Chapter 4

Ashton looked at her with pure annoyance. "Are you deaf? You broke into my house tonight, shattered my favorite vase, and threatened suicide to traumatize me. The emotional distress damages plus the cost of the antique vase total 3.8 million dollars."

He snapped his fingers. His bodyguard immediately stepped forward and handed Chloe a printed invoice.

Chloe stared at the paper, completely dumbfounded. "Ashton! I-I almost died for you!"

She pointed at her bandaged wrist.

Ashton nodded. "I have security cameras inside my apartment. They prove you broke in at midnight to perform a suicide stunt. You have caused me severe emotional trauma. Are you paying via wire transfer or check?"

Ashton's cold logic left Chloe entirely speechless.

I stood by the side, perfectly calm.

During the two years Chloe was away, I had studied her personality inside out. I knew she loved playing the victim and threatening suicide. To desensitize Ashton, I had spent the last two years setting up "scenarios" with various gold-diggers who tried to throw themselves at him.

I had exposed him to every trick in the book—from girls faking car accidents to stage-managed overdoses.

Ashton had gone from panic-stricken to completely immune. Compared to what I had prepared him for, Chloe's little wrist-slitting show was amateur hour.

Chloe couldn't believe her ears. "Ashton, I was willing to die for you, and you're asking me for money?!"

"Of course," Ashton said seriously. "That vase was bought at a Sotheby's auction. It took me months to find one that matched my living room decor. And you just smashed it!"

"And who gave you permission to enter my apartment anyway?"

"You set the passcode to my birthday! You still love me!" Chloe shrieked.

Ashton looked at her like she was insane. "Chloe, are you out of your mind? We share the same birthday! I set the passcode to my own birthday. What does that have to do with you?"

"You broke into my home and traumatized me. The fact that I'm not calling the police right now is me being generous."

Ashton then looked at me, waiting for my professional input.

I gave him a thumbs-up. "Spot on. Illegal entry of a habitation is a felony punishable by up to three years in prison. If accompanied by other unlawful acts, the sentences run consecutively."

"And Chloe, you're looking at a solid three years behind bars. Do you want us to call the cops and get a psychological evaluation? If you're deemed mentally sound, we'll proceed with the criminal charges."

Chloe screamed in terror. Mrs. Sterling rushed forward and shoved me hard. "What nonsense are you talking?! Our Chloe grew up with Ashton! They were just playing a game!"

I stumbled backward and hit my shoulder against the doorframe. I winced in pain.

Ashton's eyes flared with rage. "Mrs. Sterling! If Chloe's break-in is a crime, your physical assault on my fiancée is even worse!"

"I will make sure my legal team prosecutes this to the fullest extent!"

Mr. Sterling, who had been quiet, finally realized Ashton wasn't bluffing. He quickly stepped in to apologize.

"I'm so sorry, Ashton. My wife was just too worried about Chloe."

"We will pay for the damages. But please, for the sake of our families' history, could you stay with Chloe for a bit?"

Ashton wrapped his arm securely around my waist. "No. It's inappropriate."

"Today is my engagement day. Chloe needs a professional therapist and her family, not me. We're leaving. And don't ever bother us again."

With that, he guided me out of the hospital, leaving them behind.