After three years abroad, I stumbled upon a livestream that was absolutely blowing up. The clickbait title read: "A-List Starlet DESTROYS OnlyFans Wannabe! You Won't Believe What Happens Next!" I was about to scroll past, laughing at the trashy headline, when I froze. The woman being labeled an "OnlyFans wannabe" wasn't some random stranger. It was my best friend, the one trying to make it as a serious actress in Hollywood. She was stripped down to her underwear, kneeling on the floor, shaking uncontrollably. And the backdrop? It was my $50 million Hamptons estate that I let her stay in. Surrounding her was a clique of flashy, over-dressed influencers and B-list celebrities, mocking her relentlessly. "What do you mean this is your friend's house?" sneered a woman in a white designer dress, acting like she owned the place. "Everyone knows this is the location Liam secured for me to film in!" She flipped her hair, feigning generosity. "Look, Liam gave me this estate. If you want inside, fine. But you’re gonna have to crawl in naked." "I mean, you're basically an adult film star anyway, right? Being naked shouldn't be a big deal for you." The live chat was toxic: Yaaas Chloe! Drag her! That shameless tramp deserves it! Her 'friend' is probably just another sugar baby! Liam? Liam Sterling? That was my fiancé. Who the hell was this squatter acting like the queen of my castle, bullying my best friend right in front of my eyes? I saw red. I booked the next flight to New York immediately. Then I called my fiancé. "You have ten minutes to get your ass over here." "And you better be ready to explain to these people who actually owns the Hamptons estate." 1. I clicked into the stream, ready to drop a few thousand dollars in "Super Chats" to support my best friend, Anna. Instead, I watched as she was blocked at the massive iron gates of my property. Even though she had the keys. No matter how many times she repeated, "This is my best friend's house, she let me stay here!", the security guards—people I didn't recognize—wouldn't budge. "Mr. Sterling gave us strict orders," one guard said coldly. "Today, the estate belongs to Ms. Chloe Vance." I was stunned. This was supposed to be Anna's big break—a livestream reality show debut. The premise was simple: the cast brings the venues, and they live together for a week. Even though I hadn't been in the States for a few years, I never skimped on supporting her. I immediately offered her my Hamptons estate, "The Dune House," for filming. So what the hell was happening? On screen, the group of women surrounded Anna, laughing. "You? A nobody with a sketchy background knows someone with a house like this?" "Don't compare yourself to us. You probably rented this for an hour to flex. This is obviously the location Liam got for Chloe!" "Your 'best friend' is probably imaginary, or just some other girl trying to bag a rich guy. Hilarious!" Chloe Vance, looking like the lady of the manor in her white dress, looked down at Anna with fake sympathy that barely masked her smugness. "Anna, honey, if you couldn't secure a venue, just say so. We'd understand. You don't have to lie and say the house Liam gave me belongs to your friend." Anna flinched just looking at Chloe. But thinking of me seemed to give her strength. "It really is my friend's house. I have proof..." Before she could finish, someone splashed a full glass of water right in her face. Her shirt soaked through instantly, clinging to her skin. Instead of cutting the feed, the camera crew zoomed in on my friend, who was desperately trying to cover her chest, looking humiliated. Chloe smirked. It was obviously intentional, but she gasped, covering her mouth with zero sincerity. "Oops! My bad, Anna. Hand slipped." "But we can't delay filming. Why don't you take off that wet shirt before you come inside?" "Even though Liam gave me this place, I have to take care of it. If you drip water on the antique rugs or the art, you definitely couldn't afford to replace them." She looked Anna up and down, sneering. "Besides, considering your... past work, showing some skin for views is just another Tuesday for you, right?" Anna's face went pale. She tried to defend herself, but Chloe's posse was already reaching out, tugging at her clothes. The chat went wild. LMAO finally! Can't stand her! She's always acting innocent but we know she's thirsty. Show us what you got! Chloe is the queen of calling out fakes! I rubbed my eyes. I thought I was hallucinating. But no. That was Anna. My Anna. And that was my house. It was the property old Mr. Sterling begged me to accept when Liam and I got engaged. I bought it as our future wedding home. My money. My name on the deed. I left it empty when I went abroad to be with my parents for their retirement. So since when did