Chapter 4

He snapped his head up, his face full of disbelief.

"Didn't you step out on me too? Weren't you dying to ditch me?"

"I was teasing you. It was a joke, and you actually bought it?"

I chuckled softly.

"This apartment was left to me by my father. Why the hell should I move out? I'm going to drag this out and watch you suffer."

Ethan collapsed flat on the floor, his face pale as a ghost.

"If you don't release me from the bond, Claire's parents are going to kill me!"

He clawed at his hair, screaming in pure agony.

"That sounds like your problem, not mine."

I nudged him out of the doorway with my foot and slammed the heavy door right in his face.

The next afternoon, I timed it perfectly and headed downstairs.

Claire was sneaking out wearing an oversized mask to toss a bag of trash.

Once glowing and stylish, she now had greasy, limp hair and a dull, sallow complexion.

Seeing me, she looked like she’d seen a demon and whipped around to run.

"Why running? Scared I'll bite?"

She turned back, glaring at me like a cornered animal. "What else do you want? Ethan doesn't want you anymore!"

I snorted, leaning in close to her ear.

"He doesn't want me? He was on his knees outside my door last night, crying and begging for my forgiveness."

Claire's eyes went wide. "You're lying! He swore we'd go file the paperwork to dissolve your bond today!"

"Dissolve the bond? He hasn't even drafted the forms."

"He promised me this apartment will always be mine, as my safety net for the future."

"As for you? His exact words were: 'Claire is just an incubator. Once she pops out the pups, I'll toss her some pocket money and get rid of her.'"

"You're lying! Ethan would never say that!"

Claire shook violently with rage, her nails digging deep into her palms.

"Don't believe me? Go ask him yourself why he's dragging his feet and won't take you to the registry office."

I threw a dismissive glance at her stomach, spun on my heel, and walked away.

Back in my living room, I unlocked my phone.

It was loaded with dozens of screenshots.

Desperate to win back business clients, Ethan had been shamelessly flirting with a "wealthy female angel investor."

He had no clue that the loaded businesswoman throwing hints his way was an actress I had hired.

In the chat logs, Ethan was drowning in slimy compliments.

*Babe, those two crazy bitches back home are driving me insane.*

*One got knocked up and thinks having my kid gives her the right to demand half a million dollars and marriage. She should look in the mirror first.*

*You're the only one who actually understands me. The second I shake those two off, I'm all yours.*

I bundled up all the screenshots and sent them directly to Claire's SnapChat.

Calculating the time, Ethan's mother should be downstairs doting on her right about now.

Sure enough, less than three seconds later, an ear-splitting shriek tore through the floorboards.

"Ethan! Get your lying ass back here right now!"

Their front door wasn't fully shut, so every scream drifted clearly up the stairwell.

"Stop yelling! What if something happens to my grandbaby?! Take your supplements! Your only job right now is giving birth to my grandson!"

"Screw your grandson!"

Claire completely lost it, followed by the violent crash of a shattered glass.

"What kind of disgusting monster is Ethan?! Two-timing three women at the same time!"

"He promised this apartment would be mine, and behind my back, he tells his mate I'm just an incubator!"

"And now he's out there whoring himself out to rich cougars! You people make me sick!"

Heavy footsteps sprinted up the stairs outside.

Ethan burst into the hallway, panting for breath.

"Claire, what's wrong? Why are you freaking out like this?"

"You have the nerve to ask?!" Claire sobbed hysterically. "Check your damn phone!"

Ethan clearly opened the screenshots, because his voice pitched into sheer panic.

"Claire, let me explain! That was just business networking! She's a high-profile client!"

"A client?! Just networking, and you call me a crazy bitch trying to trap you?!"

"You're a sick, lying bastard! You just wanted a free ride, expecting me to pop out your kid for nothing!"

Hearing that, Ethan's mother snapped.

"What do you mean 'for nothing'?! You little slut, you should thank your lucky stars my son even looked at you!"

"Drink this medicine right now! If anything happens to my grandson, I'll tear you apart!"

"I hope your whole rotten bloodline dies out!" Claire shrieked at the top of her lungs.

"I'm going to the clinic right now and getting rid of this baby! You won't get a single dime from me!"

"Don't you dare!"

Ethan's mother screamed.

A frantic scuffle broke out, cut short by Claire's agonizing, bloodcurdling cry.