Chapter 5

Over the next few days, Brooke's male characteristics became undeniable.

Her skin grew rough and oily.

Her Adam's apple was visibly protruding, and her voice sounded incredibly deep and raspy.

If she didn't shave her mustache and leg hair daily, they would grow back thicker than her eyebrows.

Brooke hysterically beat Austin's chest. "It's all your fault! This pregnancy is making me so ugly! When are you going to divorce that useless wife of yours?"

Austin grabbed her hands, his voice determined. "Within three days, I'll make sure we break up."

That night, he knocked on my door and tried to pick a fight over our wedding budget.

"Chloe, about that $18,000 wedding budget... I really can't afford it. Can you ask your parents to pay for the whole wedding? Or maybe we just skip the ceremony entirely?"

Looking at his pathetic acting, I simply unlocked my phone and slid it over to him.

It was a screenshot of our text messages from a few months ago.

*“My girl deserves the absolute best. $18k is nothing. Even if it were $180k, I’d pay it.”*

He choked on his words, stuttering after a long silence. "But... shouldn't you be more considerate of me? It’s not easy for me to make money..."

Before he could finish, I said gently, "I was just trying to save your pride by not bringing it up. Don't worry, I'll call my parents right now and tell them we're canceling the wedding."

He shut his mouth, looking thoroughly frustrated.

Over the next two days, he became even more insufferable, trying to start fights over the smallest things.

If I didn't like his Instagram post, he screamed at me.

If I didn't pour him a drink during dinner, he made a scene.

Finally, he even accused me in front of all his friends of never contributing enough to our relationship.

The friends were confused by his sudden toxic behavior, but they had to step in to keep the peace.

Brooke looked at me with smug satisfaction.

I knew Austin was trying to force me to break up with him so he could play the victim.

But I didn't expect him to go so far as to push me toward Ethan on our last night of the trip.

He deliberately sat me next to Ethan, and during a party game, he practically forced me to sit on Ethan's back while Ethan was doing push-ups.

I ended up drinking way too much. When I finally woke up the next morning, I saw Ethan’s flushed face right next to me.

Before I could even process what was happening, the hotel room door was kicked open violently.

Blinding camera flashes went off, making my eyes water.

Austin marched in with Brooke and a dozen local gossip photographers.

He pointed at me, his face twisted in mock outrage and embarrassment. "Chloe! How could you do this to me? After four years, you cheated on me with my own friend!"

"We are getting a divorce! You are the guilty party, and you will get absolutely nothing!"

He threw a divorce agreement onto the bed, forcing a pen into my hand.

There was no doubt about it—Ethan and I had been set up.

Austin didn't just want a divorce; he wanted to ruin my reputation completely, making me look like a cheating whore so he could walk away with all our joint assets.

Behind me, Ethan's voice was raspy. "I'm so sorry, Chloe..."

"Don't apologize," I interrupted him. "You didn't do anything wrong."

I flipped through the agreement. Looking at the absurd clauses, I rolled my eyes, threw the papers right back into Austin's face, and said coldly:

"We can divorce. But the one walking away with nothing is going to be you."

Brooke crossed her arms, looking incredibly smug. "Oh, you think you have a choice? If you don't sign, we'll leak these photos to the media tomorrow. Let's see how you survive then!"

The smirk on Austin's face was unbearable. "Chloe, I recall your dad has a severe heart condition. I wonder how he'll feel when he sees these."

Knowing the cameras were rolling, he kept his threat subtle.

"I'll give you three days. If you don't sign, you're finished!"

He wrapped his arm around Brooke's waist. Brooke gave me a haughty look. "It's your own fault for not appreciating him. Austin is mine now!"

Once they stepped out of the room, Austin whispered excitedly, "Yes! We’re going to get all her money!"

Brooke looked at him with pure adoration, leaning in to kiss his lips. "Austin, you are so amazing!"

Austin’s eyes darkened with lust, and he pulled her in for a passionate kiss.

Now that they had gotten what they wanted, their desires flared up. They began tearing off each other's clothes in the hallway.

Austin's hand slid down her body, tracing her curves.

But the next second, he let out a horrified shriek. "What the hell is that bulge?!"