Chapter 4

After collecting my wedding refund, I returned to finish packing.

Suddenly, my phone rang. It was an urgent call from Chicago General Hospital.

"Is this Elena Vance? Your grandmother suffered an acute stroke. You need to come to the hospital immediately to handle the paperwork and admission fees."

I dropped everything and raced over.

By the time the initial emergency procedures were settled, Grandma slowly blinked her eyes open.

Seeing me, tears welled up in her weathered eyes. She reached out with trembling, wrinkled hands, grasping mine like a frightened child.

"Elena... Grandma caused trouble for you again. I made a jar of homemade peanut butter for you, but it smashed on the floor..."

A sharp lump formed in my throat.

Last week, after spending three straight nights pulling financial reports for Ethan, Grandma had called me. I casually mentioned missing the homemade peanut butter she used to make for me when I was a kid. I had no idea she took it to heart.

She had traveled all the way from her small rural town in Ohio to Chicago—taking a local bus, an interstate bus, and then a train.

A grueling journey that exhausted even young people, yet she undertook it all by herself.

Grandma gently touched my cheek.

"Elena, if you're being mistreated at that fancy firm, just quit and come home with me. Grandma has pension money. I can take care of you."

A chilling realization struck me.

"Grandma... you went to my office address, didn't you?"

"Who pushed you? Who caused your stroke?"

Before Grandma could answer, Ethan's voice drifted in from the doorway.

"It was Chloe. But she didn't mean to."

Ethan pushed the door open, followed closely by Chloe. He carried a basket of organic fruit and a slice of my favorite chocolate mousse cake.

Setting the basket down, he stepped close to me.

"Look, Elena, you nearly killed Chloe and our baby earlier, but I convinced her not to press charges. In exchange, Chloe had another panic attack and accidentally bumped into your grandma. You drop it, and we'll call it even."

When rage reaches an absolute boiling point, all you can do is laugh.

"A panic attack? She has anxiety, Ethan, not rabies! She intentionally assaulted an elderly woman! I am calling the police right now and letting the law teach that manipulative bitch a lesson!"

A sharp, deafening slap echoed across the private room.

My head whipped to the side, my cheek burning.

Ethan stared at his own trembling hand in shock.

It was the first time in his life he had ever raised a hand against me.

All because I dared to threaten his precious Chloe.

Chloe instantly threw herself into his arms, clutching her stomach and sobbing dramatically.

"Elena, how could you think so poorly of me? I'm your best friend! Why would I ever hurt your grandma on purpose? You know I was already having an episode because you attacked me earlier!"

I didn't waste my breath arguing. I stood up, swung my arm back, and aimed a vicious slap straight at Ethan's face.

"What the hell is wrong with you?!"

Ethan’s fleeting guilt vanished, replaced instantly by blazing fury. He grabbed my arm and shoved me violently away. I fell hard against the edge of the linoleum floor.

He looked down at me with pure disdain and arrogance.

"Still throwing a tantrum? Don't forget, Elena, you're still just a probation analyst at Vance Capital."

I stared at him, my voice deadly calm.

"You really think I can't survive without Vance Capital?"

He scoffed, looking at me like I was a delusional child.

"Are you serious? Do you honestly believe those elite clients signed deals because of your mediocre talent?"

"Elena, you're a grown woman. Stop being so pathetic and naive. If you weren't parading around as the future Mrs. Vance, backed by the entire Vance family name, who the hell would look twice at an entry-level female analyst straight out of college?"

I covered my face, shielding the hot tears spilling from my eyes.

My blood, my sweat, the sleepless nights I sacrificed to build his corporate empire... to him, it was all just a handout to the "boss's girlfriend."

I was never a partner. I was just a pet.

"Ethan..." Chloe whimpered nervously, tugging at his jacket. "Maybe I should just turn myself in. Elena will never forgive me."

Ethan gently pulled her close, kissing her hair.

"We have a flight to Miami tomorrow morning for your appointment with the specialist. As long as I'm here, no one touches a hair on your head."

He rubbed Chloe's stomach tenderly, but his icy glare remained fixed on me.

"Cool your head, Elena. When Chloe and I return from Miami, I expect you to have your emotions under control."

"Don't disappoint me."

With that, Ethan guided Chloe out of the hospital room.

I used my savings to pay for Grandma's medical expenses. Just then, an alert popped up on my phone:

[Flight to London departs in 2 hours.]

I took a deep, steadying breath.

I rolled my luggage toward the exit, opened my laptop, and began reviewing the advanced hedge fund portfolios Professor Catherine had sent over.

I was heading to the global stage.

And I would prove to every single one of them:

I, Elena, was never Ethan Vance's trophy.

I was a financial predator.