Chapter 2

In my twenty-six years of life, no one had ever dared to talk to me like that.

"Say that again. What exactly do you want me to scream?" I asked coldly.

"Are you deaf? I said: 'I'm a broke beggar and I was wrong.' Got it now?" Mia snapped.

A smirk crept onto my lips. "Loud and clear. Since you just called yourself a broke beggar, get out. Don't embarrass the Astor family."

Mia's face flushed beet red. She finally realized what I did.

"You! You dare twist my words? You're mocking me?!"

She completely lost it. She lunged at me, screaming. Her hand raised high, aiming a fierce slap right at my face.

I really didn't want to make a scene. But she crossed the line.

I grew up training in self-defense with my dad's elite security team. I wasn't going to be scared of some woman throwing a punch like she was in a school play.

Before she even touched me, I dodged, then used her momentum to trip her.

Mia hit the floor hard. She curled up on the carpet, groaning in pain.

The whole room gasped.

"Oh my god, she actually hit Miss Mia!"

I tuned out their chatter.

The only reason Liam's family had their current status was because my dad backed them in the global capital market. There wasn't a single soul in this city I needed to fear.

I slammed my black card on the counter again. "Like I said. Wrap up the stone!"

The manager's legs were visibly shaking. His hands trembled as he pressed the authorize button. He handed me the velvet box with both hands.

I dropped it in my bag and turned to leave.

But Mia scrambled up. She stumbled and blocked my path again. "You're not leaving!"

I tapped the floor with the tip of my heel, glancing down at her. "What? Want round two?"

She instinctively took a step back.

I let out a soft, dismissive chuckle and headed for the exit.

But I didn't get far. A wall of men in black suits blocked the doors. Sealing all the exits.

Before the guests could even react, the row of bodyguards parted perfectly down the middle. A man walked through the gap.

I looked up. For a second, my heart actually skipped a beat.

The overhead lights hit him perfectly. He had a tailor's dream body. Broad shoulders, narrow waist, long legs. A perfectly tailored Tom Ford suit hugged his muscular frame. His face was sharp and angular. Perfect like he was carved out of marble.

Mia instantly turned on the waterworks. She ran to him, tears in her eyes.

"Liam! She stole my diamond! And she hit me..."

So. This was my fiancé.

No wonder my dad swore I'd like him. He knows me too well. When it comes to looks, I'm hopelessly superficial. And Liam was exactly my type.

I stood tall, gave him my most confident smile, and introduced myself.

"Hi. I'm Chloe. Your fiancée."

A wave of shock crashed through the crowd.

Liam's icy gaze landed on me. "Don't flatter yourself. That marriage was a board decision. I never agreed to it."

Mia rested her head on Liam's shoulder, clinging to him. Her eyes flashed with pure defiance.

"Look at the cheap trash you're wearing! You really think you're good enough to marry him? You're not even fit to shine my shoes!"

People in the crowd eagerly chimed in.

"Exactly. If Mr. Astor gets married, it'll be to a real old-money socialite. Why would he pick some broke nobody?"

"She may have money, but she has zero class. Look at the way she carries herself. She doesn't belong in our world."

People just love stepping on those they think are beneath them.

I slowly looked up. Swept my gaze across the entire hall, then brought it right back to Liam's face.

"Then tell your dad the merger is off. Tell him you just got dumped."