Chapter 2

Chloe listed the villa for sale at a price far below market value. Within hours, her inbox was flooded with messages from interested buyers.

By the time she finished replying, it was already past midnight.

Unable to sleep, she opened a new app that had recently become popular among women.

The first post on her feed immediately caught her attention.

[My boyfriend’s getting married in two months. Today, I made love with him in the fitting room while wearing his fiancée’s wedding dress. It felt amazing and thrilling.]

The comments were full of outrage. Some cursed her out, while others begged the algorithm to push the post to the poor bride-to-be.

Chloe’s hand trembled. She tapped on the poster’s profile.

Scrolling down, she reached the first post. There was no caption, only a photo of two hands intertwined.

She recognized the tiny mole on his index finger and the wedding ring at once.

The post was from six months ago, only a week after Brian had proposed to her.

For a moment, she just stared at the ring on her own finger. Then a wave of disgust rose in her chest.

She took it off and dropped it into the toilet. The water flushed, carrying away the sparkle.

Something that dirty wasn’t worth keeping.

A few minutes later, the woman posted again.

This time, her tone was no longer smug but pleading.

[Please stop attacking me. We already agreed that I’ll give him back to his fiancée in a month and disappear in his life.]

The attached photo showed a man’s bare back on a bed.

The sight was so familiar that Chloe felt her heart turn cold.

‘Give him back to me?’ she thought bitterly.

A humorless laugh escaped her lips. In that moment, she finally understood why people sometimes laugh when words fail them.

Brian didn’t come home that night. The next morning, he called with no explanation, only to tell her to meet him at the bridal boutique.

The bridal boutique.

Chloe arrived a few minutes early. Her gown was displayed on the third floor, elegant and pure, untouched by all that filth.

“Miss Spencer,” a staff member greeted politely. “Mr. Shaw is on his way. Would you like to try on your gown first? That way, he’ll see you in it as soon as he arrives.”

The woman’s tone was respectful, but there was sympathy hidden in her eyes.

Chloe’s expression stayed calm. “No need,” she said quietly.

She felt sick just thinking about it.

Before she could move, a familiar arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her back into a man’s chest. The scent of his body wash filled the air.

“Why not?” Brian murmured near her ear. “Chloe, do you know how long I’ve waited for this day? Just put it on for me, alright?”

Chloe turned her head toward him and snorted inwardly. His face looked fresh and composed, not at all like someone who had worked all night.

Then she noticed the girl standing a few steps behind him.

The girl wore light blue jeans and a simple white blouse. Her smile was sweet and soft, giving her a youthful innocence.

Chloe’s gaze passed over Brian and landed on the girl, her eyes cold.

Was this another one of his games, just to keep things exciting?

Brian noticed her look and tightened his hold around her waist, though his tone stayed casual.

“She’s one of our new partners’ assistants,” he said. “She reminded me of you a few years ago, so I thought you might like to meet her.”

He gestured for the girl to come closer. She jogged over eagerly, smiling.

“Hi, Miss Spencer,” she said brightly. “I’m Candice Lawson. It sounds like ‘Candy,’ so you can call me that if it’s easier. It’s so nice to meet you.”

Chloe didn’t take her hand. She looked away, her tone calm but sharp.

“Candy, huh? That’s a sweet name. I suppose not many men can resist having a taste.”

Candice’s smile faltered. “Are you saying I seduce men, Miss Spencer?”

Brian’s hand tightened sharply on Chloe’s waist. She turned her head and met his darkened gaze. His grip eased, and he whispered softly,

“If you’re angry, take it out on me later. Don’t embarrass her. She’s sensitive.”

Then, louder, to the staff: “Let’s start the fitting.”

The staff hurried to retrieve the gown.

Chloe caught Candice staring at it, her eyes full of admiration.

“Do you like it?” Chloe asked, her tone even.

Candice didn’t hesitate. “I do.”

Then, catching Brian’s cold glance, she quickly added,

“Of course, not everyone’s as lucky as you, Miss Spencer. Not every woman gets to wear her dream gown or marry the man she loves.”

Her head lowered as she spoke, her sadness almost convincing.

Chloe looked at Brian, whose face revealed nothing. Then she turned to the staff.

“I’m not feeling well today,” she said. “I’d rather not move around too much. She looks about my size. Let her try it on for me.”

The staff froze, unsure how to respond.

Candice blinked, startled, then smiled again as if nothing was wrong.

“Of course,” she said sweetly. “It’s an honor to try it on for you.”

She reached for the gown herself.

The staff exchanged uneasy glances but stayed silent, looking to Brian for guidance.

His dark eyes flickered coldly, his expression unreadable, a warning clear in his gaze.

Candice hesitated, biting her lip.

Chloe gently removed his hand from her waist and sat down on the nearby sofa.

“Well?” she said softly. “Go on.”

Candice forced another smile, took the gown from the trembling staff, and disappeared into the fitting room.

Brian frowned and walked over to sit beside Chloe, clearly ready to voice his irritation. Before he could say a word, she lifted her eyes to meet his with a faint, almost amused smile.

“Aren’t you going to help her?” she asked lightly.

The words froze everyone in the room.

The staff who had served Brian and Candice the day before could hardly contain their shock. Thank goodness they hadn’t taken the day off today, or they would’ve missed this front-row drama.

Brian’s brows furrowed deeper. His lips pressed into a straight line, his tone cautious. “Chloe, what are you talking about?”

“Nothing. I just thought you’d be happy to help,” she replied with a small smile, then turned to the staff. “Could I get a cup of coffee, please?”

The heavy curtain of the fitting room slid open. Candice stepped out in the wedding gown, shy and smiling, looking every bit the picture of sweetness.

The gown had been designed for Chloe, yet somehow it seemed made for Candice instead.

Chloe turned her head and studied Brian’s face. Her expression was calm, her smile without warmth. “Pretty, isn’t it?”

Brian’s face darkened. He refused to look at Candice and spoke in a low, tense voice. “Chloe, what kind of scene are you trying to make?”

She didn’t answer. She picked up her coffee and walked slowly toward Candice.

Startled, Candice immediately raised her hands to shield her face, expecting hot coffee to come flying at her.

But the burning splash never came. Instead, gasps erupted around the room.

Lowering her hands, Candice looked down and saw the front of the gown stained with dark brown coffee.

The staff rushed forward with tissues, trying to wipe it off, but the stain wouldn’t come out.

Chloe stood still, her face expressionless, her voice cold and quiet.

“Once something’s too stained to clean, how could you ever give it back the way it was?”

Candice went pale and froze where she stood.

Brian’s jaw tightened. He strode forward, grabbed Chloe by the wrist, and pulled her toward the door.

Before he could say a word, Chloe’s hand swung up and struck his face.

The slap cracked through the air.

Silence fell.

She had hit him with everything she had, and her palm stung from the force.

Brian’s face went dark, his eyes icy and unreadable. The staff didn’t dare look at him, and even Candice held her breath.

Since Vision Studio had established itself in Riverton, no one had ever dared humiliate Brian Shaw in public, let alone a woman.

Chloe met his cold, furious stare, her heart pounding hard. The strength between them wasn’t even close; if he hit back, she wouldn’t stand a chance.

Brian’s eyes flicked down to her trembling lashes. He exhaled slowly and slid an arm around her waist.

“Feel better now?” he asked quietly.