Chapter 2

I booked a one-way flight leaving in three days across the ocean.

After paying off the mortgage and medical bills with what was left of my father's heirloom, I had enough money to buy a peaceful burial plot for my mother, with plenty left over to build a new life abroad.

I dug up my old graduate school acceptance letter from five years ago, thick with dust.

I brushed it off.

My mother's handwriting was still jotted on the back of the envelope.

When my father died, she used to comfort me: "Life keeps moving forward, sweetheart."

Now that she was gone, I repeated her words to myself, trying to soothe the gaping hole in my chest.

I stayed awake the entire night. I didn't dare close my eyes.

I was terrified I would dream of my mother scolding me in fury. And I was equally terrified I wouldn't dream of her at all—that she hated me so much she refused to visit.

So I spent the night packing.

Around nine the next morning, loud chatter broke out downstairs. I didn't care to check. After all, this was Julian’s estate, and I had an appointment with a cemetery broker before noon.

Just as I zipped up my suitcase and headed for the stairs, a sickly-sweet voice called out behind me:

"Packing already, Chloe?"

I turned around.

It was Mia.

She held up her right hand, an enormous diamond catching the sunlight. A smug, triumphant grin spread across her pretty face.

"Sorry about this. Julian proposed to me last night."

"He wants the wedding as soon as possible, so I moved in right away. After all, some people play the devoted fiancée for five whole years and never make it through the front door.”

“ Julian and I have only known each other for a few months, and he's already putting a ring on my finger. I really have to cherish a man like that!"

"So, thanks for clearing the way, Chloe."

I glanced at her, then looked away.

I didn't utter a single word. I despised her too much to grant her even basic courtesy. I silently gripped my suitcase handle and moved toward the stairs.

Young girls never know how to control their pride.

My complete lack of reaction starved her of the drama she craved.

She stepped right in front of me, blocking the staircase.

"Chloe, isn't this ring gorgeous?"

"It cost over three million dollars! Even when Julian’s company was crashing last week, he never once thought about selling it. I honestly didn't realize how deeply he loved me."

"You must come to our wedding! I'll make sure you get a seat at the main table!"

I glanced at the ring on her finger.

What a coincidence.

It was the very ring I had kicked across the floor last night.

I almost wanted to burst her bubble and tell her the truth: Julian didn't hold onto that ring out of love. He kept it simply because raw diamonds are notoriously hard to liquidate for fast cash.

To a man like Julian, love had ceased to matter a long time ago.

He claimed he loved me, yet he only ever gave me the title of his long-term girlfriend. He claimed he needed excitement and passion, so he paraded girls like Mia through his bed.

The only person Julian Sterling truly loved was himself.

"Sure," I said flatly. "Be sure to send an invite."

My total indifference made Mia look like a clown.

Her face twisted with fury.

She lunged forward and grabbed the handle of my suitcase.

"Hold on! You think you can just walk out like that? How do I know you haven't stolen anything valuable from the Sterling estate?"

"I'm the future lady of this house. If you walk out with family heirlooms, I’m the one who loses out!"

"Open the bag. Let me inspect it!"

I had no patience for her circus.

I shoved her hand off the handle and kept walking.

As we tussled at the top of the stairs, the front door opened, and Julian walked in.

I was surprised. At this hour, he was supposed to be running an executive board meeting.

Seeing the commotion, he instinctively stepped in front of Mia, shielding her behind his back, and glared at me with annoyance.

"Are you giving Mia a hard time?"

Looking at his guarded, suspicious eyes, an overwhelming exhaustion washed over me.

"She wants to search my luggage."

Mia tugged at the hem of Julian's suit jacket, her voice dripping with innocence.

"Julian, I just wanted to check if Chloe kept any spare keys. This is going to be our home soon. I just don't want any uninvited guests dropping by."

"Is that really so wrong of me?"

Her soft, trembling voice sounded like sugar-coated venom.

Julian couldn't resist it.

He turned his displeasure squarely on me.

"Chloe, open the suitcase."

I frowned, letting out a humorless laugh.

"Julian, this house has smart biometric locks. You never gave me physical keys. I know you want to protect your little trophy, but use some common sense."

"Consider it the last shred of dignity you owe me after our breakup."

I didn't know which word hit a nerve, but his face darkened instantly.

He summoned the butler and two maids, his voice laced with cold intimidation:

"Just cooperate. Humoring Mia makes her happy. What is your dignity worth in front of me anyway?"

"Open it yourself. Don't make me have them force you."