Chapter 3

The room fell silent for a moment.

Slap!

Instead of being saved, I received another vicious slap from Chloe.

"So, if you're Mr. Sterling's wife, then who am I?" she demanded.

"I've worked for Mr. Sterling for five years and have known him for ten. I've never once heard that he was married.

"How dare you lie to me, you shameless bitch?"

I spat out a mouthful of blood and desperately tried to explain. "We're childhood sweethearts. I really am his wife."

Hearing Arthur's name, a few of the other secretaries exchanged worried glances, looking as though they wanted to intervene.

But Chloe waved them off with a dismissive flick of her wrist.

"Don't worry. I know Mr. Sterling better than anyone."

She looked me up and down with absolute disdain.

My torn dress lay cast aside like a dirty rag. I wore no jewelry, no designer clothes, and carried no luxury handbag. Even the lunchbox I had brought was just a cheap plastic container from the supermarket.

Chloe sneered. "Besides, look at this pathetic, shabby woman. She doesn't have a single designer label on her. How could she possibly be Mr. Sterling's wife?"

I finally managed to catch my breath, but a sudden, terrifying warmth spread between my legs. Dread washed over me.

"Blood! She's bleeding!"

One of the secretaries backed away in a panic.

My heart hammered in my chest, and I grew frantic.

I weakly raised a trembling hand, trying to grab onto something, but all I felt was the horrifying rush of blood pooling beneath me.

Chloe glanced over and snapped at the frightened secretary. "What's all the fuss about? It's just a little blood. What are you so afraid of?

"Besides, she's nothing but a mistress. The child she's carrying is illegitimate.

"It's only natural for an illegitimate child to be terminated."

The crowd fell dead silent, no one daring to speak up in my defense.

I clutched my stomach, my voice breaking as I begged.

"Please... call an ambulance.

"My baby... my baby..."

But no one moved to help me. Everyone simply stood there, watching with cold indifference and a sick, hidden satisfaction, waiting for me to miscarry.

Chloe continued to watch me bleed out for at least ten agonizing minutes.

Finally, she pulled out her phone and dialed a number.

For a fleeting second, I thought she was calling an ambulance. Instead, I heard Arthur's voice through the speaker.

"What is it?" the man on the other end of the line asked indifferently. His tone was flat and entirely unreadable.

"Mr. Sterling, another woman showed up at the company today, claiming she wanted to deliver food to you."

When Chloe spoke to Arthur, her entire demeanor shifted. Gone was the vicious attacker; in her place was a delicate, almost sickeningly sweet assistant.

Arthur sounded impatient. "You're bothering me over something this trivial? What is the point of having you as my secretary if you can't manage basic issues? Just handle it yourself."

Without another word, he hung up.

Chloe arched an eyebrow, looking around the room with smug satisfaction. "Did you all hear that? Mr. Sterling told me to handle it."

I opened my mouth to cry out, but I was far too weak to make a sound.

Chloe stalked toward me, her high heels clicking sharply against the floor.

She planted her heel squarely on my face, pressing down with deliberate, crushing force.

"With the amount of blood pouring out of you right now, the platform won't even let me post photos. It's too graphic.

"Consider yourself lucky this time.

"But now, let's deal with your face.

"I'd love to see how you plan to seduce Mr. Sterling once this pretty face is ruined."

With that, she pulled out a utility knife and lightly traced the blade against my cheek.

Just as I was about to give up all hope, Chloe's phone rang again.

It was Arthur.

Chloe quickly answered.

"I need the documents for the Kensington project prepared immediately. Get them ready right now."

"Yes, Mr. Sterling."

"I'll be at the company in about ten minutes..."