Claimed by the Crown Heir novel Chapter 2

Vanessa pushed the door open and walked right in.

The moment they saw her, the noisy private room fell dead silent.

Lucas's cynical smirk vanished instantly. He frantically shoved Chloe out of his arms.

"Nessa, what are you doing here?"

He stepped forward, reaching for her hand, but Vanessa took a step back, dodging his touch.

"If I hadn't come, how would I have heard how you truly feel?"

Swallowing the lump in her throat, she stared straight at him with red-rimmed eyes. "If you didn't want to get married, you could have just told me. I would never force you."

Lucas scrambled to explain. "It's not what you think. You misunderstood."

He shot a look at his friends, and they filed out of the room one by one. Chloe lingered at the back, smirking provocatively as she brushed past her.

"You and Mr. Lowery have such a great relationship. Wherever he goes, you follow right behind..."

Before she could finish, Vanessa raised her hand and slapped her hard across the face. "Who do you think you are? Do you really think you have any right to speak on what happens between him and me?"

Chloe clutched her cheek, looking at Lucas with tear-filled eyes, playing the pitiful, fragile victim to perfection.

"Mr. Lowery..."

"Vanessa, if you're mad, take it out on me! Don't drag innocent people into this." Lucas's handsome face tightened as he instinctively stepped in front of Chloe, completely shielding her.

The sight pierced Vanessa to her core. She clenched her trembling fingers, forcing a calm facade. "When did this start?"

Lucas tugged at his tie, his voice laced with suppressed irritation. "We've been through three years together. Don't we even have the most basic trust?"

It was precisely because she trusted him too much that she had never doubted him.

A mocking glint flashed in her eyes as she let out a hollow laugh.

"Care to prove it?"

"How do you want me to prove it?"

Chloe...

Such an affectionate nickname.

Was it the company that needed her, or was it him?

Vanessa suddenly lost all desire to interrogate him. It all felt so utterly pointless.

Seeing her turn to leave, Lucas grabbed her arm, anger flaring in his eyes. "If you don't apologize right now, the wedding next week is off."

Vanessa asked softly, "Do you honestly think there's any point in having it?"

Ignoring whatever expression Lucas wore, she walked away without looking back.

Once in her car, all her strength evaporated. The tears finally spilled over, weeping for three years of unreserved devotion that amounted to nothing.

To hell with true love.

On the way to the airport, she watched the neon lights blur past the window. Dialing a number she hadn't called in ages, she spoke softly, "Father, I regret my choice. I'll agree to the arranged marriage. Just give me a week to wrap things up here!"