Chapter 4

It was Gemma Brooks—a rookie actress who had just signed with Sterling Enterprises, the very girl the company was planning to heavily promote.

Gemma let out a sharp shriek, falling weakly to the ground, sobbing, "Julian, save me!"

Before anyone could react, she scrambled on her hands and knees toward Victoria Sterling, grabbing her leg and begging desperately:

"Mrs. Sterling, please believe me! I didn't seduce Julian... we... we love each other!"

"Please, let me stay by his side. I don't need a title! Even if I'm just his assistant, I’ll be happy!"

Victoria was shaking with rage. She kicked Gemma off her leg and roared:

"Shut up! Who gave you permission to call me that? You are nothing but a low-tier girl signed to my company. I only gave you a chance because I thought you had potential and heard your family was struggling. How dare you pull this trashy stunt?!"

With that, she raised her hand and delivered a brutal slap across Gemma’s face.

"As of today, your contract is terminated. You are banned from this industry, and you will have absolutely nothing to do with the Sterling family ever again!"

Seeing this, Julian panicked.

"Mom! Why are you doing this? Gemma is just an independent girl with no backing. Where is she supposed to go if you fire her? It was my fault. I had too much to drink and lost control..."

"Mom, please let her stay. Even... even if she just stays with me."

Victoria took a deep breath, completely ignoring her pathetic son, and grabbed my hand with a warm, fake smile.

"Chloe, look at this mess... You are the only one the Sterling family recognizes as our future daughter-in-law, the future lady of Sterling Enterprises."

"I'll let you decide what to do with this girl. We will do whatever you want."

I sneered inwardly.

They wanted to dump this toxic garbage fire into my lap?

In their dreams!

In my past life, they hooked up and threw the blame on me, leaving me ruined and dead. Meanwhile, they enjoyed wealth, fame, and a happy life together.

Not this time.

I gently but firmly pulled my hands back, taking a step away from her.

"Mrs. Sterling, other than potential business collaborations, I have no personal relationship with the Sterling family. Let’s not throw around terms like 'future daughter-in-law' or 'future lady of Sterling Enterprises'."

"As for Gemma, she is an artist under your company who has crossed professional boundaries with Julian. Her fate should be decided by you, her boss, or by Julian's actual future girlfriend."

"I am merely a guest invited to tonight's launch party. I have no right to interfere with your company’s internal affairs, nor do I have any interest in Julian’s private life."

Julian panicked, his voice rising in frustration.

"Chloe! I apologized for calling out your name earlier! But we both know our families are social matches. An arranged marriage is inevitable anyway. It shouldn't matter if people think it was you. I was fully planning on taking responsibility and marrying you!"

"But Gemma is different! She’s a helpless girl. If this scandal gets out, she’s done! Her career will be ruined! How is she supposed to survive?!"

Before he could finish his pathetic speech, I stepped forward and delivered a swift, hard slap across his face.

"SLAP!"

The entire garage fell into a stunned silence.