Chapter 4

Chloe looked like she had just stepped out of the shower, her hair still damp.

My gaze was completely fixed on the box she had discarded near the door.

It wasn't until Leo snapped loudly, "What the hell are you doing here?!" that I snapped out of my daze.

Hearing the commotion, Julian walked over to the entryway.

The moment he saw us, the look on his face was pure chaos.

Before he could speak, Chloe slipped her arm through his, greeting us with an easy smile:

"I'm his girlfriend. Isn't it totally normal for me to stay the night? If anything, you two showing up without even calling is pretty rude, don't you think?"

She turned her eyes on me, her expression dripping with condescension:

"You looked so sick back at the clinic, but you're already back on your feet? See, I told Julian you were faking it. Don't take this the wrong way—I'm a girl too, and even though you're my rival, I hate seeing you act so desperate and hurt your own health just to win sympathy."

She spoke with righteous confidence, pretending to have my best interests at heart.

Yet my eyes were glued to the silk pajamas she was wearing, the blood draining from my face.

I lunged forward, grabbing her sleeve:

"Why are you wearing my clothes?!"

Those were the pure silk pajamas Julian bought for me on his first business trip abroad with his first real paycheck.

I had cherished them so much I never dared to wear them, enduring his jokes about turning a piece of clothing into an antique.

And now, Chloe was wearing them in front of me without a care in the world.

Chloe shrieked:

"What are you doing?! You're hurting me!"

At her scream, Julian instantly grabbed my wrist:

"Summer, let go!"

Tears spilled over my lashes, impossible to hold back:

"Do you have any idea what this outfit means to me?!" I screamed at him.

He froze, staring at me in shock, but then muttered coldly:

"It's just clothes. What difference does it make who wears it?"

His face was emotionless. I refused to let go, the last embers of my warmth dying out.

With tears streaming down my face, I asked him:

"Did you really never love me? Not even for a single second?"

Julian looked away, refusing to answer.

Just then, Chloe shoved me hard, sending me stumbling backward off balance.

As I tumbled down the entryway steps, I heard Leo and Julian shout at the same time:

"Julian, have you lost your damn mind?!"

"Summer!"

A sharp pain flared as my thigh scraped hard against the rough concrete, blood immediately trickling down my leg.

Julian moved to rush down the steps toward me, but Chloe grabbed his arm:

"If you go down there right now, we're over."

He froze instantly. That single hesitation shattered my heart into dust.

Leo pointed an accusing finger straight at his nose:

"Julian, you better pray to God you don't regret this!"

Before the words fully left his mouth, a sleek luxury car screeched to a halt right at the curb.

The handsome man behind the wheel threw open the door and scrambled out in a panic.

The moment his arms wrapped around me to lift me up, he pressed desperate, trembling kisses against my forehead:

"Don't be scared. I'm here..."

Seeing this, Julian finally snapped and lunged forward.

He glared at the man, his face twisting into an ugly snarl:

"Who the hell are you?! Put her down!"

Ethan turned his head to look at him, his face radiating pure disdain:

"Her boyfriend."