Chapter 2: The Stolen Gown & False Allegation

The surrounding guests began to whisper, pointing at Natalie with condescending looks. In their eyes, Ethan Carter was a handsome, rising tycoon, while Natalie was just an unglamorous wife who had failed to keep up with her husband’s rise.

Chloe stepped closer to Ethan, wrapping her arm possessively around his elbow. “Ethan, don’t be too harsh on her. Maybe Natalie just wanted to feel what it’s like to attend a luxury event. Though… her dress really ruins the atmosphere.”

Suddenly, Chloe gasped dramatically, reaching down to the hem of her crimson gown.

“My dress! Ethan, look!” Chloe cried out, pointing at a small tear along the lace seam of her skirt. “This is the limited-edition piece designed by the mysterious Master ‘N’ of Sinclair Studio! It costs three hundred thousand dollars!”

Chloe glared accusingly at Natalie. “You did this! When you walked past me earlier, you deliberately stepped on my train! You were jealous that Ethan gave this gown to me instead of you!”

Ethan’s eyes turned cold with rage. “Natalie! Did you tear Chloe’s dress?”

“I haven’t moved from this spot for the last ten minutes,” Natalie replied evenly, her voice cool and devoid of fear. “If the gown tore, it’s because the fake silk can’t handle Chloe’s desperate posturing.”

“You dare call it fake?!” Chloe shrieked. “Ethan personally obtained this from Sinclair’s top agent!”

Natalie almost chuckled internally. Master ‘N’ was her own personal pseudonym. The gown Chloe was wearing was merely a rejected prototype that Natalie had thrown into the discard pile at her private atelier—which Ethan had somehow scavenged to impress his mistress.

“Natalie, enough of your venomous lies!” Ethan snapped, grabbing Natalie’s wrist tightly. “Chloe is Carter Group’s top brand ambassador. Damaging her gown in front of our international clients is a direct attack on my company’s reputation!”

“So you believe her without checking the security cameras?” Natalie asked, looking at the man she had loved and supported for five long years.

“I don’t need cameras to know your bitter nature,” Ethan scoffed. “You’ve been resentful ever since I appointed Chloe as General Manager. Apologize to Chloe right now!”