I’ve really been in the rain with him

Deep inside the plush Maybach, I was utterly lost in Julian’s dizzying kiss. My clothes were gone, scattered around us, yet Julian remained impeccably dressed. The stark contrast made a blush creep up my neck. He reached out, pulling my waist closer. A low chuckle rumbled from him. “The privacy screen is up, the driver can’t hear a thing, and wouldn’t dare to anyway. What are you blushing about, huh?” Watching the usually aloof man’s movements grow more fierce beneath me, I embraced him, my eyes full of love. Just as the tide of pleasure surged, rapidly climbing towards its peak, a sudden, jarring phone ring shattered the moment. Interrupted like that, Julian’s brow furrowed. But seeing the caller ID, he answered. I caught my breath, glancing at the contact name. It was Caleb, his closest friend in his circle. “Julian, you’re insa—” Julian cut him off, speaking in fluent Italian, “Not convenient. Speak Italian.” A deep breath echoed from the other end, followed by a long pause before Caleb spoke, also in Italian: “You actually married Serena? What in the world are you thinking?! You went blind saving her back then, and she abandoned you at your lowest point, running off with another man, almost destroying you completely! And now you’re getting back together with her?!” Those unfamiliar words automatically translated themselves in my mind. Once I pieced together what was being said, a cold dread washed over me, plunging me into an ice-cold despair. Julian, however, didn’t notice my abnormal reaction. “If I don’t marry her, her family will force her to marry a man old enough to be her father. I can’t bear to see her suffer that kind of humiliation.” “What about Vivian then? When you lost your sight, she was the only one by your side. She’s been with you for years, loved you so fiercely, almost giving you her very soul! All of us, your friends, we’ve seen it!” Listening to the unconcealed fury in Caleb’s voice, Julian remained coldly indifferent. “I’ll find a way to keep it a secret. She’ll never know about this.” “How long can you hide it? A lifetime? Doesn’t Vivian want to marry you?” The more he listened, the more irritated Julian became, his tone growing hurried. “Block the news of me and Serena getting married. Don’t tell anyone. In a while, I’ll prepare a fake marriage certificate for Vivian.” With that, he hung up, not wanting to hear any more of Caleb’s pointless chatter. Lowering his gaze, Julian tossed his phone aside and continued to claim me. I trembled uncontrollably. After we both reached ecstasy and started to get dressed, my lips parted, about to speak, when his phone chimed again. It was a SnapChat notification, a special one. Julian picked it up, glanced at it, and then told the driver to stop. “Vivian, something urgent came up at the company. Could you get off here and take a cab home?” I said nothing, just nodded silently, and opened the car door. The black Maybach sped away like a black streak. I stood by the roadside, staring blankly at the busy street, teeming with endless traffic. I couldn’t hold back anymore; tears streamed down my face. No one knew that to close the distance between Julian and me, I had learned Italian long ago. So, every word he and Caleb spoke, I understood. Every single word echoed in my ears, piercing my heart like countless razor-sharp blades. And long-buried memories, along with my shattered, disillusioned love, surged through my mind all at once. Julian was a golden boy, born into privilege, while I was a housekeeper’s daughter. That year, I followed my mom into the Albright family’s luxurious villa and saw Julian gracefully playing the piano in the sunlight. I had never heard such beautiful music, nor had I ever seen such a handsome boy. So, with just one glance, the name Julian was deeply etched into my heart. I never told anyone that I harbored a secret love for someone. Not just because of the vast social chasm between us, but also because I knew Julian had a girl he liked. Her name was Serena, his childhood sweetheart, who grew up with him. He never hid his affection for her, cherishing her like a precious gem, fiercely protective. Even at seventeen, to save Serena, Julian accidentally lost his sight in a car accident. But from that day on, Serena vanished into thin air, never setting foot in the Albright household again. She even got a new boyfriend. The Albright family had more than one grandchild, and Mr. and Mrs. Albright were constantly busy with their careers, with no time to care for their now-blind son. Julian was relegated to the old estate, utterly alone and forgotten. I volunteered to move back to the old estate and personally cared for him for seven long years. When I was twenty-three, I even camped out for three days and nights outside a renowned doctor’s office, pleading until he finally agreed to take Julian’s case and cured his eye condition. The tarnished gem regained its brilliance, making a stunning comeback and astonishing everyone. It only took him a year to return to the top, becoming the heir to Albright Industries. It was *me* who stayed with him through harsh winters and scorching summers, *me* who comforted him from midnight to dawn, *me* who helped him endure those grueling seven years. And it was *me* he kissed, embraced, and slept with… But I never imagined that the first thing he’d do after regaining control was to marry Serena, the very woman who had abandoned him! All these years, I’d worked tirelessly, pushing myself to the limit to keep up with him. But no matter what I became, Julian’s parents always felt I wasn’t good enough for their son, repeatedly trying to pay me off and get rid of me. Julian always argued with his family for me, and I didn’t want to let him down, so I never thought about leaving. Until today. I didn’t want to stay by his side anymore. So, I wiped away my tears, pulled out my