Chasing Her Back: The Forgotten Heiress

Tonight was the annual Knight Group Charity Gala, but for Chloe, it meant something far more personal.

It was her third wedding anniversary.

Chloe stood at the edge of the room, smoothing down the skirts of her silk dress she wore to impress Ethan. For three years, she had played the role of the perfect, invisible wife to Ethan Knight. She had hidden her own ambitions, tolerated his coldness, and quietly designed the very jewelry pieces that made his company billions. She did it all under the pen name "Aria," keeping her identity a secret to protect his corporate image. Tonight, she hoped, would be the night he finally looked at her as a husband looks at a wife.

In her clutch was a small, velvet box containing a raw unpolished blue diamond, a rare gemstone she had sourced using her own secret savings. It was a symbol of their new beginning, waiting to be shaped.

"Have you seen the CEO?" a wealthy socialite whispered nearby, scrunching her nose up. "I heard he didn't travel alone this time."

"Everyone knows he only married Chloe because his grandfather forced him to," another replied, laughing softly. "The real queen has finally returned."

Chloe’s chest tightened. A cold drop of dread pooled in her stomach, but she forced a polite smile, keeping her head high.Ethan is just busy,she told herself.He promised he would be here by eight.

Right at that moment, the doors of the ballroom swung open.

The chatter in the room instantly died. The paparazzi's camera flashes erupted into a

frenzy. Chloe turned her head toward the entrance, her heart leaping into her throat.

Ethan walked in. He looked exceptionally handsome in his tailored black tuxedo, his jawline sharp and his dark eyes sweeping over the crowd with his signature authority. But Chloe’s eyes didn't stay on him. They froze on the woman clinging tightly to his arm.

It was Rebecca Vance.

Rebecca was wearing a striking white designer gown that perfectly complemented Ethan’s suit. On her neck sparkled a diamond necklace, the flagship piece from Ethan's newest luxury collection. The very collection Chloe had spent sleepless nights designing.

Chloe felt as if all the air had been s*ck*d from her lungs. The jewelry she had created out of love for her husband was now resting on the skin of his first love.

Ethan didn't look around for Chloe. Instead, he guided Rebecca through the crowd, shielding her from the flashing cameras with a protective gentleness he had never once shown his wife.

"Mr. Knight! Is it true that Ms. Vance is the new face of Knight Luxury Jewelry?" a reporter yelled, shoving a microphone forward.

Ethan paused, his voice smooth. "Rebecca has just returned from Europe. She will be the Global Ambassador for our new line. Her elegance represents everything our brand stands for."

The crowd erupted into murmurs of admiration. Chloe stood frozen in the corner, feeling like a ghost at her own funeral. The humiliation was stinging. Unable to bear it any longer, she walked forward, cutting through the sea of guests until she stood directly in Ethan's path.

When Ethan saw her, his dark eyes narrowed slightly, flickering with a momentary flash of annoyance.

"Ethan," Chloe said, her voice remarkably steady despite the storm raging inside her. "Can we speak privately?"

Rebecca immediately put on an apologetic expression. "Oh, Chloe. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to take Ethan away from you tonight. He only accompanied me because my health has been poor since my flight.”

Ethan stepped slightly in front of Rebecca, his posture defensive. He looked down at Chloe, his eyes ice-cold. "Don't make a scene, Chloe. This is a public event."

"A public event on our anniversary," Chloe replied in a quiet, tight whisper, looking directly into his eyes. "You forgot, didn't you?"

Ethan didn't even blink. His expression remained utterly indifferent. "It is just a date on a calendar. Right now, Rebecca is not feeling and still needs to be introduced to our investors on top of that. You already have the title of Mrs. Knight, Chloe. Don't be greedy for more."

Don't be greedy.

The words hurt her deeply, shattering the last remaining piece of her hope. For three years, she had given him her youth, her love, and her brain work. In return, he gave her endless nights in an empty mansion and a warning not to ask for his heart. He believed his name and his money were enough to keep her satisfied.

"I see," Chloe said softly, sniffling. The pain in her chest suddenly cleared, replaced by a strange, profound numbness.

"Go back to the table," Ethan commanded, turning away to guide Rebecca toward a group of high-profile board members. "We will talk at home."

Chloe watched his retreating back. For the first time in three years, she didn't follow him. She didn't want to wait around in the corners for him.

She looked down at the velvet box in her hand. She opened it, glancing one last time at the priceless blue diamond inside. Then, with a strangecalm, she walked over to a nearby trash bin. She opened her hand and let the box fall into the garbage, right alongside the discarded cocktail napkins and empty cups.

