Chapter 2

Leah Sterling POV

The next morning, the sound of fingerprint unlocking came from the villa's front door.

I sat in the dining room watching Tristan Cole walk in, bringing the morning chill and the distinctive smell of hospital disinfectant. His eyes had faint shadows beneath them. Clearly he'd been up all night.

He didn't even glance at me, walking straight to the dining table and slapping a thick stack of documents in front of me with a sharp sound.

"Sign it." Tristan's voice held no warmth whatsoever.

I lowered my eyes, my gaze falling on the document cover. "Moonlight Bay Property Transfer Agreement."

Transferee: Vanessa Sullivan.

My breathing hitched sharply, my stomach cramping with acute pain. I looked up at Tristan in disbelief. "You're giving Moonlight Bay to Vanessa Sullivan?"

Moonlight Bay was the most beautiful oceanfront property in New York. On our wedding day, Tristan had given me this land as a wedding gift. For three years, I'd worked countless nights, drawn hundreds of blueprints, wanting to build a home that belonged to us there.

"Vanessa's marriage abroad was very unhappy. She has severe depression." Tristan pulled out a chair and sat down, his tone matter-of-fact.

"The doctor said she needs a quiet place with an ocean view to recuperate. You have so many properties under your name. You don't lack this one piece of land."

"I won't sign." I clenched my fists, nails digging deep into my palms. "That was the wedding gift you gave me! It's the home I've designed stroke by stroke for three years!"

Hearing this, Tristan not only showed no guilt but actually let out an extremely cold laugh.

"Home? Leah Sterling, are you getting too deep into this role?" He leaned forward with overwhelming pressure, looking at me. "Do you really think a marriage certificate makes you the master here? Anything I've given you, I can take back anytime."

My eyes reddened, but I bit my teeth hard to keep the tears from falling.

Seeing my resistance, Tristan warned me. "That architectural studio your teacher left behind. Its funding chain broke recently, didn't it? It's only surviving on the Cole Group's capital injection. If you don't sign today, tomorrow Cole Group will withdraw funding."

My whole body shook. I looked at this cold-blooded man before me in disbelief.

To force me to give Vanessa Sullivan this land, he was actually using my most respected teacher's life work to threaten me!

"Tristan Cole, you're truly despicable." My voice trembled, and tears finally fell.

"Think whatever you want." Tristan handed me the pen, coldly issuing his second command. "Also, Vanessa really likes your design style. You'll personally design this oceanfront villa. It must be completely according to her preferences. Understand?"

Not only would he take my dream property, but he wanted me, his wife, to personally design a house for his mistress.

He knew how to make me suffer.

My hand holding the pen shook so badly I could barely grip it. Under Tristan's cold gaze, I closed my eyes and signed my name on the signature line. Every stroke felt like cutting my own heart.

Tristan pulled the documents away with satisfaction, turned and left without even one extra word.

Listening to the sports car's engine roar fade into the distance, I finally couldn't hold on. I covered my stomach and rushed to the bathroom to vomit violently.

My stomach ulcer flared up again from the extreme emotional turmoil. I vomited acidic water mixed with blood.

I leaned weakly against the cold tiles, face deathly pale, and pulled out the electronic memo on my phone to sync last night's scoreboard.

"Used my teacher to threaten me, gave my property to Vanessa Sullivan, and made me personally design a house for her. Deduct 10 points."

Seventy points left.

I swallowed the bloody taste in my throat, looking at my haggard reflection in the mirror, my eyes gradually becoming lifeless.