“Give me the baby.” The smell of blood still lingered in the delivery room. I lay weakly on the operating table, watching Sebastian Sterling lift our newborn daughter from my side and place her into Vanessa’s arms. She lowered her head with a smile and kissed the baby’s forehead. “Sebastian… she looks just like you.” “Sebastian… give me back my baby…” I screamed with the last bit of strength I had left. All I got in return was a cold glance from above. “Chloe, you were nothing more than a surrogate.” “The baby belongs to Vanessa. That’s your fate.” The door slammed shut behind them, shattering the ten years of love I had sacrificed everything for. After he left, a massive fire consumed the private recovery center. Now, I sit in the top-floor office of W Capital, watching the security footage as Sebastian charges into the burned-out ruins like a madman. He drops to his knees before a charred body, letting out a desperate, heart-wrenching scream. I lift my coffee, take a slow sip, and smile. “Mr. Sterling…” “Welcome to hell.”
Chloe’s POV A charity gala in London. The venue was incredibly luxurious. I wore a black haute couture gown, sitting quietly on a sofa in the corner. I was eight months pregnant, my belly heavily swollen, my face deathly pale. Not far away, in the center of the crowd, Vanessa Kent stood in a white dress, smiling sweetly. She held a beautiful boy of about three in her arms. “Mommy, I want that cake,” the boy pointed at the long dessert table, his voice clear. “Okay, sweetie. Mommy will get it for you,” Vanessa pampered him, leaning down to kiss his cheek. The socialites around them showered them with compliments. “You are so lucky, Mrs. Sterling. Sebastian spoils you to death. And your son is so smart and cute.” “Yeah, everyone in London knows Vanessa is the only woman Sebastian Sterling loves.” Hearing those words, my fingers tightened around my glass, my knuckles turning white. Mrs. Sterling? I, Chloe Vance, was Sebastian’s legal wife. And that boy calling Vanessa “Mommy” was Ethan. The son I carried for ten months. The son I spent a whole day and night in agonizing labor to bring into this world. But now, my own son called my enemy his mother. And I, his biological mother, could only sit in the corner like an invisible ghost, watching them play happy family. The click of high heels drew closer. Vanessa walked up to me, holding a glass of champagne. She looked down at my swollen belly, a smirk playing on her lips. “Chloe, why do you look so awful? Is the pregnancy too hard on you?” Vanessa’s voice was barely a whisper, meant only for the two of us. I didn’t look up. My voice was ice cold. “Get lost.” Vanessa didn’t get angry. Instead, her smile widened. “Sebastian said that once this baby is born, whether it’s a boy or a girl, I will raise it. He said I’m too weak to conceive, and since you’re so healthy, you should have more babies for me.” I snapped my head up, glaring at her. Vanessa flinched slightly at the coldness in my eyes, but she quickly recovered her smug, victorious look. “Don’t look at me like that. You know Sebastian would never have married you if it weren’t for the Vance family’s influence in Europe. You’re nothing but a surrogate to him.” “Shut up,” my voice shook. “What? Can’t handle the truth?” Vanessa laughed softly. “Chloe, so what if you hold the title of Mrs. Sterling? I am the one Sebastian loves. Your son calls me Mommy, and the baby in your belly will call me Mommy too. You get nothing.” Just then, the heavy doors of the ballroom pushed open. Sebastian walked in, dressed in a sharp, bespoke black suit. He was tall, his face cold and handsome, radiating a powerful, intimidating aura. The moment Vanessa saw him, her smugness vanished, replaced by a weak, fragile look. She swayed on her feet, as if she were about to faint. Sebastian rushed over, catching her by the waist. “What’s wrong? Are you feeling sick?” There was a rare note of panic in his deep voice. “I’m fine, Sebastian.” Vanessa leaned into his chest, her eyes red as she shot me a timid glance. “I just wanted to come over and check on Chloe. I think I said the wrong thing and upset her.” Sebastian’s cold gaze swept over to me. I sat there, my back straight. I met his gaze without explaining, without flinching. “Chloe,” Sebastian’s voice was low, laced with warning. “Vanessa is fragile. Don’t push her.” I found it almost laughable. Me? Pushing her? “Sebastian, which of your eyes saw me push her?” I asked coldly. Sebastian frowned. I knew he hated it when I spoke to him in this tone. After all, I used to be soft, gentle, my eyes always filled with love and a desperate need to please him. “You better behave yourself,” Sebastian let go of Vanessa and looked down at me coldly. “Remember your place. You are just a trophy wife. The children belong to Vanessa. Don’t cause any more trouble, or I won’t hesitate to send you back to the countryside estate early.” My heart felt as if an invisible hand was squeezing it, making it hard to breathe. This was the man I had loved for ten years. I took a deep breath, forcing down the bitterness, and let out a mocking laugh. “Fine,” my voice was flat, devoid of emotion. “Since you care about her so much, Mr. Sterling, keep her on a leash. Don’t let her run around like a mad dog, biting everyone she sees.” “Chloe!” Sebastian snapped. People around us were starting to stare. Sebastian lowered his voice, his eyes dark and menacing. “Have you lost your mind?” “Yes, I have,” I stood up. Because of my large belly, my movements were slow. I looked him dead in the eye. “I lost my mind the day I married you.” Without another glance at them, I turned and walked toward the exit. Behind me, I heard their voices. “Sebastian, did I make things difficult for you?” Vanessa asked, her voice cracking. Sebastian’s tone softened. “No. I’ll have someone take you and Ethan home first.”
