Chapter 4I Paid My Debt: How I Escaped the Billionaire Who Broke Me

The Uber I called was taking forever. Between the low blood sugar and the sharp pain in my stomach, I couldn't stand it anymore and crouched down by the curb, clutching my stomach. The hand that had been stepped on was already swollen, bruised, and bleeding. It hurt terribly.

Chloe really was special to Arthur.

I had known Arthur for a very long time. He had been the crown prince of the Sterling family since he was born. Growing up, he had endless rumors and flings, but the only girlfriend he ever publicly acknowledged was Chloe Vance.

It made perfect sense that they would reunite. It was a classic romance trope.

A sudden honk startled me. I looked up to see a sleek black Maybach pulling up right in front of me. The tinted window slowly rolled down, revealing Arthur’s lazy, handsome face. He tapped his fingers rhythmically against the steering wheel.

"Stomach acting up again?"

My eyelashes fluttered slightly.

He let out a scoff, his eyes filled with mocking disgust. "Serves you right."

I lowered my eyes.

It felt like we had rewound time by two years. This was exactly how Arthur treated me back then. He was always this vicious to me.

He used to say that the fact someone like me was even allowed to breathe the same air as him was a charity.

Only now did I finally realize that all the tenderness he showed me later was an act. He was just terrified that if I left, no one would be left to take care of him while he was paralyzed.

I decided to just ignore him. The click-clack of heels approached from behind. Chloe walked past me, opened the passenger door, and whined playfully, "Arthur, I'm so sorry I'm late! Those reporters were so annoying. I should have let you go first, you're so much better at handling them."

As she buckled her seatbelt, Chloe turned her head and saw me. Her voice caught in her throat, and her face paled slightly.

She hurriedly urged, "Arthur, let's go! We're gonna be late for our dinner reservation!"

Arthur frowned, clearly annoyed by the rush.

Fighting the pain in my stomach, I looked up at Arthur, figuring this would be the last time I ever spoke to him.

"I watched the livestream of your proposal. The venue looked even more beautiful than the sketches you drew." Except that it was filled with roses instead of hyacinths, everything was perfect. I thought for a moment and added,

"I wish you both... a lifetime of happiness."

Arthur stopped smiling. The hand resting on the car window suddenly clenched into a fist, his knuckles turning stark white, as if what he just heard wasn't a blessing at all.

On that hand rested a gleaming engagement ring. I lowered my eyes, dodging the intense, unreadable look Arthur was giving me.

Chloe went quiet for a second before saying softly, "Arthur, we're running late. Let's not waste time on irrelevant people."

A very faint voice drifted down from above me.

Arthur said, "Mia. Don't regret this."

He waited for a moment. When I didn't respond, he scoffed, restarted the engine, and slammed on the gas, speeding off.

I looked up in a daze, only catching the taillights of the black Maybach disappearing into the distance.

He drove aggressively, exactly like the way he used to street-race sports cars years ago.

Even if it was a blessing, as long as it came from my mouth, Arthur would find a way to get irrationally angry. He was psycho.

But I didn't regret a thing.