Chapter 2

2

After my parents died, he came to my house and promised, "Ellie, I'm your family now. Anyone who tries to hurt you will have to go through me."

But in the end, he was the one who broke me into a thousand pieces.

Chloe's appearance was an accident.

We were out together when we ran into her being harassed by some thugs. Preston stepped in to save her.

After that, she used "gratitude" as an excuse to weave herself into our lives.

Her gentle, understanding act made Preston pity her, and soon, his heart began to sway.

She would sneer at me when he wasn't looking, badmouthing my late parents.

I lost my temper and slapped her.

Preston walked in just in time to see it.

He flew into a rage. To teach me a "lesson," he shipped me overseas, leaving me to fend for myself.

If it weren't for Silas, I would have perished a dozen times over.

Returning to this city, I had hoped to avoid any further entanglement with him.

But the next morning, a loud ruckus dragged me out of my sleep.

I opened the bedroom door to find Preston standing there, his eyes burning with fury.

"Well, well, Ellie. The butler said he saw your car enter the Sterling villa, and I didn't believe him. Turns out, you really are here."

I rolled my eyes. I was at my husband's house―where else would I be?

"Get out with me right now. Don't embarrass yourself here."

He reached out to grab me. I frowned and stepped back.

Just then, Chloe slid in and grabbed my arm.

She looked at me with mock disgust. "Ellie, this isn't a place for you. Come back with us. What if Silas finds out you've been sneaking in here? He won't be happy."

I was speechless. Who was actually trespassing? I was sleeping peacefully in my own home.

They were the ones who had forced their way in. I shoved Chloe away, intent on setting the record straight. "Preston, I'm not going anywhere. I'm already―"

Before I could finish, Preston cut me off with a scoff. "Your family is dead. If you don't come with me, where else do you have to go?"