Chapter 11
Frantic footsteps pounded against the floor behind me, followed by a furious roar-
“Chloe Sinclair!”
Leo’s voice cut through the air like a whip.
I didn’t turn around.
Instead, I took a deliberate step forward, the sharp heel of my stiletto landing directly on Layla’s
canvas shoe.
She yelped, staggering slightly, but I didn’t stop there.
While she clutched onto Leo, playing the part of the helpless damsel, I reached out, grabbed a fistful
of her hair, and yanked–hard.
Her head snapped back, and before she could even react, my other hand came down.
SMACK.
A second slap, sharper than the first.
“Are you insane?!”
Leo lunged forward, gripping my wrist.
But I didn’t let go.
Instead, I used the momentum of his pull to tighten my grip on Layla’s hair, dragging her backward
as she let out a shriek.
Tears welled up in her eyes as she sobbed, her free hand clawing at my arm, wailing as if she were
the true victim.
finally released her, my fingers tingling from the sheer force of my grip.
Layla gasped dramatically, falling into Leo’s arms as she cried out, her voice trembling with fake
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Chapter 11
distress.
“She–she called me a mistress! A call girl! She tried to ip my clothes off to check what I was wearing underneath-!”
I took a deep breath, leveling my gaze at the growing crowd.
“She said that to me.” My voice was steady, loud enough for everyone to hear. “She called me a mistress. Said I was nothing more than a free maid for the past year. That I had no dignity. That Leo never even gave me a title.”
I reached for my phone, fingers itching to press play.
“And I have proof.”
My thumb hovered over the recording.
But before I could tap the screen, Leo’s voice snapped through the tension.
“Enough!”
His grip tightened on my wrist, yanking me toward him.
I stumbled slightly, but my eyes never left his.
His face was flushed with anger, jaw clenched tight.
“You’ve hated Layla from the start, and now you’re just using this as an excuse to attack her!”
A cold chuckle bubbled up in my throat, but he wasn’t finished.
“We all saw it, Chloe. We saw you hit her.”
He gestured to Layla’s reddened cheek, to the damp trails of tears streaming down her face.
Then his gaze flickered back to me–clear, sharp, cutting.
“And look at you.” His voice was low, seething. “Not a single scratch.”
I stared at him.
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Chapter 11
“You’re telling me she didn’t say those things?”
“I know you.” His lips curled, something almost cruel way–holding grudges over the smallest things. Just
his tone. “You’ve always been this when we were kids and you dragged me to
the amusement park until our parents had to call the cops. Who had to clean up that mess? Me.”
He exhaled harshly, shaking his head.
“You’re mad that Layla took what you thought was yours, so you lashed out like a spoiled child.”
His next words were sharp, authoritative–designed to cut.
“Apologize.”
Silence hung in the air, thick and suffocating.
The crowd shifted uncomfortably, their gazes flicking between me and Leo, waiting for my response.
Some looked amused. Others, entertained.
Most looked like they had already made up their minds.
I scoffed under my breath, shaking my head.
Then I looked up, my lips curling into a slow, icy smile.
“Alright.”
Leo’s grip loosened slightly.
He sighed, as if this was some petty tantrum I had finally come to my senses about.
“See? That wasn’t so hard-”
“I’ll apologize,” I murmured.
Then, louder-
“Damn it, I’m not apologizing!”
And with that, I lifted my hand and slapped Layla across the other cheek.
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Chapter 11
CRACK.
The sound was deafening.
Her head whipped to the side, her lips parting in shock.
The room collectively gasped.
Leo’s entire body tensed.
Slowly, I flexed my fingers, shaking out the sting.
“I’ll be sending the recording to the group chat,” I said smoothly, dusting off my sleeve.
Then I turned, flashing the crowd my most dazzling smile.
“Enjoy the show.”
And with that, I walked away.
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