Chapter 3

Julian's face was white as a sheet. He opened his mouth, but no words came out.

I didn't give him the chance to make excuses.

"Julian, if you care about Hailey so much that you'd sacrifice your own son's life, why did you marry me in the first place?"

"You were the one who proposed to me. But all these years, your family and mine have treated me like a thief who stole you away from Hailey."

"Whatever she wanted, I was forced to give up."

"And now, you almost killed our son for her."

I stared into his eyes. "If anything happens to Leo, I will make sure you and Hailey pay for it. I swear."

Julian looked bewildered and offended. "Chloe, watch your mouth!"

"Hailey and I are completely innocent. I've never had romantic feelings for her."

"Why does everything sound so dirty when it comes out of your mouth?"

Richard chimed in, his face hardening. "Julian and Hailey grew up together. They've always been close."

"He has taken care of Hailey for over a decade. Just because he married you doesn't mean he has to cut off all normal contact with her."

"Who do you think you are to force them to break ties?"

My mother also glared at me with disgust.

"Everyone knows how well Julian treated Hailey in the past."

"Just because you got him to marry you, you want to hoard him all to yourself and make him abandon Hailey?"

"You have a dirty mind, Chloe, so you see everyone else as dirty."

"Your child got hurt because you weren't careful. Instead of reflecting on your own failures, you're standing here spreading nasty rumors about Julian and Hailey."

"Have you no shame, Chloe?"

Hailey's eyes filled with tears on cue.

"Chloe, you really do hate me, don't you?"

"I shouldn't have let Julian accompany me. But he only wanted to take care of me because I haven't been home in so long."

"If you want to hit someone or scream at someone, do it to me. Please don't insult Julian like this."

Julian instinctively turned to look at her, his eyes filled with that familiar, protective pain.

That single look was enough to kill any remaining desire I had to argue.

I clutched Leo's documents to my chest, pushed past them, and ran out.

"Chloe, wait!" Julian called out, taking two steps after me.

But by the time I made it back to the hospital, he still hadn't shown up.

Just as I finished submitting the paperwork, my phone rang. It was my assistant, Maya.

"Chloe, the new contract is ready for signing today. Where are you?"

"My son is in the ICU. I need to take emergency leave. The terms are already negotiated; just get someone else to sign it."

Maya's voice grew urgent. "But Julian just showed up at the office with Hailey. He told everyone you're taking a step back to focus on your family, and that Hailey is taking over your position and your project!"

"I knew something was wrong, so I called you immediately."

A chill ran down my spine. I immediately dialed Julian's number.

"What right do you have to give my position to Hailey?"

His voice on the line was incredibly calm, as if he had graciously figured everything out for me.

"Chloe, I know you only said those things because you're stressed about Leo. I know you didn't mean them, so I won't hold them against you."

"But in your current emotional state, you can't possibly focus on work. Staying in this position will only ruin the project."

"It's better for you to step down and take care of our son. I'm doing this for your own good."

I was shaking with rage. "I spent an entire year securing that contract! How dare you steal it from me!"

Julian sighed. "It's not stealing. Think of it as helping Hailey out. She's going through a nasty divorce right now, and she needs a respectable job to win custody of her child."

"It's just a temporary title. Missing out on one project won't kill you."

I gripped my phone so hard my knuckles turned white.

Since we were kids, whenever Hailey wanted my room, I had to pack my bags.

When she didn't want to see me, I was banished from family gatherings for four years.

And now, because she needed a job, I was expected to hand over the career I had poured my blood, sweat, and tears into.

"I don't agree," I said, my voice ice-cold.

"If you touch my project, I will personally hand the contract over to our biggest competitor."