Chloe’s POV The Sterling Countryside Estate, London. The autumn wind was freezing, making the dry leaves rustle in the dark garden. I sat by the floor-to-ceiling window in the living room, staring at the night. Sebastian had forced me back here to wait for labor. Meanwhile, he, Vanessa, and my son Ethan lived in a luxury penthouse in downtown London. This place was nothing but a gilded cage, keeping me, the forgotten Mrs. Sterling, locked away. The next afternoon, the roar of a car engine echoed outside. Sebastian’s Maybach pulled into the courtyard. The door opened, and Vanessa stepped out, holding Ethan’s hand. Sebastian followed closely behind. Seeing that tiny figure, my eyes immediately welled with tears. I hadn’t seen Ethan in three months. Supporting my lower back, I hurried out into the garden. “Ethan,” my voice trembled. I pulled a small, hand-painted wooden transformer toy from my pocket, one I had spent days building for him. “Look, what is this?” Ethan stopped. He looked at me, then looked back at Vanessa. Vanessa smiled gently. “Ethan, go say hi to Miss Vance.” Miss Vance. The name felt like a dagger piercing my chest. Ethan walked up to me, but he didn’t take the toy. Instead, he shoved me with all his might. Being heavily pregnant, my center of gravity was already off. The sudden push sent me stumbling back, and I fell hard onto the grass. “Bad woman!” Ethan pointed at me, screaming. “Mommy said you want to steal me away! You’re a bad woman! I don’t want your stupid toy!” The wooden toy fell to the ground, snapping in half. I clutched my stomach, my face turning pale. I looked at the son I had carried for ten months. Seeing the raw hatred and fear in his eyes tore my heart into bloody pieces. “Ethan!” Sebastian strode over, pulling Ethan behind his back. He glared down at me, his brow furrowed. “What are you doing?” I couldn’t speak. I just stared blankly at the broken toy on the ground. Vanessa rushed over, hugging Ethan tightly, looking utterly heartbroken. “Ethan, don’t be scared. Mommy’s here. Chloe, if you have a problem, take it out on me! Don’t scare the child!” As she spoke, she suddenly slipped, falling toward a nearby rosebush. “Ah!” Vanessa screamed. Sebastian reacted instantly, catching her by the waist and pulling her into his arms. But a stray rose thorn still managed to scratch her arm, drawing a bead of blood. “Vanessa!” Sebastian’s face turned pale, his eyes instantly turning icy. He turned his head and glared at me, having just scrambled up from the grass. His eyes were filled with pure disgust and rage. “Chloe, haven’t you had enough?” Sebastian’s voice was freezing. “Not only did you scare Ethan, but you also pushed Vanessa? What the hell is wrong with you?” I stood in the biting wind, shivering. “I didn’t push her,” my voice was quiet but firm. “I saw it with my own eyes. You still dare to lie?” Sebastian wouldn’t listen to a single word of my explanation. He pointed to the open lawn and said coldly, “Since you love being outside so much, stand right there. You can come back inside when you realize what you did wrong.” The autumn wind whipped against my face like knives. Dressed in a thin maternity dress, I stood alone in the empty garden. “Sebastian, forget it. Chloe is still pregnant…” Vanessa murmured hypocritically, leaning against his chest. “She brought this on herself,” Sebastian said without an ounce of pity. “If I don’t teach her a lesson, she will never learn.” With that, he picked up Vanessa, took Ethan’s hand, and walked back into the villa. The heavy front door slammed shut, locking all the warmth inside. I was left alone in the dark. The wind grew stronger, cutting through my thin clothes. I wrapped my arms around my swollen belly, my body shaking uncontrollably. I stood straight. I didn’t cry, and I didn’t beg. I was like a soulless statue. I knew Sebastian was watching me from the window. I also knew he wanted to see me break. He wanted me to cry and beg him like I used to. But I didn’t.