She was done waiting for an unpolished stone to turn into a diamond. Turning on her heel, Chloe walked past the whispering crowds, out of the grand ballroom, and into the cool autumn night. She didn't look back at the lights of the hotel. She didn't shed a single tear. Her phone buzzed in her purse with a notification from her secret bank account, the royalty payments from her "Aria" designs had just cleared. She had billions of her own, a brilliant mind, and a heart that was finally free.

As she stepped into a waiting taxi, she pulled out her phone and dialed a number she hadn't called in years. It was her lawyer.

"Miss Chloe?" the lawyer answered, surprised.

"Prepare the divorce papers," Chloe said, her voice clear and completely devoid of emotion. "And draft a legal notice to the Knight Group. Aria is officially terminating her contract."

Later that night, as the clock struck 2:00 AM. Ethan opened the front doors of the Knight mansion. The entire house was pitch black and freezing cold. Usually, no matter how late he returned, a warm lamp would be burning in the living room, and Chloe would be sitting on the couch, waiting to hand him a warm cup of tea.

Tonight, there was only silence.

Ethan frowned, he had left Rebecca at her apartment after she complained of a headache, expecting to come home to Chloe’s usual quiet presence but she wasn’t there, still he didn’t care. He walked up the stairs and entered his study, intending to check his emails before going to bed.

The moment he switched on the desk lamp, his eyes fell on a neat stack of papers sitting on his laptop. On top of the stack lay a plain silver band. It was Chloe’s wedding ring.

Ethan’s heart thudded. He stepped forward and picked up the papers. Written across the top in bold, black letters were the words:MUTUAL DIVORCE AGREEMENT.

Chloe had already signed her name at the bottom. She hadn't requested a single cent of his billions, nor any of his properties. She had walked away completely empty-handed.

A harsh scoff escaped Ethan’s lips. He tossed the papers back onto the desk, his eyes tightening with irritation.She’s throwing a tantrum,he thought, refusing to acknowledge the sudden tightness in his throat.She thinks she can scare me into chasing her.

He pulled out his phone and dialed his assistant, Leo.

"Sir?" Leo answered instantly, his voice groggy from sleep.

"Freeze all of the Mastercards I gave Chloe immediately," Ethan ordered coldly, staring at the silver ring on his desk. "She left the house. Let's see how long she lasts out there without my money. She will be back in twenty-four hours."

There was a long pause on the other end of the line. Ethan could hear the frantic tapping of a keyboard.

"Sir..." Leo’s voice suddenly returned, cracking with panic. "Actually, Mrs. Knight hasn't used a single cent from your accounts in three years.”

“What?”

“In fact... her personal account just initiated a massive transfer."

Ethan's brows knitted together. "What transfer?"

"She just transferred fifty percent of the voting shares from the luxury gemstone supply chain out of our holding company,"

Leo stammered, his breath hitching. "And sir... we just received an official legal notice from the international copyright bureau. 'Aria' has officially terminated her contract with the Knight Group. Our upcoming winter line is completely canceled."

Ethan froze, the phone slipping slightly in his grip as a cold sweat broke out across his neck. "What did you say?"

"Aria is gone, sir. Without her designs, the Knight Group faces a multi-billion dollar deficit by tomorrow morning."

Before Ethan could process the crushing news, his laptop screen lit up with a breaking news alert from New York’s top business journal. The headline flashed in bright, bold text across his face.

Ex-Wife of Billionaire Ethan Knight Spotted at Private Lounge with Estranged Brother Julian Knight; Rumors of New Luxury Jewelry Empire Sparked.

Attached to the article was a crystal-clear photograph of Chloe, smiling radiantly, as Julian Knight gently leaned down to whisper in her ear.

Ethan stood frozen in his dimly lit study, breathing heavily. He looked down at his laptop screen. The breaking news headline seemed to mock him, the bright light illuminating the photograph of Chloe smiling at his younger brother, Julian.

"Julian," Ethan muttered, his voice dropping into a low growl.

“Sir are you there? I said our contract with Aira is terminated.” Leo’s voice chirped again.

“ On what grounds?" Ethan cleared his throat.

"Her legal representatives invoked the sudden termination clause, sir. They haven't stated a reason, but without her designs, the Knight Group will crumble,Investors are already starting to shake."

"Find her," Ethan hissed, his chest heaving withrage. "I don't care what it costs. Track down Aria's shell company. We cannot lose her to a rival.”

“Okay Sir.” Leo responded, bobbing his head even though his strict boss couldn’t see him.