Chapter 4They Said I Was Too Wild for Him. They Were Right.

After that meeting with Chloe.

The Chloe that he described as "obedient" and "proper" started appearing between us with increasing frequency.

Consequently, my alone time with Carter dwindled to almost nothing.

We started fighting all the time. After another nasty argument over me demanding he fire an assistant, we barely saw each other for almost a month.

Carter finally took the initiative and offered to take me on a vacation.

I wanted to make up too, so I naturally agreed.

But it was ruined by a single phone call.

Under the dim light, Carter's profile looked exceptionally handsome.

After hanging up, he kissed my lips, sweeping away the peppermint lozenge I had gotten addicted to.

Just as I was about to kiss back, he pushed me away.

"Chloe says she's coming to Miami too. We'll hang out together when we get there."

When did "Miss Dupont" turn into "Chloe"?

My face fell. "Again? You're running a business, not selling your soul to her."

Carter withdrew his arms from around me, his tone hardening.

"Don't speak so crassly."

"If something was actually going on between me and her, do you think I'd be contacting her right in front of your face?"

They seemed entirely transparent. Carter reported to me every single time he was alone with Chloe.

But can the things you see—and the things you don't—really be explained away so easily?

I rolled over and turned my back to him.

Carter sighed, turned off the lamp, and hugged me from behind.

"The Dupont Group is currently assessing whether our company is worth investing in. Chloe just moved back from abroad and doesn't have any friends here. She just sees me as an older brother."

"I merely treat her like an investor. I'm just being respectful. I don't have any other intentions."

"I don't want to fight anymore. Can we just have a good trip?"

His body temperature was naturally high. Leaning against him felt warm and comforting, just like the heat radiating from his palm when he saved me seven years ago.

I understood how hard it was for him to build his startup, so it made sense that he treated Chloe differently.

After all, having the backing of the Dupont family was a massive temptation for any ordinary company.

I temporarily choked down my anger, but by the very next day, it flared right back up.

Chloe basically took my place for the entire trip.

One minute it was Carter, I need water, the next she couldn't open a bottle cap, and then she was cold and needed a towel.

I couldn't lay on my beach chair anymore. I bluntly said I was getting in the water.

Carter said he'd come with me. Chloe, who had been lounging perfectly fine, immediately jumped up and said she wanted to join.

I ignored her and headed straight to the cabana to change into my swimsuit.

Chloe and I finished changing and walked out at the same time. Carter's eyes landed on me first, then quickly shifted to her.

She excitedly twirled in her sundress. "Carter, does it look good?"

But before she could spin even a few times, Carter stepped in and stopped her. Chloe instantly put on a pitiful, pouting face.

Carter sighed helplessly, his explanation laced with comfort.

"It's dangerous to spin like that. You need to be careful."

His tone was gentle and totally doting.

Standing under the blazing sun, I suddenly felt freezing cold.

I turned to leave.

Chloe obediently said "Oh," straightened her knee-length skirt, and then casually glanced over at me.

"Ah, is Tara wearing that...? Isn't that a bit dangerous?"

I stopped in my tracks, just about to snap back at her.

But Carter beat me to it, his tone lazy and detached.

"That's just how she is."

"She's not like you."

I froze.

I didn't understand what he meant by that.

By the time I snapped out of it, their two silhouettes had already dove into the ocean.

The blinding sun hung high in the sky. Every ray of light felt like a red-hot steel needle, piercing my eyes until they ached.

I trudged gloomily toward the shoreline.

I saw Carter abruptly let go of the arm he was using to support Chloe.

He turned and waved at me: "Tara, come teach Chloe how to play in the water."

It felt like he was desperately trying to overcompensate and explain something.

But why be so nervous in the first place?

I watched them for a few seconds, calmed my breathing, and slowly waded over.

Seeing me approach, Carter visibly put more distance between himself and Chloe.

"It's much better if Tara teaches me! Carter is too clumsy."

Chloe smiled sweetly, grabbing my arm with fake affection.

My face was completely blank. I just started giving her instructions on how to float, telling her to relax her body.

She tried lifting her feet off the ground a few times but kept failing. Carter looked like he wanted to say something, but ultimately walked out of the water and headed back to the beach.

Miraculously, the second Carter was gone, Chloe successfully floated.

Her expression instantly went cold, and she yanked her arm back without warning.

"Thanks, Tara."

My hands hovered awkwardly over the water.

"You're not used to it yet. Let me hold onto you."

Chloe gave me a sideways glance, a sneer curling her lips.

"Cut the act. A street rat who’s been hustling since she was a teenager definitely knows what she's doing."

"Clinging to a guy who's completely out of your league... isn't it exhausting?"

"Tara, you really have a high tolerance for humiliation."

My brow furrowed tightly. My hands, hidden beneath the water, clenched into fists so hard they hurt.

Suddenly, a massive wave crashed into us without warning.

Caught off guard, Chloe and I both tumbled under the water. I quickly stabilized myself and started treading water.

"Chloe!" A roar echoed from the shore.

I whipped my head around and saw Chloe being dragged out by the receding wave. It scared the hell out of me.

I immediately adjusted my angle and started swimming toward her.

But I was violently yanked back by a brutal force.

"Don't you go near her!" Carter's eyes were bloodshot and bulging.

It was a pure, hostile warning.

Because of his sudden, violent pull, I was caught entirely off guard and swallowed huge mouthfuls of seawater.

The bitter, stinging saltwater felt like tiny, jagged knives.

It left my throat burning in agony.

But compared to the physical pain, it was the freezing chill spreading from the very bottom of my heart that made me grit my teeth.

This time, I saw it with absolute clarity.

From the very beginning, Carter's concern for Chloe was on an entirely different level.