Chloe’s POV I stood in the freezing wind for two agonizing hours. My body felt completely numb, and then, a sharp, pulling pain shot through my lower abdomen. At first, it was just a dull ache, but quickly, it turned into intense, crushing waves of pain, like a saw tearing me apart from the inside. I doubled over, cold sweat instantly drenching my back. “It hurts…” I groaned, biting my lip. A sudden gush of warm liquid ran down my thighs, soaking my dress. My water had broken. “Chloe!” Sebastian’s voice echoed across the lawn. He rushed down the steps and scooped my freezing body into his arms. I felt like a block of ice, cold sweat dripping from my forehead. “Go to the hospital! Get the car now!” Sebastian roared at the butler, a hint of panic in his voice that even he didn’t seem to notice. The Maybach sped through the dark streets. Outside the VIP delivery room, through the glass window, I could see Sebastian pacing back and forth. The air was thick with the sharp smell of disinfectant. Vanessa had arrived too. She stood to the side, watching Sebastian’s anxious pacing with a flicker of jealousy in her eyes. She walked up, gently taking his hand to comfort him. It took ten agonizing hours. As the first morning light broke, a loud, healthy baby cry finally echoed in the room. The nurse walked out holding a small bundle, a smile on her face. “Congratulations, Mr. Sterling. It’s a healthy baby girl. Both mother and child are doing great.” Inside the room, I lay exhausted on the bed, drenched in sweat, barely having the strength to keep my eyes open. “The baby… let me see my baby…” I whispered weakly to the nurse. The nurse was about to bring the baby over, but the door suddenly pushed open. Sebastian walked in, with Vanessa right behind him. “Give me the baby,” Sebastian told the nurse. The nurse hesitated, glancing at me on the bed, but she ultimately handed the baby to him. Sebastian took the bundle, turned, and handed it directly to Vanessa. “Vanessa, this is our daughter,” his voice was incredibly soft. Vanessa took the baby carefully, her face lighting up with absolute joy. “Sebastian, she’s beautiful. She looks just like you.” Lying on the bed, watching this scene, my pupils dilated in horror. “Sebastian…” I squeezed the words out of my throat with the last of my strength. “Give her… back to me…” Sebastian turned, looking down at me. His eyes were cold, devoid of any warmth. “Chloe, we already agreed. Vanessa will raise this child.” “No…” Tears finally spilled from my eyes, soaking into my hair. “She’s my daughter… I beg you, let me hold her, just once… let me look at her…” I struggled to sit up, but the IV line in my wrist yanked painfully. “Vanessa’s depression is acting up again. She needs this baby to stabilize her emotions,” Sebastian’s voice didn’t waver. “Since you’ve given birth, rest well. I will handle your family.” With that, he wrapped his arm around Vanessa, who was cradling my baby, and they walked out of the delivery room. “Sebastian!” I screamed in pure despair. But the only response was the heavy slam of the door. In that moment, I heard the sound of my own heart shattering. Ten years of love, ten years of humility, ten years of silent endurance. Shattered into dust by the man I loved. I stared at the blank white ceiling. My tears ran dry, and my eyes became completely hollow, dead. My heart was dead.
