As soon as Horrace left, Chloe gathered her strength, engaged her core to steady herself on her shaky legs, and headed to the hospital. She had just changed into her uniform and was headed out of the lockers when someone blocked her path.

"Chloe? What are you doing here?"

Standing in front of her was Isabella—the woman James had cheated with.

Chloe didn't want to cause a scene in the hospital so she tried side stepping her, but Isabella moved to block her way again. "You came here because you knew James's grandfather is being treated in this hospital, didn't you? Well, let me warn you—stay away from James!"

Chloe almost laughed out loud. "Keep your warnings to yourself. Unlike you, I'd never stoop so low and interfere in someone else's relationship."

It was the truth, but Isabella's face twisted in rage.

The Gray family had already fallen into ruin, what even gave Chloe the right to look down on someone like her?

Isabella's anger made her vicious, her words venomous. "The only reason I did what I did was because I love James so much. Even fate agrees with me, that’s why James ended up with me. As for your family, well, I guess you all deserved it. Dead, crippled, and imprisoned. What a mess. Your proud family is now shattered."

"Shut up!" Chloe's eyes turned to daggers.

Whatever personal grievances Isabella had with her, she had no right to drag her late parents and injured brother into it.

But Isabella wasn't done. She twisted the knife, her voice dripping with malice.

"Why should I shut up? The way I see it, your family's downfall is literal karma. And your mother? She deserved to be burned alive, to end up neither human nor ghost, rotting in a burn unit room for the rest of her miserable life."

“That’s it!” Chloe snapped, her anger boiling over. She raised her hand swiftly and slapped Isabella hard across the face.

The sound of the slap echoed through the hallway for what felt like an eternity. Suddenly, Isabella's demeanor shifted. She clutched her cheek and began crying, playing the part of a victim so perfectly.

"Chloe, I truly love James! There’s nothing you can do to change that. Hit me or humiliate me, I won't leave him!" She loudly sobbed.

Chloe stared at her, baffled by Isabella’s words. Why was she suddenly acting like Chloe would care enough about James to get physical? But she didn't have to wonder for long.

James came rushing over, panic in his eyes. Without a word, he shoved Chloe back so hard that she lost her footing and almost flew several steps. He went to Isabella and wrapped protectively in his arms.

"Chloe, I'm the one who wronged you. Don't take it out on Isabella. It’s not her fault!"

Chloe barely managed to steady herself against a wall. When she finally looked up, she saw Isabella clinging to James, her face turned away from him to smirk triumphantly in Chloe’s direction.

In that moment, it all clicked—this was the show Isabella had been rehearsing for. Chloe saw right through it, but she chose not to play along. Instead, she coldly asked James, "What exactly is 'innocent' about her? Is it innocent to be a homewrecker? Or to curse my mother to spend the rest of her life in the burn unit?"

"James, I didn't say anything like that about her mother!" Isabella quickly defended herself, her voice trembling with false sincerity. "You know I wouldn't even hurt a fly. How could I ever be so cruel to say something like that?"

James, hearing the quiver in Isabella's voice, immediately softened. His trust in her was unwavering.

"Chloe, I know what's happened between us has been painful for you, but that doesn't give you the right to lie about Isabella like this."

It was that very moment that Chloe finally saw that the man she had loved for years was completely blind and under Isabella’s spell.

Even worse, he was resolute in his defense of that woman. His tone grew harsh as he continued chastising Chloe.

"This is completely out of line! Hitting someone without cause is unacceptable. Apologize to Isabella right now, and I'll forget this ever happened. If you don't, don't blame me for what comes next."

Chloe didn't hesitate. She shot back, her voice sharp as a blade. "You want me to apologize to this manipulative, two-faced bitch? Keep dreaming, buddy."

"You!" James's face twisted in anger, his hand shooting up to strike her.

For a split second, Chloe thought he was actually going to hit her. She closed her eyes, bracing for impact, fear and dismay flooding through her.

But the slap never came.

Instead, she heard James's alarmed voice exclaim, "U—Uncle Horrace!"