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?"

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