Chapter 4

Chloe found a secluded corner of the balcony overlooking the gardens, needing to escape the suffocating ballroom. She watched as Ethan moved through the crowd, a king in his court. He eventually made his way over to Liam.

From a distance, she saw the way Ethan's entire demeanor softened. He leaned in to listen to something Liam was saying, his hand resting lightly on the small of Liam' s back. He refilled Liam' s champagne flute, making sure it wasn't too full. Every gesture was filled with a gentle, practiced care that made Chloe' s stomach churn. It was an intimacy that was so public, yet felt so private. A world she had only ever been allowed to visit in the dark.

She went back inside and straight to the bar. "Whiskey," she told the bartender. "Neat. And keep them coming."

She drank to numb the ache in her chest, to silence the voice in her head that kept replaying the image of Ethan and Liam together. The alcohol burned, but it was a welcome distraction from the pain that was threatening to consume her.

Later in the evening, someone announced a party game, a charity auction where people could bid on a dance with the city' s most eligible bachelors. Ethan, of course, was the main prize.

Chloe watched from her corner, a bitter smile on her face. She knew how this would end. But a small, stupid part of her, the part that had bought an engagement ring, held its breath.

The bidding was fierce, but it quickly became a battle between two people: a wealthy socialite who was openly infatuated with Ethan, and Liam, who was bidding with a quiet, determined intensity.

The price climbed higher and higher. Finally, the socialite dropped out. The auctioneer banged his gavel. "Sold! To Mr. Liam Miller!"

The crowd applauded. Liam looked over at Ethan with a shy, triumphant smile. Ethan' s face was unreadable, but he walked to the dance floor and took Liam' s hand.

As the music started, a slow, romantic ballad, Ethan pulled Liam close. They moved together gracefully, a perfect picture of elegance and romance. To everyone in the room, they looked like two people who were destined to be together.

For Chloe, it was the final, public confirmation of what she already knew. She was nothing. A temporary diversion. A secret he was ashamed of.

She turned and walked away, not caring where she was going. She ended up in an empty corridor, leaning against the wall, the crimson silk of her dress feeling like a costume for a part she had failed to play. She didn't cry. She was past tears. She just felt a vast, crushing emptiness.

She was so lost in her own misery that she didn't hear the footsteps approaching until a voice spoke from behind her.

"Having a bad night?"

It was one of the investors from the party, a man who had been staring at her all evening. He was older, with a leering smile that made her skin crawl.

"I'm fine," she said, pushing herself off the wall.

"You don't look fine," he said, stepping closer, blocking her path. "You look like you could use a friend." He reached out to touch her hair.

"I said, I'm fine," Chloe repeated, her voice turning to ice. She slapped his hand away. "Get lost."

His smile vanished. "Don't be like that, little girl. I know who you are. The Davis family's little problem child. Your father would be happy if someone took you off his hands."

He lunged for her. Chloe reacted on instinct. She drove her knee hard into his groin. He gasped and doubled over. She didn't hesitate. She grabbed a heavy vase from a nearby table and smashed it over his head. He crumpled to the floor, groaning.

She didn't wait to see what happened next. She ran. She fled the gala, her heart pounding, her borrowed gown trailing behind her. She ran out into the cold night air, hailing the first cab she saw.

"Just drive," she gasped, shoving a handful of crumpled bills at the driver.

She didn't know how long they drove. She just stared blankly out the window until her phone buzzed. It was a text from an unknown number.

"Where are you? Are you okay?"

It was followed by another.

"That was impressive, what you did to him. But you can't just run. - S"

Chloe frowned. S? She didn't know anyone with that initial. Before she could reply, another car pulled up beside the cab, boxing it in. Ethan got out.

He yanked open the cab door. "Get out, Chloe."

She didn't move. He reached in and pulled her out onto the sidewalk.

"What is wrong with you?" he demanded, his voice tight with anger. "Assaulting a major investor at a public event? Do you have any idea the mess you've just created?"

"He touched me!" she yelled back. "What was I supposed to do? Let him?"

Just then, Liam came running up, looking pale and worried. "Ethan, is she okay? I saw what happened. It was awful." He turned to Chloe. "Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine," Chloe snapped, pulling her arm out of Ethan's grasp. "No thanks to either of you."

"Let's just get you home," Liam said softly, trying to take her other arm.

"Don't touch me!" Chloe snarled, yanking away from him.

Suddenly, a commotion erupted down the street. A car, speeding and out of control, jumped the curb and careened directly toward them.

Everything happened in a split second. Ethan reacted instantly. Without a moment's hesitation, he threw himself in front of Liam, shoving him out of the way.

Chloe was left standing alone, directly in the car's path. She had no time to move. She just saw the headlights, heard the screech of tires, and then a searing, white-hot pain as the car hit her. The world went black.