Chapter 4

Ethan Hayes was my college senior. He had recently directed an indie animated film and had invited me to voice the female lead.

At the time, I had politely declined because of my upcoming engagement to Julian.

But now, I was done. I refused to be a useless vine clinging to someone else's tree. I wanted to grow into my own tree, strong enough to weather any storm.

Ethan’s studio was based in New York. Without a second thought, I booked the earliest flight for the next morning.

I hailed a cab, planning to go home and pack my things.

While waiting at a red light, a familiar figure caught my eye through the window.

In a restaurant across the street, Chloe was sitting opposite a heavily built man with sharp, predatory eyes.

Instinctively, I pulled out my phone and started recording.

Chloe pulled a thick envelope from her purse and handed it to the man, her expression dark.

Through the rolled-down cab window, their voices drifted over clearly.

"This is all I have for now," Chloe said, her voice tight. "Give me more time. I’ll pay off the rest."

The man pocketed the envelope, looking at her with a sleazy grin. "You know, instead of breaking your back sleeping with that pretty boy, you could just submit to Boss Sterling. Not only would your debt be cleared, but you’d also get a nice, comfortable life."

"That Sinclair kid is about to get engaged. Do you really think he'll keep giving you money forever?"

Chloe gritted her teeth, silent.

As the man leaned in to say something else, she cut him off. "Don't worry about that. I’m not just after his money." A dark smirk spread across her lips. "I want his status, too. The Sinclair name will be mine."

"Well, well. Looks like you've got it all figured out, Chloe..."

The light turned green, and the cab pulled away, swallowing the rest of their conversation.

I lowered my phone, a sense of dread settling in my chest. Something was terribly wrong, and Julian was walking straight into a trap.

I texted Ethan, asking for the contact info of a reliable private investigator. I hired them immediately to dig into Chloe’s background.

Even though I had resolved not to marry Julian, I couldn't stand by and watch Helen and Richard get ruined by a con artist. They had taken me in after the crash and raised me as their own daughter. I owed them a debt of gratitude I could never truly repay.