Chapter 4

Grace ran out, tears streaming down her face. That left just Chris and me in the living room.

I felt like I'd been tossed into a freezer, my whole body numb and cold. All my so-called cleverness was nothing but a pathetic circus act in Chris's eyes.

He could hear every thought in my head, knew every plan I made, and watched from above like some god, entertained as I kept crashing into the web he'd spun for me, over and over.

'Monster... That's all he is,' I thought. I couldn't pretend anymore. My smile shattered, and my body trembled uncontrollably.

Chris let go of me, cupped my face in his hands, and softly caressed my icy skin with his fingertips. "Baby, why are you so scared? I just... can't stand it when what's mine starts dreaming about someone else."

His voice was gentle, but it hit me like a ton of bricks, shaking me to my core. "Olivia, you're mine. From the very first moment I laid eyes on you, you could only ever belong to me."

'He's a complete lunatic!' I thought, fear twisting in my chest. I shoved him away and bolted up the stairs, stumbling as I ran, my heart racing.

This time, Chris didn't try to stop me. He stood there, his poisonous gaze locked on my back, silently watching me leave.

I ran back to my room, locked the door behind me, and slid to the floor, gasping for air. Fear crashed over me like a tidal wave, drowning me in its icy grip.

I couldn't run, couldn't fight back, and now even the original female lead was taken out by him personally.

What else can I do? Am I really going to end up like the original Olivia, discarded when he's tired of me and left to rot in the ocean?

I refused to let this happen. There had to be another way.

I forced myself to calm down, going over everything step by step. Chris had to have a weakness.

He was possessive to the extreme, paranoid, and a total psycho.

But he was also the CEO of Shaw Group, and he had to maintain his flawless reputation in front of others.

What if I could make him slip up in public? What if I could find a reason that would force his hand, something he couldn't possibly overlook—a reason he'd have to let me go?

A plan began to take shape in my mind.

The next day, I did a complete 180 and started showering Chris with affection. I made him breakfast, picked out his tie, and stood on my tiptoes to plant a kiss on his cheek before he headed out.

'Hang in there, Olivia. If playing cute gets me my freedom, it's a small price to pay,' I told myself, forcing a smile.

Chris was clearly surprised by how quickly I switched gears. He held me close, deepening the kiss until I was breathless, only letting go when I was gasping for air.

"Baby, you're being so good today," he murmured, sounding pleased.

I snuggled into his arms, nodding, but inwardly, I was smirking. 'Good? Please. I'm just setting you up for a surprise you'll never see coming.'

That night, Shaw Group was hosting a major charity party, and practically every big shot in the city was there.

This was my chance.

I picked out a starry blue gown that made me stand out in the crowd, and with Chris's arm around me, I made my debut as Chris's wife for the very first time.

As we walked in, I could feel all eyes on me—some full of awe, others burning with jealousy.

Chris was clearly loving every second of being the center of attention. He pulled me close, like he was showing off his most prized trophy.

Midway through the party, the charity auction kicked off.

The host was presenting the grand finale—a pink diamond known as Venus Tear.

I took a deep breath, knowing my performance was about to begin.

I leaned in close to Chris, whispering so only he could hear, "Chris, I want that diamond."

Chris nodded without hesitation. "Sure."

The auction started, and Chris kept raising his paddle, driving the price up until it hit 16 hundred thousand dollars.

Just as the host was about to bring down the gavel, a clear male voice rang out from the back of the room. "2 million dollars."

The whole room erupted in shock.

Everyone whipped their heads around to see who had crashed the party.

The man was strikingly handsome, dressed in a sharp white suit, radiating an effortless charm, with a perfectly timed smile tugging at his lips.

My heart skipped a beat when I saw him. 'Ethan Cole? What's he doing here?' I thought.

Ethan was the devoted second male lead in the original story, and the only one who ever dared to go head-to-head with Chris in public.

Chris's expression turned icy cold, his gaze at Ethan sharp and chilling, like he was ready to freeze him out of existence.

But Ethan didn't even look at him. His eyes swept past the crowd and locked onto me, filled with curiosity and a fierce determination, like he was set on claiming me for himself.

My heart was racing. Something had gone wrong with my plan. But there was no turning back now.

I grabbed Chris's sleeve, putting on my most spoiled act. "Chris, I don't care. I want it. You have to win it for me."

I thought, 'That's exactly what I want. Let them fight over me—the infamous troublemaker. The bigger the scene, the better. Maybe they'll even start a brawl.'

Chris didn't say a word. He raised his paddle, his expression icy. "3 million dollars."

Ethan smiled and raised his paddle again. "4 million dollars."

The atmosphere in the room had frozen solid. Everyone knew this wasn't an auction anymore, but a battle between two top dogs. And I was right at the center of the storm, the troublemaker they were fighting over.

My palms were slick with sweat from nerves, but I kept it together, leaning in to egg Chris on with another whisper. "Chris, is he after me or what? Are you really going to let him outshine you? Can't even win against another guy?"

'Come on, Chris. Show him you're not letting anyone touch your girl,' I urged.

Chris gripped my hand so tightly it felt like he might crush my bones.

Instead of raising his paddle again, he turned to me, his eyes locked on mine, and asked, each word sharp and deliberate. "Do you know him?"