Chapter 4

When I got home, the living room lights were on.

Richard was already back.

He was standing in the middle of the room with his hands on his hips, his back to me.

He was speaking on the phone in a frantic, desperate tone I had never heard before.

"...I know, baby! I know! Getting Leo into that prep school is our top priority. I’ll find a way to get the two hundred thousand dollar donation fee!"

"Don't worry, Chloe is an easy target! I’ll get it from her tonight! For our son, I can squeeze out half a million if I have to!"

"Yeah, love you too. Bye."

My blood boiled.

Baby? Leo? Two hundred thousand dollars? Squeezing me dry for his bastard son?

The cold rage in my heart quickly took over the disgust. I closed the front door, making a loud noise on purpose.

Richard spun around, a flash of panic crossing his face.

But he quickly adjusted his mask, putting on his usual gentle, charming smile, though his eyes remained anxious.

"Chloe? You’re back. Why didn’t you say anything?"

His voice carried a hint of blame, as if he hadn't just been plotting my financial ruin a second ago.

I ignored him, changed my shoes, and set my bag down.

He walked over, his smile widening. "Chloe, perfect timing. I have something to discuss with you. My... my latest investment project ran into some issues. I need about three hundred thousand dollars to cover the gap. Do you think..."

Here it was. Even earlier and greedier than in my past life.

I looked him dead in the eye and said calmly, "No."

Richard froze. He clearly hadn't expected me to reject him so flatly.

The muscles in his face twitched as he struggled to control his anger.

"Chloe, don't joke around. Three hundred thousand is pocket change to you! This project is a guaranteed goldmine!"

"I said, no," I repeated, my voice completely flat.

He snapped.

His mask shattered completely, revealing a twisted, ugly snarl. He pointed a finger in my face and screamed:

"Chloe! You are a cold-hearted, selfish bitch! All you care about is your precious money!"

"If you weren’t always working and neglecting our family, would Vivian have turned out so messed up? Huh?"

"What's the point of making all that money? You’re a terrible mother! You’re not even half the woman Melanie is! At least she knows how to care for a child!"

Each word was meant to wound me.

Yes, I was a terrible mother in my past life.

That was why my daughter was driven to her death by the two of you!

And my hard-earned money had been funding your lavish lifestyle and your secret child!

The anger burned white-hot inside me, but my face remained perfectly calm.

There was no need to argue with a dead man walking.

Suddenly, my phone buzzed with a sharp, high-pitched notification.

It was the emergency alert—from the bodyguard captain I had hired to protect Vivian!

My heart sank. I opened it immediately.

It wasn't a text. It was a live video stream.

The video was dimly lit. The background looked like the VIP restroom of a nightclub.

Vivian was wearing a tiny, sequined dress that barely covered her.

An obese man had her pinned against the wall.

His filthy hands were grabbing at her legs.

Vivian was sobbing, struggling with everything she had.

Off-camera, a sickeningly sweet voice spoke—a voice I would recognize anywhere. It was Melanie.

"Vivian, darling, don't be ungrateful! Mr. Thomas taking an interest in you is a blessing! What future do you have with your dried-up mother? Just be a good girl."

"If you please Mr. Thomas, you’ll make way more than the hundred dollars your mother throws at you!"

Then came the crude laughter of several thugs in the room.

My vision went dark. I could barely stand.

Vivian! My Vivian!

Where were the bodyguards?! How did this happen?!

Richard saw my pale face and leaned over to peek at my screen.

Instead of showing any shock or concern for his own daughter, he let out a cruel sneer.

"Well, well. Isn't that your darling daughter? She’s already working? Business looks good! If she had been this smart earlier, we wouldn't have had to worry. What a little drama queen."