it belong to Chloe and "Liam"? On screen, Anna was outnumbered. Her buttons popped off. She was down to her bra, sobbing. "Please! I'm done! I quit! Just let me go!" Chloe laughed, delivering the final blow. "Honey, you signed a contract. You can't just quit." "As the owner of this house, I make the rules today." "Either strip naked and crawl inside, or pay the $5 million breach of contract fee. Your choice." Seeing Anna's despair, my rage burned away all reason. Who was this absolute trash acting like she owned the place? I boarded my flight. Just wait until the real owner shows up. 2. By the time I landed in New York and drove out to the Hamptons, the crew had started filming Day 2. I rolled up with a team of bodyguards and stormed past the confused security at the gate. I burst into the living room just in time to see Anna kneeling on the floor, shivering. She was wearing a humiliatingly short maid outfit. In front of her was a pile of chewed-up food someone had spit onto the marble floor. Chloe frowned, acting distressed. "Anna, your punishment yesterday was to serve us today. But look at this mess. You haven't even cleaned the floor properly." "Here, let me help you." She lifted her foot and stomped on Anna's head, trying to force her face into the vomit-like mess. My pupils dilated. I didn't think. I sprinted forward and slapped Chloe across the face with everything I had. Crack. Chloe stumbled back, screaming. I pulled Anna up. She was a wreck. My heart broke. "I'm sorry," I choked out, hugging her tight. "I'm so sorry I'm late." Anna realized it was me and stopped shaking for a second. But then panic set in. She tried to push me away. She turned to kneel before Chloe again. "Ms. Vance, I'm sorry! It's my fault! Don't be mad at her! I'll clean it up right now!" Chloe recovered from the shock of the slap. She clutched her red, swelling cheek, the "gentle girl" mask slipping completely. "You bitch! You hit me?! Do you have any idea who I am?!" I looked at Anna. Before I left, she was bright, confident, ready to take on the world. Three years later, she was broken. I grabbed Anna, forcing her to stand. "Get up! Do not kneel! I am here now!" I turned and kicked Chloe square in the stomach. "I don't care who you are. The President could be here and I'd still beat your ass." "Let's see who dares to stop me!" Chloe shrieked and fell backward—landing right in the pile of gross food. The other celebrities finally snapped out of it, rushing to help her but recoiling at the mess on her dress. They turned on me instead. "Who the hell is this psycho?! Don't you know Chloe is Liam Sterling's girl?!" "Liam will literally kill you for touching her!" The livestream chat was exploding: Is this the 'friend'? Looks like another escort. Probably sleeps with some old oil tycoon and thinks she's tough. Chloe has Liam Sterling backing her! He buys her million-dollar diamonds like they're candy! This girl is dead meat. Liam Sterling. Liam Sterling. I finally laughed. Last night, Liam sent me a voice note whining about when I was coming back for our wedding. And now he was apparently Chloe's knight in shining armor? 3. I pulled out my phone and dialed Liam. He answered instantly, sounding excited. "Tara! Babe! You called! Did you miss me? I'm flying out to see you as soon as I wrap up this deal!" My voice was ice. "Save the flight. Get your ass to The Dune House. Right now." "You have ten minutes. Come tell everyone here who this house actually belongs to." The room erupted in laughter. Chloe and her squad were losing it. "Did she just pretend to call Liam? That acting is worse than Anna's!" "Birds of a feather! You're both delusional trash!" "If Liam isn't here in ten minutes, you're stripping down and scrubbing the floors with your tongue!" Anna was trembling, tugging my sleeve. "Tara, let's go... we can't fight them." I smirked. "There is no one in New York I can't fight." Ten minutes later, the roar of a sports car engine cut through the air. Liam strode in wearing a sharp black suit. "Tara!" He started, smiling, until he saw Chloe sobbing on the floor behind me. His expression shifted to annoyance. He frowned at me. "Tara, did you hit Chloe?!" I was waiting for an explanation, and he was questioning me? Whack. I slapped him too. "I hit her, and now I'm hitting you." "Watch your tone when you speak to me." Chloe screamed and threw herself into Liam's arms. "Liam! She's crazy! She's jealous you gave me the house!" I crossed my arms, staring Liam down. "The deed is in my name. I paid for it. Since when do you have the right to give my property away?" Chloe looked up at him, wide-eyed. "Liam... is that true?" Liam froze. His face turned red with embarrassment, then anger. He lowered his voice, hissing at me. "Tara, stop making a scene! I