CHAPTER 1: The Velvet Curtain
Victoria’s smile froze, but Chloe didn’t rush her moment.
Instead, she turned slowly—gracefully—her calm expression untouched by the tension crackling in the air. The store manager stood beside her, head slightly bowed, white-gloved hands holding a sleek, black velvet case.
“Shall I proceed, Ms. Laurent?” he asked softly.
Victoria blinked. “Ms… what?”
Chloe didn’t answer right away. Her eyes met Victoria’s—not with anger, not even with pride—but with something far more unsettling: quiet certainty.
“Yes,” Chloe said. “Go ahead.”
The case opened with a soft click.
Inside, diamonds caught the light like frozen stars—necklaces, rings, heirloom pieces that whispered wealth far beyond anything on display in the boutique.
The husband leaned forward, stunned. “That… that’s a private collection?”
The manager nodded. “One of our most valued clients.”
Victoria’s fingers tightened around her designer bag. “This… this has to be some kind of mistake.”
Chloe finally looked directly at her.
“No mistake,” she said gently. “I just never felt the need to prove anything.”
The silence that followed was heavier than anything Victoria had said before.
May you like
For the first time, she looked small.
And Chloe? She had never looked more powerful.
