Chapter 4

I lazily pressed the phone against Julian's ear. Hearing Chloe's screaming, he bolted upright.

"Chloe, let me explain!"

He was panicked. Seeing himself completely naked under the sheets next to me, his face turned pitch black.

As she kept crying over the phone, I tapped Julian's shoulder. "Go soothe your girl. Keep it down, I'm trying to sleep."

"You were so rough last night."

Hearing this, Chloe sobbed even harder. "Julian, I never want to see you again!"

With a sharp click, she hung up. Julian's face was livid. He gritted his teeth, "Claire, you really are a manipulative snake!"

I kept my eyes half-closed. "You were the one who tore my nightgown last night. We have security cameras in this room, want me to pull the footage? I recorded the whole thing."

He practically jumped out of bed!

"You... how can a woman be so shameless!"

I replied nonchalantly, "I just wanted to see exactly how many minutes you could last."

Julian furiously threw on his clothes and stormed out, only to run into my mom at the door.

Julian cleared his throat awkwardly. "Something came up at the office. I have to go. Claire is still sleeping."

My mom didn't expose him, only offering a polite nod.

I watched him flee from my window, sneering inside. Then, I made a quick call.

Since he's a tool, I might as well maximize his utility.

Right now, Julian was utterly overwhelmed. Chloe was threatening suicide again and got caught by the paparazzi. This time, I didn't lift a finger to help; I simply shut down my phone.

After a relaxing rest, I turned my phone back on. Unsurprisingly, there were dozens of missed calls, but none from Julian. I wasn't angry.

I received a Snapchat text from my informant: "Fake suicide."

I knew it. Chloe's classic dramatic tricks are getting old.

After making myself presentable, I went to the private clinic for an OB-GYN checkup. I was in my ovulation window, and I hoped Julian's sperm had done its job this time.

To my surprise, as I walked out of the clinic, I ran right into Chloe in the hallway.

Seeing me leave the OB-GYN wing, she charged at me to slap me, but I grabbed her wrist tightly and flung her aside.

Chloe sobbed, "Why are you doing this to me? Julian and I are in love!"

I crossed my arms and stared down at her. "Are you insane? If you love him, go bother him. Why are you coming after me?"

She glared at me with pure hatred. "If it weren't for you, Julian wouldn't have done this! You seduced him!"

She held up her wrist, which was wrapped in bloody gauze. I stared at it. Wow, quite a performance!

"He broke his promise! He slept with you! He's dirty now!"

I raised an eyebrow. "If that's the case, why don't you dump him?"

"Never! I know you're just jealous of me!"

She looked half-mad. "Even if you have his body, you'll never have his heart! You're just a baby-making machine!"

"Julian told me that once you give birth, he'll kick you out and raise the baby with me!"

Wow, she brainwashed herself fast.

First she said I couldn't have his baby, now she's planning to steal it?

I'll take the baby and dump the father!

This is my body, and I'm the one who decides whether to give birth. Nobody can force me. This woman is completely out of her mind.

I rolled my eyes and tried to walk past her. But she blocked my path, suddenly raising her voice to a dramatic wail, "I was wrong! Please forgive me, Miss Sterling! I'll never do it again!"

Then she threw herself backward. Recognizing her cheap setup instantly, I grabbed her hand, pulled her up, and slapped her three times hard across the face, knocking her to the floor. The surrounding crowd gasped and stared.

"Claire, you're dead!"