Chapter 3

In that moment, my entire body went cold. I couldn't breathe.

I knew Chloe thought I was worthless. I knew her parents hated that I had no connections, no background.

But my son—I'd raised him with my own hands. I'd never missed a single moment of his life from the day he was born.

We shared blood.

How could he do this to me?

My throat tightened. Tears stung my eyes.

Below me, my assistant was shaking with rage.

"Mr. Sterling, forget about me—get up there and destroy them!"

His shout snapped me back.

He'd been with me since we were kids. We only got separated because I'd fought with my family over Chloe, cut all ties, and walked away.

No matter what, I couldn't let him disappear into the ocean.

I tightened my grip on both hands, veins bulging on my forehead.

The imposter—Felix—laughed.

"Well, since our guest of honor is here, I've decided to move up the engagement party. Today. Right now."

He bent down and patted my face, mocking.

"Chloe's ex-husband… today, you're gonna hang right here and watch your wife call me her man. How's that sound?"

Rage burned in my eyes. But all I could do was hold on.

Then, from the staircase, Chloe appeared.

She saw me hanging off the side of the boat and gasped, covering her mouth.

"Gabriel—what are you doing here?"

"And what's going on? What are you all doing?"

Felix laughed and strutted over, draping his arm over her shoulder—right in front of me.

"I'm in a great mood today. Decided we're getting engaged. Right here, right now."

"But there's trash cluttering up my yacht. Chloe, if you can get rid of the trash, I'll be very happy."

Chloe's face went pale.

But she did what he asked.

"Gabriel… I'm sorry. Since you already know, just… help me one last time, okay?"

"This opportunity means everything to me. I have to take it. You understand, don't you?"

Her voice was soft, gentle.

Her hands were breaking my fingers.

I screamed. The air punched out of my lungs. I almost lost my grip.

Felix roared with laughter.

"See that, buddy? People with money can do whatever the hell they want."

Below me, my assistant was screaming.

"You bitch, stop! Felix is a FAKE—Gabriel Sterling is the real heir!"

"He gave up everything for you! This year was the first time his parents agreed to accept you, and you're listening to this fraud? Pull us up!"

Chloe didn't believe a word of it.

"I know exactly who Gabriel is."

"So that's why Felix wants you dead—you came onto his yacht to fake being someone you're not. No wonder. You deserve this!"

I stared at her—this woman I loved more than anything—and couldn't find a shred of mercy in her eyes.

She stopped pretending. Met my gaze head-on. And slowly, deliberately, one by one, she bent my fingers backward.

I'd been holding a grown man off the side of a boat. My body was numb. I felt nothing but searing pain.

Only my thumb and index finger were left gripping the railing.

Then Felix spoke.

"All right, pull them up."