phone, and dialed a number. “Mrs. Albright, I accept your offer of fifty million dollars. I will leave Julian forever!” ### Chapter 2 On the other end of the line, Mrs. Albright instantly became ecstatic. “You finally came to your senses? Good. How could a housekeeper’s daughter like you ever be worthy of my Albright heir? Where are you now? Come over quickly, and we can sign the contract.” Looking at the address she impatiently sent, I gave a bitter, self-deprecating laugh and hailed a cab. Upon arriving at the coffee shop, Mrs. Albright asked me many questions. After I answered each one, she showed a satisfied expression and pushed a stack of papers across the table. “It’s all in black and white. Once you sign, there’s no turning back. I’ll transfer half the money to your account as soon as you sign, and the other half on the day you leave. You must promise that once you have the money, you will never appear before Julian again, understood?” My eyelashes fluttered as I looked at the truly astronomical sum for compensation on the agreement. Of course, I wouldn’t appear again. Not in this life, nor the next, did I ever want to see Julian again. So, without hesitation, I picked up the pen and signed my name decisively. Mrs. Albright finally looked relieved. She gathered the agreement, stood up, and delivered one last instruction. “I’m only giving you two weeks. Go off-grid or leave the country, whatever you prefer. You must find a way for Julian to never see you again.” “I understand, Mrs. Albright. You have my word.” After seeing Mrs. Albright off, I returned home. Making Julian never see me again was simple. Their powerful family had certain restrictions, making international travel nearly impossible for its members. As long as I immigrated, Julian would never be able to find me again. After sifting through piles of overseas information for most of the night, I finally decided to immigrate to Australia. Once decided, I picked up my phone to check the time, only to see a new SnapChat notification. Tapping it open, it was Serena’s photo dump. The top three photos were selfies of her holding roses. In the center were three photos of two marriage certificates. Below those were three photos of two hands, fingers intertwined. I knew that since Julian wanted to keep their marriage a secret, he would never have allowed Serena to post this. But she had posted it, and she’d set it to be visible only to me, purely to gloat. I discreetly ‘liked’ the post. As soon as I exited, I received a message from Julian. “Vivian, I’m going on a business trip. I won’t be back for a few days.” I replied with an ‘Okay’ and put down my phone to wash up. The next day, I woke up early to handle my immigration paperwork. Because I was pressed for time, I specifically applied for the expedited process. The staff promised it would be done within half a month, and only then did I breathe a sigh of relief. After getting in the car, I scrolled through Serena’s SnapChat again. This time, Julian’s half-body was visible. They were holding hands, looking at new homes, and finally settled on a villa in a high-end coastal development. Just like yesterday, I liked the post. On the third day, I went to my company and resigned. After carrying my belongings home, I saw Serena’s SnapChat again, where she was already wearing a wedding dress, with a dazzling diamond ring sparkling on her ring finger. As always, I liked the post, then buried myself under my duvet. On the fourth day, I woke up to a fresh update on SnapChat. This time, the camera was focused on wedding photos hanging in their bridal suite. I stared for a long while before snapping back to reality. I liked the post as usual, then put on some makeup and went out for a farewell dinner with my closest friends. In the evening, I returned with several boxes and threw away everything related to Julian. All the gifts he had given me over the years, the matching toothbrushes and mugs, the photos we took together… Nothing was left. It all went into the trash. By the time I finished, it was late at night. I was about to turn off the lights and rest when Julian suddenly returned. He froze the moment he saw the empty room, his brow furrowed deeply. “Why are so many things missing from the house?” “I didn’t like them anymore, so I threw them out. I’ll buy new ones later.” Julian nodded, took off his clothes, tossing them onto the sofa, but his gaze was drawn to a box nearby. “You resigned?” He paused, then noticed something else on the coffee table. “Why did you suddenly take out your household registration book?” “I was too tired, wanted to rest for a while, so I resigned. And the household book, well, I have some paperwork to take care of.” I explained everything, putting my things into my bag. Seeing my composure, Julian didn’t think much of it. He pulled me into his arms, his voice gentle. “I’ve been busy these past few days and haven’t had time for you. Your birthday is in a couple of days. How about I take you to an auction tomorrow to pick out some gifts?” I didn’t refuse. The next day, as we settled into our seats in the main hall, I saw Serena. She sashayed over to us, sitting in the empty seat next to Julian. All evening, Julian kept his head turned towards me, talking, not sparing her a single glance. After the auction ended, he didn’t linger, pulling me downstairs. Before heading home, I went to the restroom. As I came out, I saw Serena cornered in the stairwell by a group of men, openly mocking her. “Well, well, isn’t it our Miss Serena? Betrayed Julian back then, and now you’ve fallen so low. Is this karma?” “I heard your father’s forcing you to marry a decrepit old man with one foot in the grave. You’re still pretty, why not join us? We’d treat you with kindness—” The rest of his sentence was cut off. Julian came down the stairs, his face deathly pale. He kicked the playboys, sending them sprawling. ### Chapter 