Chapter 8

Chloe's screams echoed backstage.

The staff froze in shock. Some started screaming in panic. Others scrambled for their phones to call an ambulance.

I coldly flicked the glass dust off my fingers. I stood up straight.

"Don't you ever disrespect my mother again." I looked down at Chloe. She was rolling on the floor. She clutched her bleeding arm and sobbed. "Remember that."

I turned and walked away. The chaotic noise faded behind me.

I walked toward the exit with steady steps. Like nothing happened.

I reached the door. Victor blocked my path.

He held Chloe's meds and a glass of warm water. He clearly just got back.

Seeing me, Victor's face was as dark as stone.

"What did you do?" he demanded.

I glanced at the pills in his hand. I let out a bitter, humorless laugh. "You went to get her meds?"

"I asked you what you did!" Victor's voice grew colder and harsher.

"She put my mother's necklace on a dog like a collar. She insulted my mother. So I taught her a lesson. She smashed into the case, that's on her." I looked him dead in the eye. I didn't back down.

Victor's expression froze. "What did you say?"

"You heard me." I pointed at his ear. "I'm sure your people already reported it to you."

Victor was indeed wearing a hidden earpiece.

He already knew everything that happened.

"Even if she used the necklace as a dog collar, you had no right to hurt her." Victor's voice was ice-cold. He delivered the fatal blow.

That one short sentence completely shattered the last thing left in my heart.

I looked at the man in front of me. Tears finally welled up in my eyes.

In his world, even if Chloe desecrated my dead mother's memory, I still didn't have the right to fight back.

"Victor," my voice trembled. "How are you going to 'discipline' me this time?"

Victor saw my tears. For a split second, his resolve seemed to waver.

But then he hardened his heart. Colder than ever before.

"I can't control you anymore." Victor pulled out his phone. "Mark, call the police. Tell the legal department to sue her for intentional assault and violating her brand morality clauses. Freeze all her asset accounts. Make sure her career in the fashion industry is completely ruined."

I listened to his cold commands. I felt the last piece of flesh in my heart being gouged out.

Ten minutes later, two uniformed officers walked in.

"Miss Serena Vance, you are under arrest for aggravated assault and destruction of property. Please come with us."

I didn't fight back. I held out my hands. I let them cuff me.

They led me away. I looked back one last time.

Victor was holding Chloe. Her arm was hastily bandaged. He was gently comforting her.

"It's okay. I'm here." He stroked her hair. "No one will ever hurt you again."

Chloe sobbed in his arms like an injured dove.

I was dragged away like a common criminal.

The holding cell at the NYPD 19th Precinct.

It was freezing and damp.

Victor used his absolute power. He showed me the terrifying wrath of a billionaire.

The cops confiscated my coat. They claimed it was "protocol." They left me to freeze in the near-zero AC for an entire night.

The next day, a female cop intentionally threw spoiled food in front of me. She mocked me. "Heard you're a violent threat? Mr. Sterling's lawyers said you need 'special care.' No visitors allowed."

On the third day, the legal team denied my initial bail. Citing "cooperation with the investigation."

They threw me into a cramped cell. My cellmates were violent junkies and crazy drunks.

Those women verbally abused and shoved me all night long.

I was on the verge of breaking. My visiting lawyer coldly passed on a message through the iron bars: "Mr. Sterling says this is a reality check."

All of this was Victor's arrangement.

He didn't just want to ruin my reputation. He wanted to completely destroy my pride and dignity as a supermodel. Without even shedding a drop of blood.

Three days later, my agent finally bailed me out at a massive price.

It was my last day in New York.

I walked out of the precinct. My body was covered in bruises and cuts. The sunlight stung my eyes.

I reached the gate. A wave of dizziness hit me.

The world spun. I collapsed on the sidewalk.

I woke up. I was lying in a familiar hospital room again.

Victor stood by my bed. Hands in his pockets. His voice cold and distant.

"Did you learn your lesson this time?"