Chloe tried to snatch my backup phone.

Her three brothers kept rambling beside her. One moment, they said I should learn to help out my future brothers-in-law. The next, they said men should hand all their money over to their wives.

Then, they started prying into how much my company earned annually. Every word dripped with greed.

The car Mom arranged arrived quickly. I kicked Chloe away and got in, leaving them behind.

Once I finished negotiating this deal, I would settle accounts with them properly! However, I never expected that the moment I met with my business partner, Chloe burst in with her three brothers.

The group of them caused such a commotion that they drew stares from all directions. Chloe grabbed my arm.

"So this is what you've been doing! Sneaking around with some home wrecker! You use women and toss them aside like trash!"

The woman from the partner company froze, her smile vanishing instantly.

"What's going on here, Mr. Cross?" Pauline Harper's refined features turned cold, clearly questioning whether I took this partnership seriously.

My scalp tingled as I rushed to explain. "Ms. Harper, I sincerely apologize. These people are my driver's family. I already fired her, but I didn't expect them to follow me here and cause trouble."

"I'll have security remove them immediately."

"Who dares throw us out?" Chloe shouted at Ms. Harper. "Evan Cross is my boyfriend! Have you no shame, seducing someone else's man!"

Ms. Harper froze.

I trembled with fury and tried to shake her hand off forcefully. "Chloe, what are you talking about? Let go of me right now!"

"I'm not talking nonsense!" Chloe gripped even tighter.

"I knew something was off with you coming home so late every night. Turns out, you've been sneaking around with a mistress! Since we're about to get married anyway, I'll let it slide this time, but you're not allowed to meet with these home-wreckers anymore!"

Her three brothers closed in around us, chiming in one after another.

"Big shot CEO doing business? More like doing business in bed. I don't think you're cut out to run a company. Just hand it over to us and let us manage it for you.

"Exactly! You just need to live happily with our Chloe as husband and wife!"

More and more people gathered at the entrance, pointing at us and whispering among themselves.

Ms. Harper's expression grew darker and darker, her tone turning ice-cold. "Mr. Cross, I think we should postpone today's partnership discussion."

"Ms. Harper, please don't listen to their nonsense. This is all a misunderstanding."

Panic seized me. I immediately signaled my assistant. "Call security and get them out of here!"

"A misunderstanding?" Chloe let out a cold laugh.

"I think you're just trying to play the field and don't want to admit our relationship!"

"But I have proof! I still have all our chat records saved! And photos of us together!"

She pulled out her phone and produced several photos of us in what looked like intimate poses.

However, every single one was taken while I napped in the car. She had photographed me without my knowledge!

I was so furious I felt dizzy. She had done so many disgusting things behind my back!

I slapped her across the face.

"Call the police! I'm calling the police! You can rot in jail!

Jack suddenly rushed forward and punched me in the face.

"You dare hit our Chloe? You must have a death wish!"

The pain made me lose all reason. I shoved him away reflexively.

In the chaos, someone shoved Ms. Harper. She stumbled backward and crashed into a nearby table.

"Enough!" Ms. Harper's furious shout rang out, her beautiful face filled with anger.

"Mr. Cross, I don't think there's any need to continue discussing our partnership."

"Your people have no manners whatsoever. I truly can't imagine whether future cooperation would be equally unpleasant.

"Show them out!"

With that, Ms. Harper turned and left without looking back.

I watched her retreating figure, my heart turning to ice. This partnership had been completely ruined by Chloe and her family. However, their malice went far beyond just this!

Seeing Ms. Harper leave, Chloe looked utterly pleased with herself. "Evan, I did this for your own good. That Ms. Harper is clearly no good. Working with her would only hurt you."

"Besides, why are you working so hard? Just hand the company over to my brothers. You can stay home and live a good life with me from now on."

Chloe did it on purpose! She deliberately sabotaged the partnership!

"You're absolutely unreasonable!" My fury burned so hot that I wanted to tear her limb from limb! I pulled out my backup phone to call the police.

Tom slapped the backup phone out of my hand. It crashed hard onto the floor. "What do you wanna call the police for? We're family. Can't we talk things out?"

The phone shattered into pieces. I stared at the broken device on the ground, then looked at this family standing before me.

The rage in my heart burned hotter and hotter.

When security came up, I shouted loudly, "Restrain all of them! I'm calling the police!"

Several security guards quickly ran over, but Chloe yelled at them, "Don't come near us! I'm Mr. Cross's girlfriend. This is a family matter. Who dares interfere?"

The guards looked at each other, unsure of what to do.

After all, they were security for the partner company. They had no idea what was really going on between Chloe and me, and they did not dare act rashly.

I kept kicking at her.

"Chloe, take your brothers and get out of here right now, or you'll regret it!" I spoke through gritted teeth.

"We can leave, but you're coming with us." Chloe stepped forward and forcibly grabbed my arm.

"Come back to my hometown with me. We'll get engaged today. From now on, you'll properly honor my parents, buy them a big house, and stop worrying about company matters."

"I'm not going anywhere with you! Let go of me!"

I struggled desperately, but I could not break free from her grip no matter how hard I tried.

She was surprisingly strong. She squeezed my arm until it hurt.

Her three brothers came forward to help. They each grabbed one of my arms and started dragging me outside.

"Help! Someone help me!"

I shouted for help, but the people around just stood watching. No one dared step forward to help.

Jack slapped me across the face, splitting my lip.

"Shut your mouth! I think you need to be taught a lesson! Chloe's been way too lenient with you. Just wait and see how we handle you from now on!"

Just like that, they forcibly dragged me out of the partner company and shoved me into the car.

She got into the driver's seat, slammed her foot on the gas, and the car sped away from the city center.

"Chloe, let me go! This is kidnapping. This is a crime!" I shouted at her.

"A crime?" Chloe did not seem bothered.

"I'm taking you home to get married. How is that a crime? Once you become my husband, you'll understand I'm doing this for your own good."

"I'm telling you, my mother won't let you get away with it!"

I tried using Mom to intimidate her.

"Mrs. Cross?" Chloe let out a cold laugh.

"Mrs. Cross values me highly and is very satisfied with me as a daughter-in-law. How could she possibly object to our marriage? As for the lack of proper etiquette, it can't be helped. Once we're married, I'll explain everything to Mrs. Cross. She'll definitely understand."

Her three brothers chimed in beside me.

"Evan, stop struggling. Our hometown isn't any worse than the city. Chloe treats you so well. You won't suffer by being with her."

"That's right. The Morrison family is well-respected back home. You're damn lucky our sister wants you."

"You won't have to work so hard anymore. The three of us brothers will help you manage everything. How great is that?"

Jack pulled off his filthy sock and stuffed it into my mouth. "Alright, enough talking. Once it's a done deal, he'll settle down with our Chloe soon enough."

The rank, filthy sock nearly made me suffocate. I gagged and gagged. Tears poured uncontrollably from my eyes.

The car left the highway and moved farther and farther from the city center. I knew that if I did not find a way out soon, they would really take me back to their hometown.

I quietly felt for my wrist. Fortunately, my smartwatch was still there. While they were not paying attention, I dialed the emergency call.