Stay back!"

I screamed, leaning half of my body out of the open window.

Just then...

"Mr. Miller! We have a problem!"

Ethan's assistant burst into the room, panting and terrified.

"The... the conversation in this room just now... it was live-streamed to your Snapchat account!"

At the same time, heavy footsteps echoed from the hallway.

Two police officers walked into the room, their badges shining under the fluorescent lights.

"We received a report of harassment, blackmail, and wrongful death. Which one of you is Chloe?"