Chapter II

In the past, I cared too much for Liam, utilizing the family fund to inject capital into his firm, and even willing to domesticate myself to play the devoted housewife.

But now, he had personally shattered the rose-tinted lens.

Looking back, ever since Chloe claimed six months ago that she "couldn't take care of herself," everything he did was for her.

He forgot that I was the one who was supposed to spend the rest of my life with him, the one to fight alongside him in the business arena.

My reaction enraged Liam. "What do you mean by that? You're unwilling? You'd better get this straight: Chloe is one of the most important people in my life. You'd better make her happy, or I might just reconsider marrying you!"

With that, he slammed the door and left, leaving the room cold and empty.

Feeling stifled, I changed into sportswear and went downstairs for a night run in Central Park.

After one lap, I received a call from Damon Wolfe.

Thinking of Damon's face, permanently frosted over on the covers of financial magazines, I hesitated for two seconds before answering.

"Since you've stepped up to my gambling table, you are my chip. Scarlett, if you dare to desert me at the last minute, I will acquire every gallery under your name."

Damon's first sentence was filled with the predatory nature of a capitalist.

I remained silent, and he continued, his voice low and magnetic:

"Bring your documents. Meet me at City Hall tomorrow."

"I was afraid you might back out, Mr. Wolfe."

Damon Wolfe, you are acting very strange.

I had already mentally rehearsed ten thousand scenarios where he used marriage to swallow the Vance Group in a commercial conspiracy.

Ultimately, I squeezed out one sentence: "Mr. Wolfe, see you at the wedding."

Just as I hung up, Liam appeared out of nowhere behind me, his face gloomy.

"You want to invite Damon Wolfe to our wedding? I forbid it!"

He stared at me as if facing a formidable enemy:

"Scarlett Vance, didn't I tell you not to associate with Damon Wolfe? He is a shark in the industry and has no good intentions toward you. If you insist on inviting him to the wedding, don't blame me if I turn hostile!"

Before I could speak, he had already laid down his ultimatum.

Liam had always disliked Damon, harboring an inexplicable hostility and inferiority complex toward him. When we first got together, he even flew into a rage because Damon and I bid against each other at an auction. Since then, to spare his fragile ego, I had gradually cut off commercial ties with Damon.

But he actually said... Damon had no good intentions toward me?

I was about to press him for details when Chloe suddenly leaned against Liam's shoulder like a boneless doll.

"Liam, my foot hurts so much..."

I only then noticed that they had been holding hands tightly throughout their walk.

Liam coughed awkwardly twice but showed no intention of letting go.

Chloe looked at Liam with deep affection, then turned her head to say to me with a look of helplessness:

"Sister Scarlett, I'm sorry. Liam and I were just rehearsing the wedding procedures in advance to help me walk out of the shadow of depression. Please don't mind."

"I won't tell the media about you destroying my studio or even hiring people to intimidate me. But please don't hurt Liam. True love cannot withstand such tests."

Not wanting to watch her perform this third-rate Hollywood script, I turned to leave.

"Since you're looking forward to it so much, I'll contact a lawyer tonight to sue you for defamation, and while I'm at it, investigate how exactly that studio of yours caught fire!"

*Slap!*

Liam slapped me hard across the face.

"Scarlett Vance, how can you be so vicious?!"

He frowned deeply, his chest heaving violently, as if he were the one who had suffered a massive injustice.

Me, vicious?

He would rather believe someone's riddle-filled lies, yet our five-year relationship couldn't buy me even a shred of his trust.

I felt a sudden surge of anger and wanted to question Liam, but Chloe blocked him, her tears falling on command:

"Scarlett, I beg you, as soon as the ceremony is over, I'll return Liam to you."

"Please, have mercy, don't hurt the people around me, and don't hurt Liam."

Saying this, she made a show of kneeling on the park grass.

Liam, quick of eye and hand, grabbed her waist to stop her from kneeling, while glaring at me in fury.

"Scarlett Vance, put away your bullying rich-girl act!"

"You know I hate that the most. If you still want to marry me, stop making trouble without reason!"

With that, he warned me not to appear in front of them before the wedding to avoid stimulating Chloe's condition.

Unexpectedly, Liam contacted me on his own initiative the next day.

He launched into a tirade immediately: "Scarlett, did you actually hire a private investigator to harass Chloe's psychiatrist?! I never thought you were this kind of person!"

Full of suspicion, I had asked my chief assistant to investigate, only to uncover a truly shocking fact.

Chloe's "severe depression"... was completely fabricated.