Chapter 2

The man was instantly ecstatic.

*Right*, I thought bitterly.

In their eyes, I was Newport City's most renowned beauty. To spend a night with me? Forget two hundred thousand, some men would probably pay two million.

“Well, I wouldn’t dare refuse such an offer.” The man stood up, walking towards Julian, ready to take me away.

The next second, he was sent sprawling with a vicious kick, drinks splashing everywhere. The man barely registered his messy state, looking up at Julian with terrified confusion. “Mr. Thompson, what…?”

“Get out!”

Julian’s face was thunderous. He surged to his feet, grabbing my neck, his eyes burning with fury. “I can’t believe how cheap you’ve become!”

“Isn’t this exactly how cheap you *want* me to be?” My eyes were red-rimmed as I shot back.

His grip tightened, but my mind flashed to that innocent, smiling face.

*Julian, we promised forever, didn’t we?*

But now, everything had changed.

Just as I thought I might truly die there, the door to the private room burst open, and a tall figure stepped inside.

“Julian, let Chloe go, now!”

Julian seemed to snap out of it. He released me, then casually picked up a napkin, wiping his palm with an expression of disgust before tossing the crumpled tissue to the floor.

I stumbled to my feet, heading for the door.

“Starting tomorrow, you’ll work at the Nightshade Club until your family’s debt is fully repaid.”

His words hit me like a sledgehammer, instantly plunging me into hell.

I gripped the doorknob.

“If you don’t show up, you’ll face the consequences.”

I pulled open the door and walked out.

“Chloe, are you okay? You know how Julian gets when he’s angry, don’t take it to heart.” Sophia followed me out, blocking my path. “Oh, by the way, I’m pregnant with Julian’s baby. We’re getting married soon.”

I stared at the joyful smile on Sophia’s face, a sense of unreality washing over me.

“Chloe, you’ll bless us, won’t you? After all, we’ve been friends for over twenty years.”

*Old friends?* The three of us grew up together, yet I’d never once realized she was always in love with Julian.

Sophia looked into my eyes, her voice nonchalant. “You know you and Julian can’t be together. After all, it was your father who destroyed his family. You wouldn’t want him to know the truth, would you? Knowing Julian, your dad’s condition probably wouldn’t be limited to just a stroke.”

I managed a weak smile. “I wish you both a lifetime of happiness.”

She smirked, a soft chuckle escaping her lips. “It’s best if you’re sensible. I’ve been by Julian’s side all these years, helping him rebuild. No one is more important to him than me. I’ll make sure he doesn’t treat you too harshly, for old times’ sake.”

It was past ten in the evening when I returned to the Blackwood mansion.

The moment I walked in, a small figure rushed into my arms. “Mommy, I’m hungry.”

I looked down at his red, tear-filled eyes, my heart aching as I wiped his tears. I hadn’t eaten all day either.

“Mommy will cook some noodles for Leo, okay?”

Leo Blackwood nodded happily.

I took him to the kitchen, rummaged for ingredients, and cooked two bowls of plain soup noodles. He was practically drooling with hunger. Just as I was about to carry them out, a figure appeared in the kitchen doorway.

My mother-in-law, Mrs. Blackwood, glared at me with icy contempt. “Didn’t I say no cooking after ten o’clock?”

“Mom, I know… but Leo is hungry…”

“Dump the noodles!”

Her expression was frigid.

Leo clung to me. “Leo hungry! Leo wants noodles!”

“Eat what? As if!” Mrs. Blackwood sneered. “Don’t think I don’t know you sold off your wedding trousseau to bail out your family’s disaster. Let me tell you, you won’t get a single penny from the Blackwood family!”

Leo cried even harder. Mrs. Blackwood walked straight over and dumped both bowls of noodles into the trash.

The noodles were gone, and my child sobbed uncontrollably.

“Cry, cry, cry, that’s all you ever do!” Mrs. Blackwood yelled, annoyed. “Your family went bankrupt because of your crying, and now you want to drag down our Blackwood family? You and your son are nothing but bad luck! A curse!”

Leo flinched, shrinking further into my embrace.

After Mrs. Blackwood left, I searched frantically through cabinets until I found a bag of crackers. I coaxed the little one to eat them, then took him back to his room.

He fell asleep, still whimpering. I stroked his small face. No matter what, I had to keep going.

Once he was deeply asleep, I returned to my bedroom. As I flipped on the light, I saw Adrian Blackwood sitting in the center of the room.

I gasped, clutching my chest. “Why didn’t you turn on the light?”

“Where were you?”

“The hospital.”

“Were you with Julian?”