Chapter 3

The hallway fell silent.

Countless eyes darted between me and Chloe, confused and curious.

"Wait, she's saying CEO Victoria's daughter is hers?"

"Then what about Mr. Brooks? Is CEO Victoria cheating on him?"

The whispers made Sebastian flush with embarrassment.

"What the hell are you talking about? Chloe is Victoria's daughter! Who gave you permission to slander us?"

"Lily Sterling, I'm begging you—stop clinging to me like a pathetic stalker! I've told you a thousand times, I already have a wife and a child…"

He tightened his grip on Victoria's arm.

Victoria smirked and kissed his cheek.

"Don't worry, babe. I won't let anyone come between us. After all, except for my few days each month, you're in my bed every single night, servicing me in every way I ask. Where would you even find time to cheat?"

A few clever lines, and suddenly everyone was looking at me with disgust and contempt.

They'd nailed me to the pillar of shame as "the mistress."

I laughed in disbelief.

"Sebastian Brooks, put your hand on your heart and say it again! Who's the real homewrecker here?"

"Who is Chloe's mother?"

Miranda's face darkened. She snapped at them.

"This is insane! Without Lily Sterling's consent as Chloe's biological mother, who gave you the authority to let her donate her liver to a stranger?"

Victoria's expression soured.

"Who the hell are you? This isn't your business!"

Sebastian took a deep breath, as if steeling himself.

"I'll say this one last time. My wife is Victoria Vance! Chloe is our daughter!"

"Lily, I know exactly what you're trying to do! You want to sabotage my wife's surgery so you can swoop in and take advantage!"

"Dream on! Security—throw them out!"

The crowd suddenly understood.

"This homewrecker is disgusting! Trying to sabotage Ms. Vance's surgery right before it starts? That's basically attempted murder!"

"What are you waiting for? Call the cops!"

"Thank God we didn't believe her lies. If we'd delayed Ms. Vance's surgery, who could handle the Sterling Empire's wrath?"

Victoria shook her head with a theatrical sigh, her eyes full of mockery.

"Can't blame her. My husband is just too irresistible!"

"But sorry, Ms. Sterling—Sebastian only has eyes for me!"

"Honestly, I didn't want Chloe to go through with this. But she loves me so much, she cried and begged to donate her liver to save her mommy!"

I was shaking with rage.

"You sick bitch! Chloe is only fourteen years old!"

Even with Sebastian's two bodyguards holding my arms, I forced myself forward and kicked Victoria hard in the stomach.

Her face went white.

She clutched her abdomen and collapsed.

"Sebastian… it hurts… Am I going to die before the surgery?"

Sebastian rushed to support her, then turned on me, his voice venomous.

"Pin that bitch down!"

The bodyguards obeyed.

They grabbed my arms and slammed me to the floor.

My face smashed against the cold tile with a sickening crack.

Blood filled my mouth.

"Sebastian Brooks, have you lost your mind? You're attacking me for this whore?"

Sebastian stood over me, panting.

He snatched a rubber baton from one of the guards and slammed it into my head.

Pain exploded through my skull.

Blood poured into my eyes, blurring my vision.

Then he stepped on my head.

"If anything happens to Victoria's surgery, I'll make you pay with your life!"