Chloe’s POV Three days after giving birth. The VIP room was quiet, save for the rhythmic, cold beeping of the heart monitor. I leaned against the pillows, my face pale, but my eyes were terrifyingly calm. No crying, no screaming. I was like a hollow shell with its soul sucked dry. The door clicked open, and Vanessa walked in. She was wearing a gorgeous designer suit and high heels, cradling a pink blanket in her arms. My eyes fell on the bundle. My fingers twitched, but I quickly forced myself back into a state of numbness. “Chloe, how are you feeling today?” Vanessa walked to the bedside, looking down at me with a victorious smile. I didn’t say a word. I just stared at her coldly. Vanessa didn’t care. She gently rocked the baby. “Look how good she is. Sebastian named her Lily.” Lily. I repeated the name in my head, feeling a wave of intense nausea. Sebastian, you really are heartless. “Do you know? Sebastian held Lily and rocked her all night long,” Vanessa leaned down, lowering her voice, her words dripping with venomous pride. “Chloe, so what if you have your family backing you? You’re nothing but a surrogate, a tool to hatch my baby. Now that the job is done, you’re lower than a dog in the Sterling house.” I listened in silence. Suddenly, a cold, faint smile appeared on my lips. Underneath the blanket, my hand secretly hit the record button on my phone. “Are you done?” My voice was raspy, but it carried an eerie, chilling calm. “If you are, get the hell out.” Vanessa was taken aback by my gaze, her anger flaring. “Chloe, what are you so proud of? Believe it or not, with just one word from me, Sebastian can kick you out of this country whenever he wants!” Just then, the door opened again. Sebastian strode in, holding a luxurious velvet jewelry box. Seeing Vanessa there, he frowned slightly. “Vanessa, why are you here? There are too many germs in a hospital. It’s not good for the baby.” “I just wanted to check on Chloe,” Vanessa instantly wiped the smugness off her face, replacing it with a gentle, caring expression. “Sebastian, Chloe seems depressed. I was worried, so I brought Lily to keep her company.” Sebastian looked at me. I leaned against the headboard, watching them coldly, as if I were watching a pathetic comedy show. Sebastian walked to the bedside and placed the velvet box on the nightstand. “This is a pink diamond necklace I just bought at an auction,” Sebastian said, his tone carrying the high-and-mighty air of charity. “Consider it compensation for giving birth to Lily. Recover well, and stop throwing tantrums.” I stared at the box, and suddenly, I laughed. I reached out, picked up the priceless necklace, and right in front of Sebastian’s face, I flipped my wrist. Thud. The luxury box fell straight into the trash can next to the bed. The room fell into a suffocating silence. Vanessa gasped. Sebastian’s face turned dark. He leaned down over the bed, his hands framing my shoulders, trapping me in his shadow. “Chloe, do you have any idea what you just did?” he growled, his hot breath fanning across my face, filled with dangerous pressure. I met his gaze, my eyes completely lifeless. “Sebastian, take your compensation, take your woman, and get the hell out of my room,” my voice was quiet but powerful. “You disgust me.” Sebastian’s pupils shrank. He grabbed my jaw, his grip so tight I thought he was going to shatter my bone. “What is this? Playing hard to get?” Sebastian sneered. “Chloe, do you think acting like this will get my attention?” I didn’t struggle. I just stared at him as if he were a complete stranger. “I just find you repulsive,” I said coldly. Sebastian let go of my jaw as if he had been shocked. He stared at me deeply, then turned and stormed out of the room. “Sebastian!” Vanessa cried, cradling the baby as she chased after him. The room fell silent once more. I pulled out my phone and saved the recording. Looking out at the gray sky, a sharp, decisive light flashed in my eyes.
Chloe’s POV One month later. The annual Sterling Group press conference was held at the London Convention Center. Because rumors of our rocky marriage had leaked, the company’s stock price had been fluctuating. To reassure the board and the shareholders, Sebastian demanded that I show up and play the doting wife. In the backstage dressing room. I wore a perfectly tailored white business suit, my hair styled elegantly, my makeup flawless. I looked nothing like a woman who had just given birth a month ago. I sat on the sofa, staring coldly at my phone. On the screen was a message from Brandon, my father’s trusted assistant: “Miss Vance, everything is ready. The team in New York has secured the escape plan.” I typed back a single word: “Good.” The door opened, and Sebastian walked in. He looked powerful and commanding in his sharp navy suit. He walked over to me, his eyes lingering on my makeup-clad face. A flash of surprise crossed his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by his usual coldness. “You know what to say out there, right?” Sebastian’s voice was deep. I locked my phone and stood up, smoothing down my blazer. “Don’t worry, Mr. Sterling. Playing the perfect wife is my job, after all.” Sebastian’s brows knitted. I knew he hated my cold, business-like tone. “You better not pull any stunts,” he warned coldly. The press room was blinding with camera flashes. Sebastian held my hand as we walked onto the stage. In front of the cameras, he was the picture-perfect, caring husband, and I was the elegant, supportive wife. “Mr. Sterling, there are rumors that you and Mrs. Sterling are divorcing, and that you have a mistress. Is that true?” a reporter asked sharply. Sebastian smiled warmly, turning to look at me, his eyes dripping with fake tenderness. “Rumors are just rumors. My wife and I are happier than ever. We just welcomed our second child, and our family is complete.” The reporter pointed the mic at me. “Mrs. Sterling, is that true?” I looked straight into the camera, my lips curved into a flawless smile. “Yes. My husband is wonderful, and we are very happy.” My smile was perfect, but the hand Sebastian was holding was as cold as ice. Once the conference ended, we returned backstage. The moment the door shut, I yanked my hand away and took two steps back, putting distance between us. This action completely set Sebastian off. He took a large step forward, trapping me against the wall, his hands slammed on either side of my head, locking me in his chest. “Why are you pulling away?” Sebastian growled, his eyes locked onto mine. I looked up at his angry face, my eyes still dead. “The show is over, Mr. Sterling,” my voice was flat. “What’s wrong? Did you get too into character?” “Chloe!” Sebastian gripped my shoulders, his hold incredibly tight. “Why do you have to speak to me like a corpse?” “How else should I speak to you?” I mocked, a cold smile on my lips. “Isn’t this what you wanted? A quiet, obedient tool? I am playing the perfect surrogate and PR prop just like you wanted. What else do you want from me?” “Do you think acting like this will make me feel guilty?” Sebastian sneered, hiding his sudden panic. “Chloe, you will never escape being Mrs. Sterling.” He let go of me and stormed out of the dressing room. I leaned against the wall, watching him leave. My eyes grew entirely cold. Escape? Sebastian, very soon, you will see exactly how I escape you.
