Chapter 4

When the call ended, my body went cold.

I walked to the mirror and looked at my pale, exhausted reflection.

Suddenly, it all felt so pointless.

On the eighth day, Ethan finally showed up.

"I am sorry, Chloe. I---"

Before he could finish, I used all my strength to slap him across the face.

"You bastard, Ethan!"

His face turned to the side from the impact.

But he didn't get annoyed like he usually did. He just took it in silence.

Once I stopped breathing heavily, he explained in a low voice.

"Naomi's mother was in critical condition. I couldn't just stand by."

"We can always find another opportunity for the project. But a life can't be replaced."

My hands shook with rage. I pointed at his face, but not a single word could come out.

He apparently thought this explanation wasn't enough.

He grabbed my wrists, forcing me to look into his eyes, and said syllable by syllable:

"You grew up in a happy, loving family, Chloe. You can't understand the terror of losing your only family."

I stared at him in utter disbelief.

He knew. He knew damn well that my parents died in a plane crash during my senior year of college. That was the deepest wound in my heart.

He had held me back then, promising he would be my family and stay with me forever.

At this moment, the last shred of warmth in my heart evaporated.

I suddenly laughed.

I slowly pulled my hands out of his grip and looked at him calmly.

"Yeah, you are right. I don't understand."

"Ethan, so in your heart, even my parents' tragic deaths can't compare to a single whine from Naomi."

The color drained from his face instantly. His lips trembled, as if he wanted to explain.

But I didn't want to hear it.

Like a madwoman, I grabbed everything within reach and hurled it at him, screaming at him to get the hell out.

He just watched me quietly. Once I collapsed to the floor out of exhaustion, he walked over, looked down at me, and sighed.

"Chloe, look at yourself. You are only acting this spoiled because you know how much I pamper you."

"I will find new investors for the Starlight Initiative. But since you are emotionally unstable right now, Naomi will take your place."

After he left, I curled up in the mess of my room and sobbed until I lost my voice.

My phone buzzed. It was a text from Naomi.

"Chloe, I heard your project fell through. What a pity. But don't worry, Ethan and I will bring this project back to life!"

"It is all Ethan's fault. I told him my mom was fine, but he insisted on abandoning your precious pitch just to stay with me."

"But then again, you have been clinging to him for so many years. You brought this on yourself."

I stared at the screen, my mind completely numb. After a long silence, I dialed a number I hadn't called in a very long time.

"The offer you made... I accept."

Suddenly, another notification popped up on WhatsApp.

"Chloe, you need to get to the office right now. Something happened!"

I grabbed my phone and rushed to the company.

I pushed open the conference room door without hesitation. Everyone's eyes immediately locked onto me.