Chapter 4 · This Time, I Broke The Door

After I left the villa, I went back to Lordy Villa.

It was a little place that the original Claire had bought for herself before the marriage.

After I showered and got ready for bed, I curled up in the rocking chair by the floor-to-ceiling windows and stared out at the city lights. My throat suddenly felt tight, and my eyes started to sting.

I missed my parents so much.

I was their only daughter. I couldn't stop thinking about how devastated they'd be when they came home from their world tour and found out I was gone.

But I didn't have much time to wallow in grief. Just a few days later, Leonard started causing problems again.

*****

I couldn't tell how Leonard's mind works. After I trashed his study that day, he still didn't want the divorce.

But he did decide to teach me a lesson.

The original Claire owned an art gallery, but this morning I got a call telling me to shut it down for inspection.

My business partner, Grace Frost, got dragged in for questioning, too—they slapped some bogus economic crime charge on her.

This part didn't exist in the original story.

Thinking back to last night, I knew this was Leonard's warning to me.

I got dressed and planned to storm his office and confront him.

Before heading downstairs, I remembered what that female officer told me yesterday, "Collect evidence and file for divorce."

So I didn't leave right away. Instead, I ordered a batch of mini cameras online.

An hour later, I installed all the cameras and then left the house.

*****

When I showed up at his company, he looked perfectly composed, like he'd been waiting for me all along.

"Did you frame Grace?" I cut straight to the point.

"Your so-called best friend had dirty hands. I did you a favor," he said smoothly.

I didn't want to play games with him. "What do you want?"

Leonard smiled, "Claire, you should've been this obedient from the start."

An hour later, I sat in a makeup room.

Tonight, the Cole family was hosting a party, and Leonard wanted me there with him.

The Cole family. A party. Those keywords triggered my memory.

In the original story, Vanessa was pure evil through and through.

Arrogant and ruthless, she played a significant role in pushing Claire toward her tragic fate.

The first love's return plotline had jumped ahead of schedule, and I didn't know if the original events would repeat themselves. But wherever Vanessa showed up, trouble followed.

I touched my purse and knew I needed a plan.

The makeup artist dabbed and brushed across my face. At the same time, I desperately tried to recall every detail about the Cole family from the book.

If I'd known I was going to end up in this book, I would've memorized every damn detail and plot point.

And hell, I skipped several chapters in the middle.

I was still brainstorming when I felt warm breath against my shoulder.

I opened my eyes and caught Leonard leaning closer in the mirror.

"Claire, you look better with straight hair. Keep it like this from now on, yeah?"

I couldn't help but roll my eyes. His tone was disgusting.

I straightened up casually and shot him a glance. "You talk too much."

*****

I'd agreed to save Grace in exchange for playing the part of Leonard's gracious, elegant wife tonight.

But I'd overestimated my patience and underestimated just how vicious Vanessa could be.

I dodged her wine glass when she accidentally tilted it toward me, sidestepped her hand trying to shove me into the pool, and avoided the spiked juice she offered—but Vanessa still had one more trick up her sleeve.

She came running over to Leonard in a panic, clutching her dress, claiming her million-dollar jewelry had gone missing.

In front of everyone, she grabbed Leonard's arm and sobbed that it was a keepsake from her grandmother.

I found the whole performance disgusting and took a few steps back.

But out of the corner of my eye, I caught Vanessa glancing at me while dabbing fake tears from her face.

My temple throbbed. This setup was aimed at me.

The purse in my hand suddenly felt heavy and hot. I had a sinking feeling the "stolen goods" were already inside.

Chapter 4

After I left the villa, I went back to Lordy Villa.

It was a little place that the original Claire had bought for herself before the marriage.

I missed my parents so much.

I was their only daughter. I couldn't stop thinking about how devastated they'd be when they came home from their world tour and found out I was gone.

But I didn't have much time to wallow in grief. Just a few days later, Leonard started causing problems again.

*****

I couldn't tell how Leonard's mind works. After I trashed his study that day, he still didn't want the divorce.

But he did decide to teach me a lesson.

The original Claire owned an art gallery, but this morning I got a call telling me to shut it down for inspection.

My business partner, Grace Frost, got dragged in for questioning, too—they slapped some bogus economic crime charge on her.

This part didn't exist in the original story.

Thinking back to last night, I knew this was Leonard's warning to me.

I got dressed and planned to storm his office and confront him.

Before heading downstairs, I remembered what that female officer told me yesterday, "Collect evidence and file for divorce."

So I didn't leave right away. Instead, I ordered a batch of mini cameras online.

An hour later, I installed all the cameras and then left the house.

*****

When I showed up at his company, he looked perfectly composed, like he'd been waiting for me all along.

"Did you frame Grace?" I cut straight to the point.

"Your so-called best friend had dirty hands. I did you a favor," he said smoothly.

I didn't want to play games with him. "What do you want?"

Leonard smiled, "Claire, you should've been this obedient from the start."

An hour later, I sat in a makeup room.

Tonight, the Cole family was hosting a party, and Leonard wanted me there with him.

The Cole family. A party. Those keywords triggered my memory.

In the original story, Vanessa was pure evil through and through.

Arrogant and ruthless, she played a significant role in pushing Claire toward her tragic fate.

The first love's return plotline had jumped ahead of schedule, and I didn't know if the original events would repeat themselves. But wherever Vanessa showed up, trouble followed.

I touched my purse and knew I needed a plan.

The makeup artist dabbed and brushed across my face. At the same time, I desperately tried to recall every detail about the Cole family from the book.

If I'd known I was going to end up in this book, I would've memorized every damn detail and plot point.

And hell, I skipped several chapters in the middle.

I was still brainstorming when I felt warm breath against my shoulder.

I opened my eyes and caught Leonard leaning closer in the mirror.

"Claire, you look better with straight hair. Keep it like this from now on, yeah?"

I couldn't help but roll my eyes. His tone was disgusting.

I straightened up casually and shot him a glance. "You talk too much."

*****

I'd agreed to save Grace in exchange for playing the part of Leonard's gracious, elegant wife tonight.

But I'd overestimated my patience and underestimated just how vicious Vanessa could be.

She came running over to Leonard in a panic, clutching her dress, claiming her million-dollar jewelry had gone missing.

In front of everyone, she grabbed Leonard's arm and sobbed that it was a keepsake from her grandmother.

I found the whole performance disgusting and took a few steps back.

But out of the corner of my eye, I caught Vanessa glancing at me while dabbing fake tears from her face.

My temple throbbed. This setup was aimed at me.

The purse in my hand suddenly felt heavy and hot. I had a sinking feeling the "stolen goods" were already inside.