Chapter 1
380words
Victor stumbled home reeking of whiskey, a telltale smear of coral lipstick staining his crisp white collar.
That exact shade—the limited-edition lipstick I'd given Chloe for her birthday. One of only fifty in the world.
He wrapped his arms around me, but the name that tumbled from his lips was: "Chloe..."
In that moment, my heart didn't just break—it shattered.
But I didn't cry. I didn't scream.
I simply gathered each jagged fragment of my heart and, with steady hands, forged them into a blade.
On our anniversary evening, at seven sharp.
I perched in the hotel lobby.
My hands trembled, but my mind was crystal clear.
I sent two carefully crafted texts:
To Victor: "Babe, happy anniversary! Got called away on emergency business—won't be back tonight. BTW, Chloe's devastated after her breakup. Mind checking on her for me?"
To Chloe: "Girl! Victor's planning this massive anniversary surprise and I'm playing dumb. Could you go to the hotel suite and help set up? Give him a real 'surprise' when he arrives? Room 2208."
An hour later, I stood outside room 2208 with the hotel security manager.
Even through the heavy door, their moans and gasps were unmistakable.
When the security manager swiped his master key, my nails dug crescents into my palm until they drew blood.
Victor scrambled to yank the sheets up.
Chloe shrieked, ducking behind his shoulder.
I raised my phone, the camera lens capturing their horror-stricken faces.
"Happy anniversary."
My voice quivered, not from grief but rage: "Surprise exciting enough for you?"
Victor stammered, "Y-you told me to check on her..."
I laughed coldly. "I told you to book a suite? To fuck my best friend?"
He had nothing.
As I pocketed my phone, Chloe's eyes narrowed to slits. "It's your own damn fault!" she shrieked. "If you knew how to keep a man satisfied—"
Her words pierced the most vulnerable part of me, venom-tipped and precise.
But I simply turned, spine straight as steel, and walked away one deliberate step at a time.
Only when the elevator doors sealed shut did I finally allow the tears to fall.
Three years ago, I'd walked away from my family's billion-dollar empire for him.
Starting today, I'd make him pay me back with interest. A hundredfold.
