Chapter 3

Before they returned to the estate, I packed a few toiletries and moved out.

The next day, once I had pulled myself together, I went to work.

Early that morning, my coworkers all congratulated me on my engagement.

"You'd better invite us to the party."

"Thea, you and Damian are such a perfect match. Your future children will be beautiful."

Hearing Damian's name out of nowhere made my whole body tremble.

It felt as if I had returned to that cold moonlit night when my life drained away.

My bones shattered, I lay on the ground like roadkill. I struggled with all my strength, but it was useless. All I could do was feel my life slipping away bit by bit...

I never wanted to taste that kind of despair again.

I exhaled and was just about to explain where things stood between Damian and me.

But Vivian suddenly burst out from the crowd, grabbed the computer from a nearby desk, and hurled it at me with savage force.

"Thea, you seduced Damian for the sake of your career. He's your sister's fiance!"

"Will you only be satisfied once you've completely ruined my life?"

Her words detonated in the office.

The coworkers around us immediately started whispering.

"Oh my God, this is huge."

"I knew it. A woman like Thea becoming a manager so soon after graduation? Turns out she slept her way up."

"And they're sisters. She stole her own sister's fiance? Disgusting."

Shock. Contempt. Disdain.

Their stares pricked my skin like needles.

I watched Vivian unravel in silence. "Are you done making a scene?"

"Thea, you've always targeted me. You were jealous that I was better and happier than you."

Vivian gave a tragic smile, her face covered in tears. "I always gave in to you because you were younger, but you're really driving me insane."

"I... I'm pregnant. The baby needs his father. Please, let me go."

"Thea, give Damian back to me, okay?"

I had to admit, Vivian knew how to perform.

She cradled her stomach carefully, tears slipping down her face as if on cue, drawing sympathy from everyone around her.

And of course, the other star of the show soon appeared.

When Damian arrived, he froze in place.

First, he avoided my gaze guiltily. Then, without hesitation, he rushed to Vivian, his face full of tenderness.

That little display of "true love" made my supposed shamelessness look all but proven.

The whispers around us swelled.

I tuned them out and calmly called the police.

Then, for good measure, I contacted a psychiatric facility.

Vivian loved using her breakdowns to torture and humiliate me.

Fine. Then she could go exactly where she belonged.