Chloe People always think it’s easy. Easy to walk away. Easy to let go. Easy to do the right thing. Even when I watched movies with Stella and the female lead did something incredibly stupid—something that made no sense, Stella and I would yell at the screen, calling her an idiot, telling her to get her shit together. I never understood. I never saw that it’s hard to do something just because I thought it was simple. What might be easy for one person might be impossible for another. Even now, maybe… maybe I was just making excuses. I pressed my fingers to my temple, feeling the dull throb of a forming headache as Stella’s voice buzzed in my ear. She was still talking, still telling me all the ways Logan was bad for me, still trying to knock some sense into me like she always did. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. “Stella,” I interrupted, my voice quieter than before. “Can I call you back?” She paused. “…Chloe?” “Everything is confusing me right now. I just… need to thi
Chloe "Chloe, men cheat. It’s normal. It’s their nature. There isn’t a man in this world who doesn’t like women." The maid’s words echoed in my mind, a lesson drilled into me since I was twelve years old. I still remembered how innocently I had asked, “But if men can cheat, what about women? Can we cheat too?” Her expression had twisted with disgust, as if the mere thought of it was repulsive. I hadn’t understood it then. Why was it acceptable for men to stray but shameful for women to do the same? Why did society turn a blind eye when a husband betrayed his wife but condemned a woman who did the same? But tonight, I finally understood. It was because men knew that if women cheated—if we truly let go, stopped caring, and indulged the way they did, deep down, they know we’d do it better. We wouldn’t just betray them. We’d outmatch them. We wouldn’t just seek pleasure. We’d make them regret ever taking us for granted. Because when a woman decides to be unfaithful, it would no
ChloeI splashed cold water on my face, gripping the sink tightly.I knew myself. I knew my body. I was seconds away from breaking. But I wouldn’t dare let the tears fall.I swallowed everything—shoving it down, locking it away. If a man like Logan had gone through all that effort just to make me feel worthless, then he wasn’t worth my tears.Straightening, I took a slow breath, fixing my expression until I looked composed, and unaffected. Then, after making sure I looked presentable, I turned and left the restroom.The weight of the staff stares hit me immediately.Some looked at me with pity, others with amusement, like I was the tragic entertainment for the evening. But I didn’t care. I just wanted to leave. I needed to go home. But where was home, exactly?At my father’s house, a manipulative monster and his abusive son awaited me.At my husband’s house, an arrogant mistress, a delusional sister-in-law, and a mother-in-law who treated me like an accessory to flaunt, not a person.
Chloe There are two kinds of people in this world. The first—the ones who take and give in equal measure. If you wrong them, they wrong you back. If you push them, they push harder. These people don’t tolerate injustice. They refuse to sit in silence while someone mistreats them. They fight, not because they want to, but because they have to. Because it’s the only way they could survive in this cruel world. And then there’s the second kind. The ones who only take. They take the mistreatment. The injustice. The pain. They swallow it all down, piece by piece, until it becomes a part of them. They tell themselves it’s better this way. That enduring it is easier than fighting back. That silence keeps the peace, keeps things from getting worse. These are the people who become victims of bullying, of betrayal, of broken promises and one-sided love. The ones who convince themselves that as long as they endure, things will eventually get better. And I, Chloe, have always been one of t
Chloe There was one thing my father was right about. Money makes the world go around. I leaned back against the plush velvet seat, my posture lazy, my fingers tapping idly against the armrest as I gazed down at the woman kneeling before me. Poppy was struggling to keep her forced smile in place as she adjusted the delicate diamond heels on my foot. The shoes sparkled under the store’s bright lights, hugging my slender feet like they had been made just for me. She looked up, her voice tight but polite. "How is this one, ma’am?" I tilted my head, humming thoughtfully, drawing out the moment. “It’s nice,” I mused. Poppy visibly relaxed, her shoulders sinking with relief. But then I smiled and said, “But I don’t like it. Change it.” Poppy stiffened, her fingers twitching slightly against my ankle. The other sales associates busied themselves, avoiding my gaze, as if afraid I would drag them into whatever this was. It had been minutes now. Minutes of Poppy circling the store, sear
Chloe I stared at the rows of dresses in front of me, my expression blank. They were all undeniably beautiful—the kind of elegance that belonged at charity galas and high-society events. But I wasn’t looking for something beautiful tonight. Amy, still fumbling to keep up with me, carefully held out another option. “How about this one, ma’am?” Her voice shook slightly, and I didn’t miss the way she almost tripped over herself in her rush to please me. Her demeanor had changed drastically. Gone was the dismissive sales associate who looked down on me just hours ago. Now, she was looking at me with fear, as if she expected me to snap my fingers and have her thrown out alongside Poppy. I didn’t know what had happened to Poppy after I walked away. And honestly? I didn’t care. My gaze dropped to the dress in her hands, it was a stunning silver-grey gown, classy, refined. The kind of thing my mother-in-law would approve of. I shook my head. Amy swallowed, adjusting her stance. “What ki
