Theater: NovelMaster | Language: English | NEW
Synopsis
I flew back during the May break to finalize my son's citizenship paperwork.
The moment I stepped out of the arrivals terminal, three men blocked my path.
Julian Hayes, my complicated ex-boyfriend. Lucas Miller, the childhood friend who had secretly loved me for years. And Ethan Stone, my stepbrother.
"Chloe, we were wrong back then. Now that you're back, please don't make things difficult for Sienna."
"If you're angry, take it out on us. Sienna is fragile. She can't handle your drama."
"Come on, I'll take you to the old family estate for now. You'll have to make do. I've already signed your old villa over to Sienna."
They looked as if they were facing their worst nightmare, terrified I would bully their precious swapped heiress, Sienna Stone.
After all, everyone in high society knew what happened five years ago. After I left the country in disgrace, they poured all their lingering guilt into spoiling Sienna rotten. My sudden return had naturally sparked rumors that I was back for revenge.
I pulled off my sunglasses and let out an amused laugh.
"Excuse me, guys. I need to get home to my son."
"And don't worry about the old estate. I'm staying at my husband's place."
Five long years had passed. I had moved on ages ago.
They were the only ones still trapped in the past.
The chauffeur had been waiting outside the terminal for a while. He steered the car smoothly toward Sycamore Manor.
This estate had been Chase's engagement gift to me.
Five years had passed, yet hardly anything had changed.
"It looks almost identical to when I left," I said into the phone. "Though the sycamore trees seem a bit taller."
On the other end of the line, Chase chuckled softly.
"Trees grow slowly. Five years isn't much to them. But people... I heard those three went all the way to the airport just to intercept you. You sound tired. Did they upset you?"
I frowned slightly, a wave of annoyance washing over me.
"Not really. I just don't get it."
"Chase, how can people change so suddenly?"
Silence stretched over the line for a moment.
Then came Chase's gentle sigh.
"Chloe, sycamore leaves don't turn yellow overnight. People don't change all at once, either."
I said nothing.
Deciding to shift the mood, I lightened my tone.
"Forget about them. How's our boy? Still having tummy trouble?"
Chase glanced over his shoulder and replied, "Much better. He just fell asleep. Want to see?"
A second later, my phone buzzed.
I tapped on the photo. Our three-year-old was curled up in his toddler bed, his long eyelashes resting on his flushed, warm cheeks, sleeping like an angel.
The lingering bitterness in my chest instantly vanished at the sight of that little face.
"What did the doctor say?" I asked.
"Just mild indigestion from the seasonal change. He took his meds and should be fine after a nap. I rescheduled our private flight for tomorrow. But that means I won't be able to accompany you to Old Mr. Hayes's birthday gala tonight. I'm sorry, babe."
"If you don't feel like dealing with the crowd, I can just call the Hayes family and decline."
I picked up the formal invitation sitting beside me and shook my head.
"I'll go. Why should I hide from them?"
"After all, I wasn't the one who cut ties five years ago."
After hanging up, Chase stood holding his phone for a moment, deep in thought.
Turning around, he heard a rustle from the little bed.
A small hand pushed the duvet aside. Leo sat up, his messy hair sticking up in all directions.
"Daddy, did I hear Mommy's voice?"
"Does Mommy miss you?"
Chase leaned down and gently ruffled our son's hair.
"No, buddy. Daddy misses Mommy."
"Are you feeling better? If your tummy doesn't hurt anymore, let's go find Mommy."
Leo nodded vigorously, practically jumping out of bed with excitement.
He scrambled into his clothes, chirping, "Yay! Leo misses Mommy too!"
Chase smiled, reaching over to straighten Leo's twisted collar.
Rescheduling a private flight at the last minute was a bit of a hassle, but hardly impossible. If it meant being by my side, no obstacle was too great.
He just didn't want me to face them alone again.
Dusk fell over the city.
Guided by a server at the entrance, I stepped into the grand ballroom of the Hayes Mansion.
The moment I walked in, hushed whispers and gasps rippled through the room.
