Chapter 2

I'd run this company for two years. I still had some pull.

They glanced at each other. For a second, no one moved.

"Does Luca still have something up his sleeve?"

"Now that you say it... I saw him at a banquet with the chairman and his wife. They treated him like royalty."

"And he's actually good at this. In two years as CEO, the stock more than tripled..."

Philip's face darkened. He pointed at me. "You got here by sucking up to my parents! Now that I'm back, you think they'll protect a fake like you?"

I ignored him and looked at Clara. "End the pregnancy. Leave him. I'll act like none of this happened."

She smiled and walked over.

For a second, I thought she'd come to her senses. Something warm hit my chest. I reached for her—

She slapped me. Hard.

"How are you still not getting it?" She blew on her palm, disgust all over her face. "I got fooled, that's why I ended up engaged to a fake like you.

"The fact I'm not asking for compensation is already generous. And you think I'd struggle through life with you? Keep dreaming."

Then she turned to the crowd, voice raised. "Did you know? This guy's completely useless. Two years together, and he didn't even dare touch me."

The room burst out laughing. The live chat went feral.

[This fake's not just fake—he probably can't even get it up.]

[Philip, hurry it up. Get to the next part. Strip him and check if it's real.]

[Not gonna lie, the fake's got a decent face. Send him my way, I'll have some fun.]

I stared at her, stunned.

My chest went cold.

Clara was my first love. I liked her the second I saw her. She was exactly my type.

I didn't touch her because I respected her. I wanted to wait for our wedding night.

Never thought that would turn into her weapon.

So all that softness was fake.

I watched Philip pull her in, heard him brag, "See? I'm the real man."

The way they played around snapped something in me.

"You trash!"

I tore free, lunged forward, grabbed him, and slammed my fist into his face.

He folded in my grip like nothing. I trained regularly—one punch was all it took.

I lost it, pounding him without holding back.

Clara screamed. That finally snapped everyone out of it. They rushed in and dragged me off.

Philip's face was wrecked—blood smeared everywhere, already swelling and bruising.

"You're dead, you hear me? Kill him!" he screamed, eyes full of hate.

The others shifted, ready to prove themselves.

I swept a cold look over them. "I'm still the CEO. Who's got the guts to touch me?"

My voice stayed low, but no one moved.

It was true. Lombardo Corp hadn't officially removed me.

I flicked the blood off my hand, fixed my collar, and looked at Philip. "Take that as a warning. Leave now, and for your parents' sake, I'll let it go."

Philip snapped at the way I looked at him.

"You're just a fake, and you still act tough? If I don't kill you today, I'm not Lombardo!"