Chloe “We have arrived, ma’am.” I didn’t need to be told. The neon lights flickered through the night, casting a dull glow across the street. I stared at them, feeling something shift deep inside me. How had I reached this point? Normally, I would have given up before I even stepped foot into the shopping mall. Normally, I would have told myself it wasn’t worth it. Logan had done so many worse things before—so why was tonight any different? Why was I acting like a fool, refusing to go home and wait for my husband and his mistress like any other day? The thought alone made me clench my purse tighter. I hadn’t realized how stupid I had been all this time. Even a saint wouldn’t have lived the way I had—blind, obedient, weak. And right now, Logan and Amelia were probably expecting me to be home, crying in some dark corner while they laughed and enjoyed themselves. Well. I might as well enjoy myself too. I turned to the driver, who was patiently waiting, his hands resting on the
Chloe The bass pulsed through the club, vibrating through me as I moved to the beat. The VIP section was dim, flashes of blue and purple lights streaking across our skin as we danced. I swayed my hips, my fingers trailing up my curves before sliding into my hair, letting it fall down my back as I rolled my body to the music. Mia twirled beside me, her hands in the air, her laughter spilling out as another girl grabbed her waist and spun her around. A redhead in a leather mini skirt pressed against me, her body moving in sync with mine as we laughed together. “Damn, girl,” she shouted over the music. “You sure you don’t do this often?” I shook my head. “First time.” Mia slid an arm around my shoulders, holding up a shot glass with her other hand. “Well, you’re a natural.” She tipped the glass back, downing the liquor before handing me another. “Come on, drink with us, birthday girl.” I laughed, shaking my head. “It’s not my birthday.” She shrugged. “It is tonight.” I took the
Chloe I saw my life flash before my eyes. No, really, I actually saw it. My heart skipped a beat. My ears rang so loud it felt like a bomb had gone off next to me. Every part of my body froze on the spot, too terrified to even breathe. The door swung open, and for a horrifying second, I thought it was all over. But Layla didn’t turn toward us. Instead, she stood with her back facing the room, yelling into the hallway, “Oh, I forgot, Mom, can I have that dress you wore last week? The white one—” She kept rambling about God-knows-what, but I wasn’t listening anymore. I jerked away from Tristan, who was still lying there with a unreadable expression on his face, as if kissing me in the middle of a crisis was normal. I didn’t have time to process that. I could scream at him later, but right now. I was in survival mode. I scrambled to my feet, grabbed his arm, yanked him up like he weighed nothing, and shoved him toward my wardrobe. He raised an eyebrow at me but didn’t resist as I
Chloe I stared at the man in front of me and shook my head slowly. How did it even come to this? What the hell is going on? Tristan stood there, arms casually crossed, that same annoying smirk playing on his lips. He tilted his head at me and said, "Are you not going to climb, Miss Perfect?" I swallowed hard, my mouth suddenly dry. I didn’t have a choice, did I? I had to climb him if I wanted to get into my window without anyone noticing. I sighed heavily, trying to convince myself it would be fine. Except, it wasn’t. It wasn’t fine at all. Because there was one tiny—no, not tiny, massive problem. I didn’t have any panties on. Yes, you heard right. I was naked underneath this dress because Alexander's brother threw my underwear away. If I climbed him, he would definitely notice. It would be impossible for him not to. Tristan raised an eyebrow at me, clearly growing suspicious. His eyes scanned my face, like he was trying to read my thoughts. I shuffled awkwardly on the sp
Chloe I looked at Stella, my heart thundering so hard it felt like it could punch its way out of my chest. I didn’t even need to say it, she could already read it on my face. I was screwed. “What should I do, Stella?” I whispered. “They’re—” Before I could finish, Stella shoved me straight into another body. I stumbled, nearly tripping, but an arm caught me around the waist. I froze against the hard plane of Tristan’s chest, his grip firm around my waist. His scent hit me like déjà vu, clean and infuriatingly comforting, a smell that always seemed to calm me down. I stared at Stella, eyes wide. “What the hell?” “There’s no time,” she said, already backing away. “What…Stella, no, you can—” “My car is wrecked,” she snapped, already waving me off like she was swatting a fly. “And I can’t leave it here. Plus, you don’t know this, but Tristan’s a crazy-ass driver.” I turned to look up at him, conflicted. Could I really ask him for this? Could I really be that shameless? I opened
