Chapter 1The Silent Treatment: Catfishing the CEO

I accompanied my brother to a business dinner.

Never did I expect the person sitting across from us to be the Crown Prince of the business world himself.

When I bit the bullet and went to offer a toast, he let out a cold scoff... three times.

It wasn’t until halfway through the dinner, when someone asked about his poor, obedient, and completely mute fiancée who wasn't in the industry...

Liam Sterling lifted his eyelids, his gaze sweeping coolly over my custom, figure-hugging pencil skirt.

He let out another cold scoff: "They're asking you. Have you not played mute enough after pretending for two years?"

* * *

Attending a business dinner.

Sitting across from me was our company's most highly valued client.

Dressed in a sharp suit.

A cold, stern face.

The very Crown Prince frequently featured in financial newspapers.

Notorious in the industry for his eccentric temper and being difficult to deal with.

Right now, he was sitting across from me, staring intently.

The polite smile on his lips was icy, and his aura was overwhelmingly oppressive.

My brother was still introducing me to the other side: "This is my little sister. Brought her out to meet some people so she can take over the family business later."

The man across from us raised an eyebrow.

He repeated my name.

"Chloe Hastings."

"The heiress of the Hastings family?"

He paused, then sneered: "Interesting."

I silently pulled my hair down, hiding my face even more.

After introducing me, my brother noticed I was still sitting and whispered urgently: "Don't just sit there with your head down. What are you hiding from? It's your turn to toast."

I remained silent for a moment.

Then, bracing myself, I slowly stood up.

As I raised my glass to toast the other side, my hand froze in mid-air.

The atmosphere in the room had become uncomfortably quiet.

My brother waited for ages, finally turning to ask: "Why are you just holding your glass? Are you mute? Say something."

It had been two years.

Liam Sterling genuinely believed I was mute.

Even during our most intense moments in bed.

Liam would grip my hands, smiling wickedly: "Baby, just say a word if you can't take it, and I'll stop."

I lost myself several times, biting my lip until it bled, but I never made a sound to ask him to stop.

Was it because I didn't know how to speak?

No, it was because I didn't fucking dare.

My lips moved for a long time before I managed to squeeze out a few words: "Um, Mr. Sterling—"

As soon as I spoke.

The man across from me immediately let out a cold scoff.

I fell silent, feeling a piece of my soul die: "Mr. Sterling, a pleasure to meet you for the first time. I look forward to working with you."

"First time?"

Liam's lips curled into a chilling smile: "Right."