"Holy shit, Chloe Stone actually showed up! Grab the popcorn, the real and fake heiress are in the same room. Who do you think they'll back?"
"My money's on Sienna. Over the past five years, Julian has spoiled her rotten. Didn't he just name an asteroid after her the other day? Chloe never got that kind of royal treatment."
"Count me in on Sienna, too. Lucas and Ethan treat her like an absolute princess. One practically built her startup for her, and the other dumped millions into her funds. That's real devotion. Chloe is ancient history."
Their petty chatter made me want to laugh.
I was only here tonight out of basic courtesy.
Deliver the gift, offer a few polite birthday wishes, and slip away.
I was a human being, not a circus monkey performing in a catfight for high society's entertainment.
After exchanging pleasantries with Old Mr. Hayes, I made a polite excuse to take my leave.
I turned toward the grand exit doors.
Before I took three steps, a sweet, high-pitched voice rang out behind me.
"Chloe!"
I stopped and turned.
Sure enough, it was Sienna.I watched her walk toward me, an odd sensation creeping into my chest.
Five years apart, and her styling had changed completely. Yet she looked eerily familiar, almost like looking into a mirror.
Was she... copying me?
Before I could dwell on it, Sienna reached me. She offered a hand with a practiced smile.
"It's been so long, Chloe."
I smiled politely, barely brushing her fingers before letting go.
"Long time no see."
Under the eager stares of the surrounding socialites waiting for drama, I had zero desire to stroll down memory lane.
"I have things to take care of, so I'll be heading out. Let's catch up another time."
I turned on my heel again.
Sienna instantly caught my wrist, her eyes brimming with hurt.
"Are you still mad at me, Chloe?"
Her pathetic tone made me pause. I almost laughed out loud from sheer exasperation.
"Seriously? Again?"
"You pulled this exact routine five years ago. Haven't you updated your script? Even AI has learned new tricks by now, but you're still serving this vintage damsel-in-distress act?"
Someone in the crowd couldn't hold it in and snorted.
A wave of muffled chuckles followed.
Sienna didn't say a word. She merely balled her fists, her face burning red as she lowered her head in humiliation.
Not far away, Lucas noticed the scene and rushed over.
"Chloe, you just got here! Why are you picking on Sienna already?"
"Whatever happened five years ago, I apologize on her behalf. You two grew up under the same roof. Don't make things so ugly."
Looking at Lucas's angry face, I felt a deep sense of detachment. I remembered years ago, right after my biological family took me back. Sienna had been bullied at school for being the swapped child, and I had gotten into countless fistfights defending her.
Back then, Lucas had always stood by my side unconditionally.
*"Who cares about being reasonable?"* he used to brag. *"As far as I'm concerned, Chloe Stone is always right."*
Times had changed. Now, we stood on opposite sides.
I shook my head with a bitter smile.
"Be reasonable for once, Lucas. From start to finish, I haven't laid a finger on her. I didn't even speak to her first. She's the one blocking me from leaving."
"If you don't believe me, check the security cameras."
I waved down a nearby server and asked for the footage.
Ethan stepped in to intercept.
"Chloe, it's just a misunderstanding. There's no need to cause a scene."
I ignored him, tapping rapidly on the tablet the staff brought over.
Once I pulled up the exact clip, I shoved the screen into Lucas's hands. Then, I cast a cold glance at Ethan.
"Stop taking sides without knowing the facts, Ethan."
"I'm not the one trying to make a scene."
I waited patiently while the three of them watched the replay. When they finally looked up, their expressions were completely conflicted.
I let out an exhausted sigh.
"Seen enough? Can I leave now?"
"Relax, I have zero interest in competing for your affection. Spoil whoever you want. That's your choice. I have my own life now, and I couldn't care less about your little circle."
I didn't know if my words sank in.
The moment I finished speaking, the ballroom lights dimmed for the main toast, casting their troubled faces into shadow.
Julian walked up to the stage as the Hayes family representative to deliver the speech.
No matter what, walking out while the host was speaking would be unacceptably rude.
I found a quiet corner and took a seat.
Once the toast concluded, I stared blankly at my wine glass.