already promised her. Just sign the transfer papers later. It's supposed to be our marital home anyway, so I own half of it in spirit!" I laughed so hard I nearly choked. Then I slapped him again. "You broke ass, gold-digging loser. You beg me for a marriage alliance and then act like a big shot with my assets?" Liam's eyes bulged. "Tara!" I didn't stop there. I grabbed Anna's hand and walked up to Chloe. Slap. "That's for lying about her career." Slap. "That's for squatting in my house." Slap. "And that is for breaking her spirit!" My bodyguards blocked anyone who tried to intervene. The chat, previously full of Chloe fans, started turning. Wait... is this security for real? She just slapped Liam Sterling! Is this scripted? I'm calling the cops! This is assault! Chloe, the "Sweetheart of America," was now swollen-faced and shaking. I massaged my wrist, glaring at Liam. "You've clearly forgotten that the Sterling family only survived because of my family." "Last chance. Get these people out of my house. And tell them who owns it." Before Liam could speak, a furious roar came from the entrance. "Who owns it? Chloe owns it!" 4. I stared at the man walking through the door, my jaw practically hitting the floor. "Tyler?! What the hell?" Chloe saw him and lit up like she'd seen God. She threw herself into his arms. "Tyler! Baby! It hurts so much!" My brother, Tyler Vance, looked heartbroken. Then he walked over and slapped me. Hard. "Tara, you spoiled brat!" "It's just a house! How dare you hurt Chloe like that!" My ears rang. I stumbled, tasting blood. "You..." I gasped. "Why don't you ask what she did to Anna?!" Tyler glanced at Anna, who was bruised and disheveled. In the past, he treated Anna like a second sister. Now, he just frowned, dismissing her. "It's just girl drama. Does it warrant this violence?" "Apologize to Chloe. Now. Or don't blame me for what happens next." I saw the light go out in Anna's eyes. I realized then: Liam wasn't Chloe's biggest backer. My own brother was. I spit blood on the floor. "Apologize? She's not worth the dirt on my shoe." Chloe started crying on cue. "If Tara is your sister, Tyler, then forget it. I deserve it. I'm just an outsider." Tyler melted. He looked at me with pure hatred. "Tara, if you won't learn, I'll teach you." He snapped his fingers. "Restrain her!" Ten bodyguards rushed me, pinning me to the ground. Thud. My head hit the marble. Blood trickled down my forehead. "You won't admit you're wrong? I'll beat it out of you!" Tyler yelled. "Hit her ten times for every slap she gave Chloe!" Blow after blow landed on me. Anna screamed. She dropped to her knees. "Tyler... Mr. Vance! Please! It's my fault! Punish me! Leave Tara alone!" She banged her head against the floor, begging. Tyler ignored her, cooing at Chloe. "Whatever you want, babe. I'm doing this for you." Chloe pretended to be conflicted, but her eyes were venomous as she looked at Anna. "Well, since Tara won't apologize... I guess Anna has to take the blame." "I won't be mean. Anna, since you're an 'adult actress' anyway... just strip naked and walk around the room once. Then I'll forgive you." The room went silent. Anna froze. She had fought so hard against those rumors. She was a serious actor. Yesterday she slammed her head against a wall to avoid stripping, ending up in the ER. Now Chloe wouldn't let her go. "If you don't..." Chloe sighed. "Then I guess Tara keeps getting hit." I felt like my eardrums were going to burst from the slaps. Anna looked at me, then at the camera. If she did this, her life was over. I screamed, struggling against the guards. "ANNA! NO! DO NOT DO IT!" "I apologize! I'm sorry! Stop!" Tyler scoffed. "Too late. Lesson number one: missed opportunities don't come back." "Either she strips, or you take a hundred slaps." Anna looked at me, tears streaming down her face. She mouthed, I'm sorry. She closed her eyes and took off her jacket. Then her shirt. Her pants. Until she was just in her underwear. The men in the room leered. The chat was disgusting. Knew she was a slut! Couldn't wait to show it off! Gross. She's probably diseased. She deserves this. Anna covered herself with her arms, shaking. Chloe blinked innocently. "Anna? I said naked. Why are you half-assing this? Do you want Tara to suffer?" Anna flinched. I screamed until my throat tore. "ANNA! STOP!" She smiled at me. A sad, broken smile. Her fingers went to the clasp of her bra. Click. Just as it was about to fall, the front doors were blown off their hinges. A convoy of Rolls Royces screeched into the driveway. Dozens of elite security operatives swarmed the room. And then, two voices I loved more than anything thundered through the hall. "Who the FUCK dares to touch my daughter?!"
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