Chapter 3

After Austin and his crew stormed out, the apartment fell into a quiet, peaceful silence. It was just me, the mess on the floor, and my completely cold heart.

I didn't stop. I kept packing.

Clothes, books, everyday essentials... everything that carried our shared memories was systematically packed away.

Some went into trash bags; some went into boxes.

With the cash I made from selling the office equipment on Nextdoor, I booked a moving service and quickly secured a cozy, single-bed apartment across town.

My level of calm was almost terrifying.

No tears, no hesitation. It felt like undergoing a surgical procedure to cut out a piece of rotting flesh. It was painful, yes, but the relief of being clean was worth it.

On the day I moved, Austin came back.

He stood at the doorway, staring at the half-empty apartment. His eyes were a chaotic mix of shock, confusion, and panic. He clearly hadn't expected me to leave so decisively, and so fast.

"Chloe... do we really have to do this?"

His voice was hoarse, carrying a rare, desperate note. "We can talk. I'll talk to Bella. I'll make sure she pays back the money as soon as..."

"Austin," I interrupted, zipping up my final suitcase. My voice was a flat line. "We were over the moment you repeatedly chose her, sacrificing our shared goals and trust. Talking won't change the outcome. I wish you and her... a very successful partnership."

I emphasized the word "partnership" with a cold, mocking smile.

Without looking at his suddenly pale face, I wheeled my suitcase past him and walked out. I didn't look back.

My new life was busier than I expected, but it was incredibly fulfilling.

I blocked Austin, Bella, and their entire social circle. I cut off all dead weight and put 100% of my energy into finding new opportunities.

However, I underestimated how shameless some people could be.

A week after I moved out, I received a call from an unknown number. It was the CEO of a highly promising tech startup, a man named Marcus Sterling.

"Am I speaking with Chloe Miller? Apologies for the cold call. We received a pitch deck for a project called 'AuraHome AI.' We're highly interested. We were wondering if you've already secured a lead investor?"

I froze.

"AuraHome AI." That was the exact project I had built from scratch for my and Austin’s startup!

How did it end up in Marcus Sterling's hands?

Then, the realization hit me like a lightning bolt.

"Bella!" That day in the apartment, she hadn't just looked at it. She must have taken photos of the core slides with her phone!

Suppressing my rising anger, I kept my voice strictly professional.

"Hi, Mr. Sterling. I'm glad you're interested in the project. May I ask how you came across the initial proposal?"

Marcus chuckled on the other end, his tone turning a bit amused.

"A young woman named Bella Vance contacted us. She claimed it was a project she and her team developed, but since her team recently disbanded, she wanted to find a new home for it.

The creative concept is brilliant, but when we pressed her for technical details and core logic, she became... let's say, extremely vague.

So, I decided to reach out to the backup email listed on the deck. I didn't expect to find the actual brain behind it."

I knew it!

Bella didn't just steal my idea; she tried to use it to bag a major investment. But her shallow understanding of tech couldn't support the weight of the actual project, and Marcus had immediately seen through her.

I took a deep breath, my mind working rapidly.

Anger wouldn't solve anything. But an opportunity had just knocked on my door, and I wasn't about to let it slide.

"Mr. Sterling, thank you for your diligence. This proposal is indeed my work, written and developed solely by me. Bella Vance had zero part in the creative or technical process. She likely doesn't understand the project at all."

My voice was steady, confident, and professional. "If you and your team are genuinely interested, I would love to bring a complete business plan and technical roadmap to present to you."

Marcus, being a seasoned businessman, immediately caught on. "That sounds wonderful, Chloe. Are you free tomorrow afternoon? Let's discuss this in person."

"Absolutely. Thank you for the opportunity, Mr. Sterling. See you tomorrow."

I hung up, looking out the window at the beautiful city skyline. A cold smile crept onto my face.

"Bella, Austin. You thought you could rob me, but you ended up delivering my biggest opportunity right to my lap."