Chapter 3

I was a bit taken aback.

Because of Ethan, my relationship with Veronica was bound to be terrible. I didn't expect her to visit me.

Seeing that I didn't reply, Veronica wasn't angry. She sat right beside my bed and started bragging.

"Sorry I didn't give you a heads-up. Ethan is just too protective of me. My stomach was feeling a bit off, and he was so worried. He literally confiscated my phone and forced me to take a nap. He only just left because of an urgent company matter, so I finally found time to see you."

I nodded, my voice flat.

"Thank you for coming. Since you're sick, you should rest more."

Veronica froze for a second, then her smile grew even wider, dripping with venom.

"So... you really did lose your memory."

"I heard that during the five years I was gone, you clung to Ethan like a desperate dog."

"But even if you don't remember, I’m sure Harper told you how much he loves me. I really want to get back together with Ethan, but because you fell down the stairs, he has this lingering guilt. It’s holding him back."

She tilted her head, the sweet smile vanishing to reveal pure, raw malice.

"So, I need you to disappear from Ethan's sight, you pathetic loser."

Before I could even speak, Veronica's eyes welled up, and massive tears began to roll down her cheeks as she sobbed into her hands.

Before I could figure out what game she was playing, Ethan burst through the door with brute force. The moment he saw Veronica crying, he turned on me like a savage animal.

"Chloe, what the hell is wrong with you?! Veronica came here out of the goodness of her heart, and you have the nerve to bully her? I’ve told you a thousand times, Veronica is my life. She’s the only woman I will ever love."

"I actually thought you were behaving lately with your cold act. I didn't realize your tactics had just gotten dirtier!"

I kept my composure and explained, "I didn't say a thing. Veronica came into my room and insulted me under the guise of visiting. There’s a security camera right there. Just pull the footage."

Veronica’s eyes flickered, and she immediately sobbed, "Ethan, please, she’s still a wealthy heiress. My family is ruined now, I can’t afford to offend her."

"If she says I insulted her, then I did. Miss Chloe, I apologize to you. I'll bow to you. Just please, don't be mad!"

Ethan already loathed me for using my family's influence to chase him. Seeing Veronica humiliate herself like this made him lose all rationality.

He pulled Veronica into his arms, cooing softly, "Veronica, you’re just too kind."

He then glared at me. "Last time, she almost got physically violent with you. Thank God I got there in time. I thought falling down the stairs would teach you a lesson, but you're still as vicious as ever!"

He spat out his warning. "Chloe, for the sake of your recovery, apologize to Veronica right now, and I’ll let this go!"

I was shaking with anger. "I will not apologize! Why should I apologize for something I didn't do?!"

"Ethan Hayes, I said I didn't do it! If you don't believe me, check the security cameras!"

Ethan sneered, completely ignoring my words. He turned to the bodyguards standing behind him.

"Check the cameras? Do you think Veronica would lie to me?!"

"Since you refuse to apologize on your own, I’ll have to have someone teach you some manners."

I had barely recovered from my head injury, and my physical strength was no match for professional bodyguards. Within seconds, they pinned my arms back. The brute force bruised my shoulders instantly, making me gasp in pain.

Under Ethan’s cold command, the bodyguards violently dragged me out of bed.

They forced my head down, trying to make me bow to Veronica.

I was already suffering from a concussion and prone to dizziness. After being violently wrestled like this, my vision went black. My head slammed hard against the metal edge of the hospital bed.

Warm blood immediately gushed down my forehead, blinding me. The pain was excruciating.

"Leave her! She's just playing victim again. Today, she needs to learn her lesson."

Blood blurred my eyes. Weak and dizzy, I collapsed to my knees on the cold floor. The bodyguards kept pressing my head down, forcing me to bow to Veronica. My forehead hit the hard floor repeatedly. Ethan stood there, watching it all with absolute indifference.

It hurt. It hurt so much.

My head felt like it was being shattered by a sledgehammer. My entire body began to convulse with pain.

Eventually, I lost the strength to struggle and slipped into complete darkness.

The last thing I saw through the blood was Ethan gently wrapping his coat around Veronica, whispering sweet words as he led her out. Veronica looked back at me, sprawled miserably on the floor, her face twisted in a triumphant grin. Clinging to Ethan, she silently mouthed to me:

"You lose, b"tch."