Sebastian’s POV Lately, even though I went back to the penthouse every day, my mind was elsewhere. I would spend hours alone in the study, staring at my phone, and sometimes, looking at Lily would bring a wave of heavy thoughts. Late one night, a few days later. I was working on documents in my study when I heard the nanny scream in terror from downstairs. “Oh my god! Vanessa cut her wrists!” I bolted from my chair and ran downstairs. In the bathroom, Vanessa lay in a pool of blood. There was a deep cut on her wrist, blood staining the white tiles red. “Vanessa!” I rushed over, scooping her up. “Call an ambulance! Now!” Thanks to the quick response, Vanessa’s life was saved. In the hospital room, Vanessa leaned weakly against the pillows, tears streaming down her face. “Sebastian, I’m sorry… I don’t want to live anymore, I can’t take this…” she sobbed pitifully. “What happened?” I held her hand, my face dark. With trembling hands, Vanessa pulled a black notebook from under her pillow and handed it to me. “The nanny found this in the room Chloe used to stay in… See for yourself.” I took the notebook and flipped it open. It was filled with Chloe’s handwriting, every line dripping with pure hatred: “I hate Vanessa. I hate her for taking my baby.” “Why won’t that little brat Ethan just die? If he dies, Sebastian might finally look at me.” “That stupid Lily… I will strangle her with my own hands one day. I will make Vanessa suffer.” Reading those words, the blood in my veins turned to ice. My hands shook, and rage completely took over my mind. “She doesn’t just curse the kids. She sends me anonymous threatening texts every day.” Vanessa sobbed, hugging me. “Sebastian, I’m so scared. I’m scared she’ll actually hurt Ethan and Lily.” I slammed the notebook shut, standing up, radiating a terrifying, murderous aura. Half an hour later, I kicked open the doors of the countryside villa. Chloe was sitting on the sofa, reading. Hearing the noise, she looked up, her face completely calm. Smack! The black notebook was thrown hard at her face. The sharp edge of the paper cut her cheek, leaving a thin line of blood. “Chloe, how can you be so evil?!” I roared like a wounded beast. Chloe didn’t touch her face, nor did she look at the notebook on the floor. She just stared at me. “Look at what you wrote! You cursed your own children! Are you even human?” I rushed over, grabbing her collar, dragging her up from the sofa. I stared into her eyes, desperately searching for a hint of panic or an excuse. If she explained, if she said she didn’t write it, I might… I might have actually investigated it. But Chloe didn’t. She looked at my furious face, and suddenly, she laughed. It was a laugh filled with mockery and deep sadness. “Yes, I am that evil,” Chloe’s voice was soft, but crystal clear. “Sebastian, since you’ve already decided it was me, why bother asking?” My heart plummeted. She didn’t even care enough to explain. “Good. Very good,” I gritted my teeth, my eyes savage. “Since you’re so crazy, I’ll send you to a place meant for crazy people.” I shoved her away, pulled out my phone, and called my assistant. “Send her to Blue Water Sanitarium. No one is allowed to visit her without my permission, and she is never to step foot outside!” Blue Water Sanitarium was built on a secluded cliff on the outskirts of London. On paper, it was a rehab center. In reality, it was an isolated prison. Chloe was dragged away by two bodyguards. As she reached the door, she suddenly stopped and looked back at me. That look was so cold, so empty, as if she were looking at a dead man. My heart skipped a beat under that gaze. A suffocating feeling instantly wrapped around my entire body.
🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “432645”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster
Leave a Reply