Chapter 3
Every second felt painfully slow.
My mind grew fuzzy, and I started seeing Leon from five years ago.
That blood-covered boy lying in the snow, clutching my ankle.
"Save me. I'll repay you," he said.
All of it was lies. This was how he repaid me, dragging me down into the mud.
Just as I was about to pass out, someone kicked the hall doors open.
Blinding lights flooded the room. I instinctively raised a hand to shield my eyes.
A few guys in black suits walked in. Leading them was Leon's lawyer, Julian Mercer.
He carried a thick stack of documents. "Good morning, Ms. Sinclair."
He walked over and looked down at me coldly. "Mr. Hartley asked me to bring you these papers."
He tossed the papers in front of me.
"Here's the Brand Controlling Interest Transfer Agreement.
"Sign it, and you're free to go.
"There's hot coffee and heating outside waiting for you," he added.
I forced my eyes open and stared at the document that carried all my hard work.
"Where's Leon?" My voice was rough, like sandpaper scraping together.
"Mr. Hartley is with Ms. Blake at a wedding dress fitting.
"He doesn't have time to see you," Julian replied.
He took out a pen and held it toward me. "Ms. Sinclair, stop struggling.
"You've lost everything. Sign it, and at least you'll keep your life."
I didn't take the pen and instead turned the pages of the document slowly, one by one, with my fingers stiff and purple from the cold.
Every clause was wiping out everything I had built over the past three years.
Erica would take over everything I had built without lifting a finger.
I raised my head and locked eyes with him.
"I want to see Leon," I said, my voice steady and cold.
He sneered. "Ms. Sinclair, you don't get to set the terms anymore.
"Mr. Hartley said if you refuse to sign, this agreement might as well be your death certificate.
He made a gesture, and two bodyguards moved in, clamping down on my shoulders from both sides.
They dragged me up from the floor, forcing me upright.
One of them grabbed my right hand and shoved the pen into it.
"Sign it!" the bodyguard barked. He squeezed my wrist hard, forcing the pen down onto the paper.
The pen tore through the page. A sharp pain shot through my wrist, like my bones were twisting apart.
I struggled desperately. "Let me go. You're forcing me into this."
Julian watched coldly from the side.
"Ms. Sinclair, in Greyford, Mr. Hartley is the law. You'd be wise to cooperate," he said.
The crisp sound of high heels echoed from the entrance.
Erica walked in wearing a white wedding dress, with Leon right behind her, looking at her with obvious affection.
"Leon, how do I look in this?" she asked.
She lifted her skirt and spun in place. He walked over and slipped his arm around her waist.
"You're so beautiful. "Only you deserve a dress like this," he replied.
She turned to look at me, pretending to be surprised.
"Oh, Vivian, how did you end up looking so pathetic?" she said with fake sympathy.
She walked up to me and looked me over with a condescending air.
"This wedding dress was made for you, wasn't it?
"Too bad. You could never wear it now," she added.
I glared up at her, refusing to look away from her fake, smug face.
"Erica, after taking everything from me, can you really sleep at night?" I shot back.
She covered her mouth and laughed softly.
"Vivian, what are you talking about? Everything was always meant to be mine.
"Leon loves me. Your company and your brand are compensation for all the years you kept him," she replied.
Leon walked over to her and gave me a cold stare. "Vivian, sign it. Don't make me do this the hard way."
I looked at him, the man I once loved more than anything.
Suddenly, I laughed. My laughter echoed through the empty hall, cold and sharp. "Alright. I'll sign."
I stopped resisting and, with numb fingers, picked up the pen. I signed my name on the last page of the agreement.
It was done. I was completely drained and collapsed onto the floor.
Erica eagerly grabbed the agreement from Julian's hands.
She stared at my signature, her eyes full of excitement.
"Leon, I finally have my own brand," she exclaimed.
He gently stroked her hair. "I told you I would give you the best of everything."
He turned to look at me. "Vivian, you finally learned to behave.
"Since you cooperated, I'll let you go today. Get out of my sight."
I leaned against the wall and slowly stood up.
I wiped the blood from my wrist and watched the two of them celebrating, as if I wasn't even there.
"Leon, did you really read the agreement?" I asked calmly, with a hint of sarcasm.
He furrowed and turned to Julian.
Julian's face turned very pale. He pointed at the last line of the agreement, his hands shaking badly. "Mr. Hartley..."
Leon quickly snatched the agreement back. His gaze dropped to the additional clause.
I ran my fingers through my messy hair. "What I transferred wasn't ownership of the brand. It was the 100 million debt the brand had taken on from loan sharks in Greyford.
"Congratulations, Erica. You're now the loan sharks' biggest debtor."