Claimed By the billionaire

Chapter 9

The cold, heavy metal of the platinum pendant felt like a branding iron in Rachel’s palm. Before Chloe could even finish her smug smile, Rachel’s hand shot forward with lethal speed. She didn't argue. She didn't cry. She simply gripped the heirloom and brutally yanked it backward.

The heavy platinum chain tore across the skin of Chloe’s neck, the sharp links slicing deep.

“Ahhh!” Chloe let out a piercing, glass-shattering scream, stumbling backward as bright red blood began to well from the scratch and trickle down her collarbone.

The pain was immense, but the opportunity for drama was even greater.

The music slammed to a halt. Instantly, every head in the grand ballroom turned toward the commotion. The wealthy guests leaned in, their eyes gleaming with an insatiable hunger for high-society gossip.

Catherine Stewart, who had been busy sweet-talking a group of elite investors on the other side of the room, heard her favorite daughter’s shriek and came running. Chloe didn't hesitate—she threw her trembling body straight into Catherine’s arms, sobbing hysterically.

"Oh my goodness, Chloe! What happened?!" Catherine gasped, wrapping her arms tightly around her.

"Mom! It’s Rachel!" Chloe wailed, her voice echoing perfectly across the silent room.

"I was just quietly pulling her aside, begging her not to be so rude to you... and she just snapped! She yanked the necklace right off my neck! Look at the blood, Mom! She’s crazy—she was trying to kill me!"

Catherine glanced at the smear of blood on Chloe’s pale skin, her maternal protectiveness instantly turning into blinding rage. She whipped her head around, glaring at Rachel as if she were a rabid animal.

"Rachel! What on earth do you think you are doing?!"

Rachel stood perfectly still, entirely unbothered by the heavy gazes of the crowd. She lazily spun the platinum chain around her fingers, the diamonds catching the light of the chandeliers.

"I'm only taking back what belongs to me," she said, her voice chillingly detached.

Catherine’s breath hitched. In truth, she hadn't even realized Chloe had worn that specific necklace tonight. If she had known, she would have stopped it. When Catherine had initially confiscated the heirlooms from Grandma's estate, she had intended to lock them away. But a few months ago, Chloe had discovered them in the vault and taken them.

Catherine had tried to offer her something else—another priceless diamond necklace from her own collection, even offering to trade it for a brand-new luxury sports car—but Chloe had thrown a massive tantrum, crying and screaming, "You don't love me anymore! You're favoring Rachel just because she has your blood!"

Fearing she would alienate the daughter she raised, Catherine had relented, quietly telling herself she would eventually buy Rachel something else so both girls could be happy.

Shaking the guilty thoughts from her head, Catherine hardened her expression, stepping forward to shield Chloe.

"That necklace was given to Chloe before you even came back to this house, Rachel! Return it!"

Rachel let out a short, cold laugh that echoed with pure mockery. "Before I came back? You really do dote on your fake daughter, don't you, Catherine?"

The crowd erupted into furious, hushed whispers.

“Did she just say fake daughter?”

“Oh my god, the rumors are true! The bloodline was swapped!”

A surge of pure, murderous anger crashed through Chloe. Ever since Rachel had returned to the Stewart family, Chloe felt like everything that rightfully belonged to her was slowly being stripped away. And now, Rachel had weaponized her deepest insecurity right in front of the city’s elite. It wasn't just a sibling fight anymore; it was a public declaration of war.

"What is the meaning of this?!" A booming, authoritative voice cut through the whispers.

Richard Stewart marched into the center of the floor, his face twisted in deep embarrassment and fury. He had been in the middle of closing a massive corporate partnership when his daughters started brawling like alley cats. He glared at Rachel, his tone absolute.

"Rachel, drop the dramatic act and return the necklace to Chloe right now! If you had never crawled back to this family, that heirloom would have never been yours anyway!"

Chloe’s eyes filled with fresh tears, playing her part perfectly. "Dad, look at my neck! She’s trying to kill me because she hates that you love me!"

The murmurs shifted again. While some of the heartless elites giggled at the drama, a few of the guests began to look at Rachel with deep pity.

The scene was excruciatingly clear. The three of them stood together like a perfect, united, happy family—Catherine cradling a sobbing Chloe, and Richard standing tall to defend her. Rachel stood completely alone on the opposing side, an outsider in her own skin.

Richard didn't care about justice or truth; he just wanted to bury this mess before it ruined the Stewart Group’s 30th anniversary. Nothing on earth was more important than his company’s reputation.

Rachel clenched her jaw, her fingers digging into her palms so hard her skin nearly broke.

The sheer, stabbing betrayal from her biological father was a physical ache in her chest. She desperately forced her eyes wide, fighting with every ounce of her strength to stop the tears from falling. She refused to let them see her cry.

Just as the suffocating weight of the room was about to crush her, a deep, composed, and devastatingly familiar voice echoed from the grand entrance.

"The heirloom belongs to the Stewart family's real daughter. So why on earth should she return it?"

The crowd parted instantly like the Red Sea.

Dominic Vance stepped into the light of the ballroom. He was dressed flawlessly in a bespoke, razor-sharp tuxedo, his hair perfectly styled, his demeanor radiating the absolute, effortless power of a man who ruled the business world.

He walked directly past Richard, straight up to Rachel. Without a word of explanation, he reached out, his large hand wrapping possessively around her waist, pulling her flush against his side into a firm embrace.

Richard’s furious expression instantly vanished, his face forcing a bright, almost sycophantic smile.

The Vance family’s net worth had completely bypassed the Stewarts' years ago; Dominic held the financial leash to their entire company's future.

"Dominic! You made it!" Richard chuckled quickly, totally pivoting his stance. He glanced at Rachel, then back to the necklace in her hand.

"Ah, of course! You’re completely right. This necklace... it has always belonged to Rachel. She can keep it! It’s her right!"

To Richard, if Rachel kept the necklace, it kept Dominic happy, which meant the Vance partnership remained secure.

Catherine’s face also shifted into a flawless, welcoming smile, completely ignoring her bleeding daughter. "Dominic, dear, you're a bit late! But thank goodness you're here."

She turned a cold, commanding look toward Chloe. "Chloe, stop crying. That necklace is actually Rachel's dowry for when she marries Dominic. I will just buy you another one tomorrow."

Chloe froze, a wave of profound, burning embarrassment washing over her. Her face turned bright red as the realization hit her: her own parents had just instantly turned on her the second Dominic Vance walked into the room.

Her neck was still bleeding, her chest was tight with rage, and the mocking stares of the guests were now aimed directly at her. Overwhelmed by a monstrous wave of humiliation and fury, Chloe stomped her feet, spun around, and fled the ballroom, running straight toward the private holding rooms upstairs.