ChloePresent timeSome mornings I’d wake up in an empty bed, the sheets cold, and Tristan's voice would echo in my ear.“You and Logan can never have a happy ending.”And on those mornings, I'd ask myself the same question I’d asked a hundred times, if I could go back, if I could do it all over again… would I have listened? What had Tristan seen back then that I refused to? What had I been so desperate to believe?Now, standing in front of him after so many years, I felt like I’d been pulled back into a moment I’d tried to bury. Tristan, the high school bad boy who’d beat up seven students and walked away without a scratch. The reckless idiot who once climbed into my window like an outlaw. The boy who irritated me because he liked seeing me mad.But this wasn’t the cocky high school boy who’d broken into my dorm and commented on my terrible taste in music. This was a man.He was taller, more refined and attractive, but the look in his eyes hadn’t changed. He still had that same fie
Chloe Eight years ago I yawned. I had just stepped out of the library. My eyes stung from all the reading. I’d spent most of the day reading between book pages. My only thought was collapsing into the comfort of my pillow and sleeping. My phone buzzed. I pulled it out of my pocket and instantly felt my stomach drop at the name flashing across the screen. Psychopath: Come home tomorrow. I have something to show my lovely sister. I promise I’ll make it last longer this time. I stared at it for a long time. My hand trembled slightly around the phone. Last longer. What he meant wasn’t what anyone would normally think. It was so much worse. There was a reason I’d saved his number that way. Richard wasn’t just cruel, he was twisted. He used to torture animals, those little, harmless creatures, and he’d make me watch. He’d time it, test new ways to kill them. Like it was both a game and a challenge for him. And Father… Father never stopped him. Sometimes, he even provided the "subj
Chloe Eight years ago “I’m in love with the shape of you,” I sang at the top of my lungs. “We push and pull like a magnet do, although my heart is falling too…” I turned off the shower, still humming, and grabbed a fluffy towel from the rack. One I wrapped around my body, the other I wrapped around my hair to dry it. I snatched my phone from the counter, still blasting Shape of you by Ed Sheeran, and stepped out of the bathroom, dancing my way into the room like the pop diva I clearly was. “And last night you were in my room…” I shimmied my hips, twirled slightly, grinning at my reflection in the mirror. “Now my bedsheets smell like you…” Still swaying, I made my way to the dorm kitchen. I placed a kettle on the stove and dropped a tea bag into my favorite mug. I was halfway through another verse, hips still moving, when a deep voice echoed in the room. “You’ve played this song on repeat for like… three minutes. Don’t you have anything else?” I paused, the mug slipping from my
Chloe The car jerked forward and slammed to a sudden halt, dragging my body slightly forward. My chest hit the restraint of the seatbelt hard enough to knock the air out of me. “Stella, goddamn it!” I gasped, pressing a hand to my chest. “Do you want to kill us?!” Stella rolled her eyes and slammed the gear into park. “I should be asking you! Chloe Summer, are you trying to give me a heart attack?! I’m too young. Too fucking young to die of shock!” I blinked at her, confused, until she reached toward me. “No—wait—what are you doing?” I asked, fending her off. “I have to make sure you’re actually you,” she muttered dramatically, inspecting my face like I was some sort of alien clone. She touched my cheek, then my forehead, then her fingers slid down to my neck. I shrieked, jerking away with a laugh. “Stop that! You know I’m ticklish there!” Her hand dropped, and she slumped in her seat. “Shit. You are Chloe alright. Not an imposter.” I rolled my eyes. “When are you ever going
Chloe I looked at him. I had thought about what I would say, but now that I was here, I was acting awkward again. I cleared my throat, trying to regain some control. “I’m leaving,” I said. “My friend will be here in a while. I thought we could discuss a few things before I go.” He slipped his phone back into his pocket, and that innocent expression on his face didn’t match the glint in his eyes. The mischief was obvious if you looked close enough. I had to be careful with this man. I didn’t know him well, but I could already tell he was sharp. If I wasn’t careful, I could lose myself before I knew what was happening. I took a deep breath and stepped toward him. “I want to continue this relationship with you, and if you want to continue it with me, I’ll be happy to. But there will be a few rules before we start.” He moved closer to me. My eyes traveled downward, and I swallowed. Those abs, that V-line beneath his sweatpants... it was impossible to look away. “And what are those?
Chloe The man introduced as Logan raised an eyebrow and stiffened. “But I’m—” He didn’t get to finish, because Joshua slipped an arm around his waist, pulling him close. Logan yelped, then let out a nervous chuckle. “This is Logan,” Joshua said with a proud smile. “My fiancé.” The man swallowed and forced a smile, his cheeks slightly pink. “Y-yes, I’m Logan. Nice to meet you.” I raised a brow, looking between the two of them again. Logan? Was that really his name? Something about this felt...off. It was suspicious. But before I could fully spiral into overthinking, Alexander was walking straight toward me. “What are you do—oof!” My breath hitched as he lifted me like I weighed nothing. Instinctively, my legs wrapped around his waist, my arms tightening around his neck. His intoxicating scent overwhelmed my senses. “Stop it,” I hissed, trying to keep my voice firm. “What do you think you’re doing? Put me down, Alexander!” He chuckled, that smug smirk tugging at the corn