Chapter 1The CEO’s Final Play.

When I arrived at the penthouse club, Dominic Vance was sitting in the head seat. He looked composed, but his eyes were bloodshot.

A circle of trust-fund heirs didn't dare to breathe. When they saw me, they looked like they’d seen a savior, straightening up instantly: "Hey, Chloe."

The girl sitting next to him paled. Her eyes welled up as she whispered to him, "Dominic, I’m back. Are you still going home with her?"

I walked over and picked up the bottle of Cabernet from the table.

"Dominic. Home or a hospital wing. Pick one."

* * *

The lounge fell so silent you could hear the rhythm of uneven breathing.

Dominic flicked his eyes up to look at me. In that single movement, I felt his raw impatience.

The guys around him, sensing the coming storm, backed away to a safe distance. I held the wine bottle steady, standing like a statue in front of the two of them.

After a long beat, Dominic smirked. "Who called your sister-in-law?"

The moment he said it, the color drained from the girl’s face. She looked like she was made of glass, ready to shatter. She clutched Dominic’s arm, her voice trembling.

"Dominic… are you really going back with her?"

I let out a sharp, cold laugh and pulled up a chair. I sat down, leveling my gaze with hers.

"Lily Rose, while I still have a shred of patience left, you’d better vanish."

A single tear rolled down her cheek. "If you know who I am, then you must know…"

I cut her off.

"I know. I know you’re the 'One Who Got Away.' I know he still keeps your photo in his private study."

A shy blush crept onto Lily’s face. Her eyes lit up as she leaned her head gently on Dominic’s shoulder.

"Dominic, I’m back. Divorce her. All these years later, being your wife is still my only dream."

"I know you’re not happy. You’ve suffered so much lately."

Dominic tried to keep his trademark poker face, but the vein throbbing in his temple betrayed the chaos inside him. He lifted his hand, reaching out to stroke Lily’s back.

I sneered, breaking their little moment.

"Mr. Vance, it seems you’ve lost interest in going home."

"My apologies, then."

I swung my arm high, and the wine bottle came crashing down—straight toward Lily’s head!