Chapter 2

On the other end of the line, Charles’s slightly raspy voice came through: "Chloe, what kind of nonsense are you talking about?"

I chuckled, my voice dripping with mockery.

"You saw the news. Your precious adopted son is dirty, and he disgusts me. I'm serious. I want a replacement."

Silence stretched over the line for a few seconds before his voice trembled slightly.

"We can't talk about this over the phone. I'm coming to see you right now."

"Sure. I'll be waiting at my place."

My lips curved up, a look of absolute determination in my eyes.

Charles was only in his early thirties, but due to a genetic fertility issue in the Sterling family, all his IVF attempts had failed.

That was why he had no choice but to adopt Julian from a branch of the family to groom him as his successor.

And the only reason my family, the Vances, could secure an alliance with the Sterlings was because of our women's legendary "fertility gene."

It was said that Vance women conceive almost instantly, often with twins or triplets.

Regardless of whether my father was sick or not.

This marriage was a tacit necessity for both the Sterlings and the Vances.

I just didn't expect Julian, whom I had dated for five years, to be stupid enough to knock up some girl right before the wedding and expect me to just swallow my pride.

But I, Chloe Vance, have never been the type to suffer in silence.

Shortly after I hung up, my doorbell rang urgently.

Charles stood at my door, a complex storm of emotions in his dark eyes.

Before he could even speak, I grabbed him by his tie and dragged him into my apartment.

"Chloe, you..."

Before Charles could finish his sentence, I sealed his lips with a kiss.

My fingers traced the collar of his shirt, slowly sliding inside.

My actions spoke louder than any words. No hesitation. No holding back.

I was showing him in the most direct way that I meant business.

I could feel his internal struggle, but in the end, he surrendered to his desires.

A night of wild passion.

Afterward, he held me close, his voice husky.

"I have some urgent business to handle overseas. I have to leave tomorrow and might be gone for a while. Wait for me to come back."

"Then... what about the wedding?"

He looked down at me, his eyes dark.

"It goes on as scheduled. I'll make sure to be back. You're the only daughter of the Vance family, and the most suitable bride for a Sterling."

After Charles left, I wanted to go back to sleep, but my phone on the nightstand started buzzing.

Julian's voice came through, sounding incredibly entitled.

"Chloe, get over here right now. Melanie is exhausted. Come help her watch the baby. I'm taking her to an auction to cheer her up."

Taking care of the baby he had with another woman?

Had he lost his absolute mind?

"Julian, I'm not your maid or your nanny. You've got the wrong person."

He paused, then sighed.

"Chloe, Melanie went through so much pain to give birth to this child for the Sterlings. She did it for you, too."

"This baby carries Sterling blood. As the future lady of the house, isn't it your job to learn how to care for him?"

His logic was so absurd it was laughable.

I let out a mocking laugh.

"Julian, your logic is truly breathtaking. It's giving me goosebumps."

"We are over. Who you have babies with or who takes care of them has nothing to do with me."

"Do not call me again."

Before he could say another word, I hung up.

I lay back down, but the anger was boiling inside me.

I opened my phone to browse the news to distract myself, only for a notification to pop up on Instagram:

[Sterling CEO Spends Millions to Spoil His True Love at Luxury Auction!]

I clicked it. The photo showed Julian holding Melanie at the auction.

The way he looked at her was so tender—a level of devotion and love I had never seen on his face during our five years of dating.

My heart twinged slightly.

Over the years, for my birthdays, he would just have his assistant buy some random bag or jewelry on Amazon.

He never picked anything himself, let alone spent this much effort to make me happy.

They say a man's heart is where his money is.

It seemed Julian had never loved me from the very beginning.

To change my mood, I decided to go try on my wedding dress.

But when I pushed open the boutique doors, I froze.