Mrs. Miller is here.

"Why dad wants to see me all of a sudden!"

The words came out of her mouth, unbeknownst to her.

Clara was going back, but hearing her, she stopped. She stood before her and whispered in her ears.

"Did you forget? Today is... Day three!"

Without saying anything, she walked away. But, Chloe was startled.

She sensed something in Clara's tone.

Was she — happy!

Uhh!

She shook her head. Without much thought, she went inside, picked up the jacket of her loungewear, and went towards the dining room.

As she entered the room, her eyes fell on the people sitting around the large wooden round dining table. Her parents, Chase and Clara, sat occupying the four chairs; the other two remained vacant. She went ahead and sat beside Chase.

The room was silent, both her parents sat with a serious expression. Today, the maids were also scared seeing their mood, they barely made any sound. The whole atmosphere was cold.

Chloe felt something in her stomach. The last time they sat together in this room was three days ago during the breakfast. Since then, she hadn't met them; she was busy finding the truth. But sitting here today, she felt a chill running down her spine.

As she sat, Mr. Smith spoke.

"Chloe, do you remember what I said to you three days ago?"

She nodded in agreement.

"Then, will you bother to explain the matter? What exactly happened?"

She looked around once, then took a deep breath.

"The marriage certificate is original."

It took her quite some minutes to explain everything. As she finished, she looked around again. Chase stopped eating, his eyes were fluttered open! Mr. and Mrs. Smith were sitting still, their expression hardened. Only Clara continued to eat, with a mocking smile on her face.

Suddenly, Clara laughed.

"You're saying you got married at night while you were drunk and you didn't remember anything, not even the groom! How big drunkard you are!"

Chloe lowered her head, her face turned red. It was indeed embarrassing for anyone.

Slap!

There was a loud sound, and Chloe felt her left cheek burn!

Surprised, she watched Mr. Smith sprang out of his chair, and gave her a flat slap on the cheek.

"Dad!"

Chase almost screamed.

Mr. Smith didn't pay attention to him, his eyes were locked with Chloe's, who sat still with an astonished look in her eyes!

Her father slapped her!

Before today, he never touched her, but he slapped her today — for the first time, and her brain was taking time to process it.

"When you got drunk and did something like this... Have you ever thought about the consequences?"

He said it slowly, pausing between each word.

Chloe sat, looking down. She didn't know what to say. She was ashamed.. because of her own doings.

He again spoke.

"Do you have any idea what you've done! Why drink, when you can't handle it? Chloe, did you forget that you are not just a random girl! You are a member of the Smith family, a respected business family in this city and almost always in the headlines. How can you allow yourself to jump into a mess!"

He took a pause.

"There has already been a stir in the city because of the drama that happened in your engagement; now, if this news goes to the media, do you know what will happen? Our reputation will turn into dust."

He stopped. There was an eerie silence in the whole room. Mr. Smith was usually

calm and did not like trouble. But when he was angry, he was a different person; no one dared to speak in front of him.

"Dad —"

Chase was going to say something, but seeing his enraged gaze, he stopped immediately. It wasn't a good idea to make him more angry.

Mr. Smith went back to his seat, and after sitting still for two minutes he said.

"From today Chloe won't go out anymore. Until a solution to this is found, she is not allowed to leave the boundary of this house."

Everyone ate the rest quietly and, after eating, went to work. Before leaving, Chase gently patted her shoulder and reassured her with his eyes. Chloe sat alone in the huge dining room and sighed.

"Hah! It was meant to be."

.....

And thus, two days had passed. In the last two days, Chloe didn't go out. The maids were told to keep an eye on her, the guards were also directed to restrain her from getting out.

She hadn't tried either. She took a leave from her office and stayed in her room for the last forty-eight hours. Though she was not restricted from wandering inside the house, she confined herself to her room.

These days, Chase was also busy with his recent project and he couldn't find time to talk to her. None of the other members of the house came to meet her; only at mealtime every day did a servant come and ask if she would eat in the dining room.

Chloe refused and ate in her room. Let alone going out, everyone's cold behavior made her lose the desire to talk to anyone.

However...

This afternoon, Chloe was busy drawing a design lying in bed when a maid came and knocked on her door. As she looked up, she said in a low voice.

"Mr. Smith wants to see you. He's waiting in the drawing room."

Chloe was a little surprised. Every time her father wanted to meet her in the last few days, nothing went well.

What about today!

The girl was going back, and suddenly she called.

"Listen!"

She came back. "Yes, mam?"

"Is there anyone with him?"

The girl hesitated a little, then answered.

"Mrs. Miller is here, mam."

The girl walked away, and Chloe frowned.

"Mrs. Miller is at home now! What does she want?"

She got ready and came out of the room. On entering the drawing-room, her eyes fell first on his father and then on Mrs. Miller, who sat opposite him.

Looking at her face, she felt that whatever was going to happen today wouldn't be good for her.