Chapter 3
Chloe's POV
"Come on bro, it's just a game! Your girl's not gonna flip out over a dare, right?"
The chanting grew louder. And louder.
Mia waved her hands, smiling sweetly. "No no, don't pressure him. Chloe's right there, I don't want her thinking..."
"Nah nah nah—" One of the guys cut her off. "Mia, quit making excuses for him! Liam, you playing or what? You don't kiss her, you both shotgun three tequilas. You really gonna make Mia drink for you? After everything she's done for you the past six months? Come ON, bro."
"For real! What's one kiss after all she's done?"
"Don't be a pussy!"
Liam's face went red. His eyes found mine across the crowd.
Mia tried again. "No no, it's fine, I'll just drink—"
She didn't even finish. Liam grabbed her waist and kissed her.
The room exploded.
"WOOO!"
"Let's FUCKING go!"
Whistles cutting through the air. Fists slamming tables. Screaming. Phones everywhere, lights flashing like crazy.
Liam and Mia kept going.
Mia's hands slid up the back of his neck. His arms pulled her in tighter. They kissed harder. Deeper. Like the room had disappeared. Like twenty people weren't watching with their phones out.
Like his girlfriend wasn't dying ten feet away.
The tears came then.
One year. An entire YEAR. I'd hidden everything for him. Got my brother to fund his startup. Swallowed every humiliation Mia threw at me, over and over.
This is what I get?
Making out with her right in front of me while I can't even breathe. Won't even look at me.
Fine.
I pushed myself up. My knees slammed into the floor. Everything went black for a second. My throat kept wheezing, desperate sounds I couldn't control, but I didn't care anymore.
I had to leave. Had to get out of here.
I crawled toward the door, the hallway just ahead—
"Chloe?"
A hand locked around my wrist.
Mia's voice from above, dripping fake concern.
"Oh sweetie, where are you going? You look terrible. Here, let me—"
I tried pulling away but her fingers gripped tighter.
"Are you upset about the kiss?" She sighed softly. "Honey, it was just a dare... You know it didn't mean anything..."
I couldn't break free. Then I saw it—something silver sticking out of her pocket.
My EpiPen.
I lunged. "Give it BACK!"
She wasn't ready. The pen fell.
I caught it.
The second I grabbed it—she shoved me hard.
My head cracked against the wall.
Thud. White flash. Everything rang.
Shit. I slid down, warmth spreading down my neck.
"AHH! My ankle!"
Mia screamed and dropped to the floor.
"My ankle... Liam! LIAM! Chloe pushed me—I twisted it!"
Liam rushed over. "What the hell happened?"
"I just... I saw her leaving and thought she might fall, so I tried to help..." Mia's voice broke as she clutched her ankle. "And she just PUSHED me... Liam, I compete tomorrow... three months of training... this can't be happening..."
Liam whipped around, eyes blazing.
"Have you lost your MIND? Mia competes TOMORROW! Three MONTHS of training! You're that jealous? Over a stupid game? Now you're attacking her?"
"I didn't—"
"ENOUGH!" He stood over me, glaring down. "All night you've been throwing fits, faking this whole allergy thing, making a scene—and now you attack her?"
I shut my mouth.
Didn't matter. He'd never believe me anyway.
I looked at the EpiPen shaking in my hand. Pressed it against my thigh.
One shot. That's all I needed. Just—
SLAP.
Fire spread across my cheek. My hand went slack. The pen flew across the floor, rolling twice.
I held my face, staring up at Liam in disbelief.
Nothing but disgust in his eyes.
"It's a fucking pen. Stop acting like you're dying. Are you DONE?"
He raised his foot. Brought it down.
"NO—!"
CRACK.
The injector shattered. Medicine spreading across the floor, seeping into the cracks.
I stared at the liquid pooling on the ground.
Gone. My only shot.
Mia looked at me over Liam's shoulder, safe in his arms. Her lips formed two words:
Game over.
Laughter surrounded me. Everyone laughing. Nobody moved.
My vision darkened. My tongue blocked my airway completely. Every breath impossible. My fingers twitched against the floor, body shutting down bit by bit.
I was dying.
Not like this.
With everything I had left, I forced my head up and pushed out the words—
"Listen... you pieces of shit... my brother IS Arthur Sterling!"
The laughter stopped.
"When he finds out... you're all DONE..."
Silence. Just for a second. Then the laughter came back even louder.
Liam scoffed. "Arthur Sterling? THE Arthur Sterling from Sterling Group is your brother? Chloe, you're fucking delusional."
Mia covered her mouth, laughing so hard tears streamed down. "Oh my GOD, Chloe, seriously? That's literally my dad's BOSS."
"Bitch... you're dead..."
The smile vanished from Mia's face. She stared down at me, chin raised.
"Right. When your 'brother' shows up, I'll deal with him myself—"
BANG.
The door flew open.
A man in a tailored suit stood there. His eyes found me immediately—covered in hives, bleeding, barely breathing.
His expression darkened.
He turned to Mia, voice deadly quiet.
"You want to deal with me?"