Fragmented memories from five years ago flooded my mind. Truth be told, I couldn't even remember when our relationship had begun to rot.
By the time I snapped out of my daze, Julian was standing right beside me, flanked by the other three.
Julian sat down next to me as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
After a beat of hesitation, he raised his glass and lightly clinked it against mine.
"Why the long face?"I glanced at Julian.
Taking a slow sip of wine, I offered a casual brush-off.
"Just jet lag. I'm a little tired."
Sitting across from me, Ethan slid a small plate of dessert in my direction. He gave me a gentle smile.
"Have some cake."
"It's really good. Your favorite—mango."
I knew Ethan was trying an olive branch. I accepted the plate politely.
Yet I didn't touch a single bite.
Instead, my gaze drifted to Sienna, who was sitting across the table, nibbling delicately on her dessert.
She ate quickly yet gracefully, but a dab of cream caught on the corner of her lip.
Ethan noticed instantly. Shaking his head with fond indulgence, he picked up a napkin and gently wiped it away for her.
Ethan used to be great at baking.
Back when I had a major sweet tooth, I would constantly beg him to make treats for me. He never got annoyed. He actually signed up for pastry classes. In the beginning, he was clumsy and burned himself frequently. Even with his fingers wrapped in thick bandages, he would proudly present a fresh batch right in front of me.
Just for me. Never for Sienna.
That used to be my exclusive privilege.
It was only after I felt guilty and begged him repeatedly that he reluctantly started baking two portions.
Back then, Ethan would always ruffle my hair and say:
*"If you love it, I'll bake for you every single day."*
I would munch on a pastry and tease him:
*"What happens when I get married? Or worse, what happens when you get married? Will I be cut off?"*
Ethan would burst out laughing, leaning down to tap my forehead.
*"Even after you get married, I'll still bake for you."*
*"Your big brother is going to make you desserts for the rest of your life."*
A lifetime.
Promises really had an expiration date.
"Chloe?"
Ethan called my name softly. Seeing me stare blankly at the cake in Sienna's hand, he assumed I was feeling left out.
He rushed to explain, "I got the exact same mango cake for both of you. It's identical. Won't you try some?"
"I remember you used to love mango..."
I set the plate back onto the glass table with a quiet clatter.
I cut him off calmly.
"You remember wrong. I'm severely allergic to mangoes."
"Sienna is the one who loves them."
Ethan's gentle expression froze instantly.
It took him several seconds to find his voice.
"I'm... I'm sorry. I must have mixed it up."
Beside me, Julian said nothing, but he immediately stood up to fetch me a different dessert.
"Don't bother," I called out, stopping him in his tracks.
I was sick of this suffocating atmosphere—Julian's brooding guilt, Lucas's conflicted gaze, Ethan's awkward shame, and Sienna's fragile, teary act.
I decided to lay all my cards on the table.
"Say whatever you came here to say."
"I'm not staying in town for long. Once the holiday ends, I'm heading back to Europe."
Julian whipped around, his voice sharp with urgency.
"You're leaving again?"
"You're not planning to stay?"
I shook my head without hesitation.
"No. I finish my doctorate next spring, and I have research projects waiting for me."
"Even if I move back to the States eventually, I'll be based in New York. I won't be coming back to this city."
A heavy silence descended over the table.
Suddenly, a trembling voice broke the quiet. Sienna took a shaky breath, looking as though she had gathered all the courage in the world.
She looked at me, tears welling in her eyes.
"Chloe, I'm so sorry. About the ruined gala dress five years ago... I know it wasn't you. I was just so heartbroken that night, I didn't mean to make everyone turn against you. By the time I calmed down and wanted to apologize..."
"The butler told me you had already boarded a flight out of the country."
Sienna grabbed my hand, sobbing hysterically.
Hot tears splashed onto the back of my hand, scalding at first, then turning icy cold. It felt just like the freezing rain on the night I was driven away five years ago.
Back then, Ethan had shoved me hard onto the floor.
