Chapter 3The Application Process

My eyes widened in absolute shock.

The furious crowd around me clearly froze in confusion as well.

Ethan stood at the very top of the corporate steps.

Looking down at me from his pedestal.

His gaze sweeping over the massive crowd to lock onto me, kneeling on the concrete.

"I have never been sexually intimate with this woman. I have no idea why she specifically targeted me."

"Ma'am, do I know you? Have I ever done something to offend you?"

"ETHAN!"

I exploded in pure rage.

But the crowd of pedestrians had completely walled off the path between me and Ethan.

"Mr. Sterling, are you absolutely certain you've never slept with her?"

Ethan nodded solemnly.

"I have already instructed our corporate legal department to pursue aggressive litigation against this woman for malicious defamation and libel."

After saying that.

He shot me one final, freezing look.

Turned around.

And walked back inside the building.

I scrambled to my feet.

"Ethan, stop right there!"

"Where do you think you're going?!"

Someone grabbed my arm, yanking me back.

Looking me up and down with absolute disgust.

"So she's just a homewrecking mistress."

"Whose bastard child was she even carrying?"

"Running over here to extort the CEO and fabricate rumors about Ms. Chloe! Did you think you could use us as your personal weapon?!"

SLAP!

A heavy, vicious slap landed directly across my face.

"Fucking bitch! I drove all the way across town because I felt sorry for you, and you were just playing us?!"

"You love destroying other people's families so much?! Did you think just because you squeezed out a few tears we'd automatically take your side?!"

"Ladies, don't let her get away! Let's teach her what happens to little sluts who try to ruin marriages!"

"Hell yeah! Let's teach her a lesson!"

"No! Let me go!"

Someone violently seized the collar of my hospital gown.

I was brutally dragged down onto the concrete.

Dozens of hands started ripping at my clothes.

Completely ignoring my dignity or my body.

"Rip her clothes off! She clearly has no shame! Let's see if she's still so arrogant when she's naked in the street!"

"Exactly! Teach her a lesson she'll never forget!"

"Stop! What you're doing is illegal! Let me go! AHHHH!!!"

I had literally just been discharged from the hospital.

I had absolutely zero physical strength.

Surrounded by over a hundred furious people.

I couldn't even manage to stand up.

All I could do was curl into a tight ball on the concrete, desperately wrapping my arms around myself.

Trying to stop them from tearing me apart.

"Stop!"

Just as I was about to completely lose consciousness.

The Sterling Group security team finally intervened.

I was dragged inside the headquarters lobby.

The furious mob outside still refused to leave.

Screaming.

Demanding they throw me back out.

Ethan sat comfortably in an executive chair in the lobby.

Looking down at me as I sat shivering on the marble floor, my clothes ripped to shreds.

"Apologize."

I pulled the torn fabric tightly around myself, slowly lifting my head.

"What?"

"Apologize. To me. And to Chloe."

I ground my teeth together so hard my jaw ached.

"Why the hell should I!"

"You threw a psychotic, jealous tantrum, aborted our child, and you think you don't owe me an apology?"

Ethan's eyes were bloodshot red.

Looking at me.

Like I was a monster he utterly despised.

"You threw a jealous fit, weaponized the death of a child to terrorize a woman suffering from severe clinical depression, and you think you don't owe Chloe an apology?!"

I laughed.

I laughed until the tears poured down my face.

I bit down so hard I almost cracked a molar.

"I already told you, Ethan."

"I am not a psychotic, remorseless monster like you and Chloe!!"

My furious roar echoed through the massive, vaulted lobby.

Chloe stood up from a nearby sofa.

She covered her mouth, acting like she was about to flee the room in tears.

One of Ethan's bodyguards immediately stepped in to gently stop her.

Ethan walked over to me.

He hooked a finger under my chin, forcing me to look at him.

"So you're refusing to apologize?"

"Yes."

He nodded slowly.

And violently yanked me up off the floor by my arm.

"Ethan, what the fuck are you doing?! Let me go!"

He didn't answer.

He just dragged me aggressively toward the glass revolving doors.

Hundreds of furious, screaming internet vigilantes were waiting right outside.

"Ethan, what are you doing?!"

My entire body violently trembled.

The next second.

He grabbed the shredded collar of my hospital gown and ripped it entirely down the middle.

He shoved the heavy glass door open.

And violently threw me outside.

"AHHHH!!!"