Chapter 3

Ethan’s eyes turned icy as he grabbed the custom headphones I had gifted him.

I had stayed up for three straight nights designing them, engraving our initials on the side.

*Smash—* He slammed them onto the hardwood floor. They shattered into pieces, just like my heart.

"You actually had the nerve to give me this trash?"

Scarlett giggled, deliberately grinding her high heel over the largest broken piece.

"Aw, Chloe, look at you. You look like a drowned rat. How pathetic."

Her voice felt like a venomous snake slithering over my skin. Every word tore at my soul.

I bit my lower lip raw, forcing myself not to let another tear fall, though I was bleeding to death on the inside.

Suddenly, a sharp ringtone pierced the noisy room. My phone, still in Ethan's hand, was buzzing.

"Chloe... help me..."

My little sister Lily’s voice came through the speaker, trembling and terrified.

"They locked me in a dark room... they want half a million dollars..."

My knees buckled. I almost collapsed to the floor.

"Lily! Where are you? Who took you?!"

My voice shook violently.

The laughter in the VIP lounge instantly died down. Everyone stared at me.

"Ethan, please, let me go! My sister has been kidnapped!"

I threw myself at him, grabbing his sleeve in desperation.

"Lend me the money, please! I swear I'll pay you back every cent!"

He coldly shoved me off. His face didn't show a single ounce of empathy.

"Apologize first. Admit you seduced me. Then we can talk about money."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

"My sister might die! Do you not understand?!"

Ethan suddenly grabbed my wrist, squeezing so hard I felt my bones crack.

"Then you better hurry up. Aren't you good at begging?"

"Use that sweet little voice of yours. Tell everyone what a shameless slut you are."

Scarlett clapped her hands happily. "Yes! Just like that. Let’s make sure everyone hears it."

From the phone, Lily’s muffled cries were still playing.

My heart was ripped in two.

"Ethan, I'm begging you... please lend me the money to save my sister..."

I fell to my knees, my tears finally spilling over.

He looked down at me from his height, a sadistic smile carving into his lips.

"For every minute you waste, the price of your audio files doubles."

The crowd started chanting, cheering for my total humiliation.

Scarlett pulled out her phone and aimed the camera straight at my face. "I'm going to record this and post it on the university forum."

My dignity on one side, my sister’s life on the other. The scale was tilting violently.

"I... I..."

My throat felt like it was clogged with ash. I couldn't make a sound.

Suddenly, a loud shriek came from the phone, followed by the heavy thud of something collapsing.

"Chloe! Help me! They said if we don't pay now, they'll—"

The call was abruptly cut off.

I completely broke down, burying my face in my hands, sobbing hysterically.

But Ethan only glanced at his watch. "Time's up. The price just doubled."

His sheer cold-bloodedness made me feel utterly hollow.

I had once thought he was my Prince Charming.

Now I knew he was just a demon wearing a human face.