*"Look at how terrified you made Sienna! She's still making excuses for you, saying it was an accident! Chloe Stone, you need to take a long, hard look in the mirror!"*
Then came Lucas, his face dark with disappointment as he cornered me.
*"Be reasonable for once, Chloe. Go apologize to Sienna right now. Promise her this won't happen again. Once you do, I'll talk to Ethan and get him to calm down."*
And finally, Julian. My boyfriend.
I had foolishly believed Julian would trust me.
We had been together for three years—over a thousand days and nights of passionate love. We had promised to get engaged the day after graduation.
Yet when Julian arrived that night, he didn't care that I was soaked and bruised on the floor. He didn't reach out to warm my freezing hands.
His eyes immediately landed on Sienna, who was crying on the couch. His gaze lingered on her with deep concern.
Only then did he turn to me.
Seeing my packed suitcase by the door, Julian's brows knitted tightly.
*"Chloe, running away from home won't erase your mistakes."*
*"Throwing a tantrum isn't going to solve this."*My voice had been raw that night, trembling with gut-wrenching despair.
*"I didn't do it!"*
*"Julian, please believe me. I never touched her dress!"*
Julian simply looked away, his voice chillingly detached.
*"You can't treat Sienna like this, Chloe. Seeing her hurt breaks my heart, too."*
I tried desperately to explain, tears mixing with the rain streaming down my face.
*"Why won't you believe me? You swore you would always trust me..."*
Julian stared at me for what felt like an eternity.
In the end, he slowly shook his head.
*"Stop lying to yourself, Chloe. Sienna would never lie."*
*"Go apologize to her. If you don't... we're over."*
I went completely silent.
I looked up at Julian through blurred, rain-soaked vision.
Without another word, I turned and headed straight for the airport.
Now, the cold wetness of Sienna's tears still coated my skin as she wept before me.
I had finally received the apology I had craved five years ago.
Yet, strangely, my heart felt completely dead. It was like applying miraculous medicine to a scar that had long since healed. The pain was gone, but the ugly mark remained.
Seeing my indifference and unable to bear Sienna's tears, the three men began trying to persuade me to let it go.
Lucas spoke up first.
"Chloe, it's been five years. Look at how hard Sienna is crying. Can't we just put the past behind us?"
I looked up at him, realizing I could barely recall the days we walked to high school together.
"Lucas, do you remember five years ago?" I asked softly.
"I was crying just as hard back then, but you still threw me out into the storm."
Lucas froze, struck dumb.
Ethan, the one who had physically shoved me out, quickly stepped in.
"I'm so sorry, Chloe. I crossed the line back then."
"You and Sienna were both my sisters, and I acted out of impulse. Can you forgive us this time? We've missed you so much over these past five years."
I let out a mocking laugh.
Finally, I turned to Julian, who had remained silent.
"What about you? Nothing to add?" I prompted with a dry smile. "Are you going to force an apology out of me too, just like old times?"
Julian's throat tightened painfully, a suffocating pressure crushing his chest.
I cast a calm, indifferent glance over the four of them.
It all felt so utterly pointless.
"Fine. I forgive you all. If that's the answer you were looking for, please do me a favor and leave me alone from now on."
"I have a wonderful life now. I don't need any of you."
I picked up my clutch and walked toward the exit.
I hadn't made it more than a few paces when hurried footsteps echoed behind me.
Julian caught up, his eyes bloodshot as he grabbed my wrist. I could see the sheen of unshed tears in his eyes.
"Chloe, don't go! I can't wait another five years for you."
"Marry me."
I stared at him, dumbfounded.
Honestly, I thought he had lost his mind.
The very first thing I told them at the airport was that I had a husband and a child.
Did none of them actually believe me?
Just as I let out an exasperated sigh to set the record straight, a tiny figure burst through the crowd.
Two little arms wrapped tightly around my knees.
"Mommy!"
"Mommy, Leo found you!"
I paused in surprise.
Looking up, I saw Chase walking toward me in an immaculate bespoke tuxedo.
His gaze swept over me, thick with unapologetic tenderness and longing.
"Babe, our son missed you."
"And so did I."
Chapters (4)
Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Watch & Promotions
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