Chapter 3

Serena's POV

In the following days, with Julian's company every night, Chloe quickly regained her vitality.

When she was occasionally bored, she would invite a few socialite friends over for afternoon tea.

"Chloe, Mr. Sterling definitely has you in his heart. During the half-year you were in the car accident, he went to the hospital every few days, and even made a wish that as long as you could stand up again, he would divorce Serena for you!"

I happened to pass by and heard this sentence; my heart felt like it had been slit open by a knife.

Julian wasn't around, and Chloe couldn't be bothered to pretend. She called out to me in a put-on tone.

"Serena, why is the cup of tea you brewed so hot? It makes me sick just looking at it."

I was just about to take the cup away when someone grabbed my wrist.

"Wait, what's with your attitude? Our Chloe is about to become the most famous person at Starlight. Is pouring a glass of water too much for you? Stop acting so high and mighty!"

Receiving Chloe's glance, one of her friends scolded me fiercely.

Before I could react, the other party grabbed my hair, and a full cup of hot water was instantly splashed over me.

"Stop!"

But the next second, a suddenly appearing male voice broke the standoff.

Julian had just walked through the door and saw this scene. He rushed over with a cold face, shielding me behind him.

"Who allowed you to bully her?"

As his roar fell, Chloe, who had been watching with a smile, instantly reddened her eyes. She incredibly smoothly covered her throat.

"Julian! It's not like that!"

"Don't blame my friend. She did it for me. She deliberately added peanut powder to my water. My throat hurts so much, I can't breathe."

Julian's movements abruptly stopped. He looked at me with scrutiny, his gaze turning completely cold.

Peanut powder?

"Peanut powder? Serena, I clearly told you that Chloe is severely allergic to peanuts. It will affect her vocal cords!"

How ridiculous. From protecting me to pushing me away, it only took one lie from Chloe.

"I didn't!"

Water dripped from the tips of my hair, and my eyes ached.

"She's faking it."

But my explanation was drowned out by Chloe's superb acting, coupled with the lies of her friends...

Julian finally lost his temper, violently smashing the cup on the table. He stepped forward and scooped Chloe up in his arms, saying sternly.

"Serena, stay at home and reflect on your actions!"

But Chloe was clearly unsatisfied, crying pitifully.

"I'm not going to the hospital. I'm about to record my debut single soon; what if my voice is ruined? Julian, just let me die in pain."

Chloe threw a tantrum and refused to go to the hospital, until Julian completely hardened his heart and coldly called for the bodyguards.

"Take the madam to the underground recording studio!"

The underground recording studio was the place Starlight Entertainment used to punish disobedient artists. The soundproofing was excellent, and the air conditioning was kept at the lowest setting year-round.

I trembled and struggled under the bodyguards' grip.

"No! I don't want to go!"

But no matter how I cried and screamed, the figure carrying Chloe as he rushed out of the villa never looked back.

For a full five hours, I was locked in the recording studio that was like an ice cellar.

The bodyguards Julian arranged stood outside the door, coldly relaying orders through the microphone.

"Mr. Sterling said that since the madam doesn't know how to protect a singer's throat, the madam is to sing Miss Chloe's debut single a hundred times in here. Not one less, or you're not allowed out."

That debut single was full of extremely high notes throughout; it was a highly vocal-taxing show-off piece to begin with.

I was shivering all over from the cold. I tried pounding on the soundproof glass, but no one paid any attention.

I knew that if I didn't sing, Julian had plenty of ways to torture me, and he might even implicate the sisters in my group.

I gripped the microphone tightly, singing over and over again in the sub-zero air conditioning.

By the fiftieth time, my throat was already hurting as if it were tearing;

By the eightieth time, every vocalization was accompanied by a strong taste of blood.

Until the hundredth time ended, a mouthful of blood suddenly surged up in my throat, dyeing the microphone in front of me red.

I slid weakly onto the cold floor, so numb I forgot what pain was, with only a single tear sliding past the corner of my eye.

I closed my eyes, letting despair overdraw the last bit of love...

"Serena, don't sleep, wake up, okay?"

As the familiar male voice pulled my consciousness back, I opened my eyes.

What met my eyes was the crystal chandelier of the guest room.

Julian, sitting by the bed, finally breathed a sigh of relief when he saw me wake up, his tone softening.

"I know you're angry, Serena, but you really did the wrong thing. No matter what, you shouldn't joke about Chloe's throat."

Facing his accusations the moment I woke up, I couldn't help but sneer, only to find I couldn't make a sound at all, only able to emit a hoarse, ugly gasp.

"Do you believe her that much?"

Julian frowned, looking a bit impatient.

"Enough. I've already had someone handle Leo's matter again; don't make a fuss about it anymore. Right now, Chloe's condition is the real problem."

"She's been frightened, and her throat isn't in good condition. The recording hasn't been going smoothly. The producer said we must have a better original track to make her an instant hit."

I froze.

So, he stayed by my side, hoping I'd wake up, just for Chloe?