Chapter 3

Chloe's POV

"Dude, it's a GAME! Your girl's not gonna freak out over a stupid dare, right?"

The chanting grew louder. And louder.

Mia waved her hands, smiling sweetly. "No no, don't pressure him. Chloe's right there, I don't want her thinking..."

"Nah nah nah—" One of the guys cut her off. "Mia, quit making excuses for him! Liam, you playing or what? You don't kiss her, you both shotgun three tequilas. You really gonna make Mia drink for you? After everything she's done for you the past six months? Come ON, bro."

"For real! What's one kiss after all she's done?"

"Don't be a pussy!"

Liam's face flushed. His eyes flickered across the room, landing on me for a fraction of a second.

Mia sighed sweetly, reaching for the bottle. "Guys, quit it, I'll just take the shots—"

She didn't even get to pour. Liam grabbed her waist and pulled her in.

He kissed her.

People lost their fucking minds.

"YOOOO!"

"LET'S GOOO!"

Whistles pierced my eardrums. Guys pounded the tables. Phones were out everywhere, camera flashes blinding me.

They weren't just kissing. Mia's hands threaded into his hair. Liam wrapped both arms around her, pulling her tight against his chest, kissing her harder. Deeper. Like twenty people weren't watching.

Like his girlfriend wasn't suffocating on the floor ten feet away.

A hot, stinging tear mixed with the sweat on my face.

I was such a fucking idiot.

Two whole years. I hid my family’s billions just so his fragile ego wouldn't bruise. I secretly wired that investment money to his startup. But that wasn't even the worst part.

I paid his electric bills so he could just focus on coding. I got on my hands and knees, covered in grime, fixing the busted plumbing in his shitty apartment because he couldn't afford a guy to do it. I scrubbed his toilets. I acted like a cheap maid for the man I loved.

And now? He was making out with his "best friend" using the money I gave him, while I choked to death on a sticky floor.

Fuck this.

I forced my shaking arms under me. My knees slammed against the hardwood. Every breath I dragged in sounded like a high, wet squeal, but I didn't care anymore.

I had to leave. Had to get out of here.

I crawled toward the hallway.

A hand clamped down on my wrist. Her manicured nails dug into my skin.

"Oh sweetie, where are you going?" Mia pitched her voice loudly for the crowd. "Are you mad about the kiss? Honey, it was a stupid dare. Don't be dramatic..."

I tried to brutally yank my arm away. That's when I saw it.

The silver cap of my EpiPen sticking out of her jacket pocket.

Pure adrenaline spiked through my blood. I lunged. "Give it BACK!"

I bumped her hard enough that the pen tumbled out of her pocket and hit the floor.

I scrambled for it. The exact second my shaking fingers touched the metal, Mia shoved me. Hard.

My head slammed backward into the wall.

Thud.

White noise exploded in my ears.

"AHH! My ankle!" Mia shrieked, collapsing backward onto the floor. "Liam! LIAM! She pushed me!"

Liam whipped around. The look in his eyes wasn't just anger. It was pure hatred.

"Are you out of your fucking mind?!" he roared at me. "Mia competes TOMORROW! You're attacking her over a stupid game?!"

My chest heaved violently, struggling for a single drop of oxygen. I couldn't speak. I just gripped the EpiPen, bringing it toward my thigh. Just one click—

SMACK.

His hand cracked across my face.

The slap hit me so hard I tasted copper instantly. My hand went completely numb, and the pen flew away, rolling right next to Liam's heavy boots.

I held my burning cheek, staring up at him through blurry eyes.

He didn't look sorry. He looked at me like I was absolute trash.

"It's a plastic pen, Chloe. Cut the dying act."

He raised his foot.

"NO—" I forced out a broken, pathetic croak.

CRACK.

He stomped down. The plastic snapped.

I lay there, completely paralyzed, watching the clear liquid—my only shot at living—leak out and disappear into the cracks of the dirty floorboards.

Gone.

From the safety of Liam's arms, Mia looked down at me. A tiny, vicious smirk played on her lips.

Someone in the back snickered. "Bro, she's still clutching her neck like it's an Oscar movie..."

My tongue was a giant swollen sponge blocking my throat. My body was finally shutting down.

With the last bit of life left in my veins, I forced my head up.

"Listen to me... you pieces of shit..." My vocal cords felt like they were tearing apart. "My brother... is Arthur Sterling."

The laughter died.

"When he gets here... you're all dead."

For two seconds, nobody moved.

Then, Liam threw his head back and laughed. "Arthur Sterling? The CEO of Sterling Group? Jesus Christ, Chloe, you're psychotic."

Mia giggled loudly. "Oh my GOD. That is literally my dad's boss. You're pathetic!"

"Laugh..." I wheezed, my eyes rolling back. "Laugh while you can..."

Mia rolled her eyes. "Right. Sure, sweetie. When your imaginary billionaire brother shows up, I'll deal with him myself—"

CRASH.

The heavy door violently flew open.

A tall man stormed into the room. His eyes locked onto me on the floor, and his face darkened instantly.

He slowly turned to Mia, his voice deadly quiet.

"Who the fuck do you think you're going to deal with?"