3 Then, he pinned the ringleader to the ground, delivering punch after punch, relentlessly, leaving them bloody and bruised, begging for mercy. “We’re sorry, Mr. Albright, we were wrong! Please, have mercy on us!” “Get out! If any of you dare to show your faces in front of her again, you’ll face the consequences!” His furious roar sent the men scurrying away like terrified mice. Many onlookers had gathered in the stairwell. Julian ignored their prying eyes, helping Serena to her feet. “Are you hurt?” Serena threw herself into his arms, tears streaming down her face, looking utterly broken. “I twisted my ankle, it hurts so much.” Julian’s eyes darkened. He scooped her up, pushed through the crowd, and quickly left. To shield the woman in his arms, he braced his arm, even accidentally pushing me to the ground. My head hit the hard steps, opening a gash that bled profusely, startling the onlookers. “Your head’s bleeding! Quick, call 911!” My face crumpled in pain, cold sweat breaking out all over me. Warm blood seeped between my fingers, dripping onto my eyelashes, heavy as a thousand pounds. I watched Julian’s retreating back, unable to turn his head, my mouth filled with a bitter taste. Before, if I cut my finger while cooking for him, he’d be distraught for ages, insisting on calling a doctor, terrified I’d be left with a scar. I thought he was making a mountain out of a molehill, but he’d lower his head, kiss my hand, and gently tell me, “Vivian, you’re the apple of my eye. When you get hurt, I feel it more than you. Our life is getting better now; you don’t need to do these things anymore. Your hand will wear my ring one day; scars won’t look good.” Now, I was injured, and he looked right through me. And the ring he promised me? It was on someone else’s finger. The ambulance took me to the hospital. I registered, saw the doctor, and picked up my medication all by myself, only getting home late at night. That night, I was in so much pain I couldn’t close my eyes, tossing and turned all night. Julian didn’t come home. The next morning, I dragged my tired body out of bed to change my dressing and saw Serena’s SnapChat. It was a video of Julian kneeling, massaging her ankle and applying medicine. I watched it several times, my eyes red-rimmed, and unknowingly drifted off to sleep. When I woke up again, it was dark outside. My phone on the pillow vibrated incessantly. I answered the call and heard Julian give an address. “The Riverside Manor, Private Room 703. Come now.” I hesitated for a moment before getting out of bed. I washed up and hurried over. The moment I pushed open the private room door, the first person I saw was Serena. Her eyes were red, looking pitifully vulnerable like a wronged little bunny. Julian watched her intently, silent, his face etched with a meaningful, heavy expression. The room was quiet for a long time before I finally couldn’t help but speak. “Why did you call me here?” Julian straightened up, clasping his hands, adopting the posture of a man accustomed to power. “Vivian, were those ruffians yesterday, the ones harassing Serena, sent by you deliberately?” I froze. I instinctively glanced at Serena and caught a fleeting flicker of triumph in her eyes. In that instant, I understood that this was all likely Serena’s own doing. I gave a bitter, self-deprecating laugh. “It wasn’t me. I don’t know them, and I have no interest in doing such a thing.” Julian’s expression didn’t soften with my explanation. He lowered his gaze, his voice calm. “Vivian, the moment Serena decided to abandon me, I completely let her go. You’ve been with me for seven years; you should know who’s in my heart now. Serena’s family is down on their luck, anyone can step on them, but it shouldn’t be you. You don’t need to make things difficult for her for my sake.” At that, my heart gave a sharp, painful jolt. I couldn’t help but remember the nights he’d lash out in pain, the times I’d rushed around with him, seeking doctors and remedies, his silent expression when he was misdiagnosed and told he’d never see again… A golden boy, losing his sight entirely for a girl. But those desperate days and nights, those seven whole years, he now lightly dismissed, as if they had never happened. Finally, I remembered the marriage certificate with his and Serena’s official seals, and my eyes welled up with unshed tears. “Yes, seven years together. How is it that I’m only just finding out who’s truly in your heart now?” Hearing that, Julian’s eyes narrowed slightly. “What do you mean?” I shook my head, a self-deprecating smile playing on my lips. “It means, I’m just a housekeeper’s daughter. What power or connections do I have to round up a bunch of thugs to bully a rich girl?” Even though I spelled it out clearly, Julian still didn’t believe me. I was tired. I took a deep breath and gave up on explaining. “Since you don’t believe me, then just tell me directly, what do you want me to do?” Julian pinched the bridge of his nose. “Apologize, Vivian. When you do something wrong, you should say sorry.” At that moment, Serena, who had been looking pitifully vulnerable for a long time, suddenly spoke. “Oh, an apology isn’t necessary. If you’re truly sorry, just drink all these.” ### Chapter 4 On the table, rows of amber whiskey bottles sat. My gaze moved up, landing on Julian, wanting a definitive answer from him. But the lights were dim, obscuring his expression. In the boundless silence, I felt a sense of breathlessness. I gasped, and many past memories flashed through my mind. When he first moved into the old estate, Julian, unable to see, would numb himself with alcohol every day. I worried about his health and constantly urged him to stop, but he wouldn’t listen. Until one time, when he was drunk, he sneered and pushed several bottles towards me. “Now even a housekeeper’s daughter dares to lecture me. Am I truly a tiger fallen to the plains, bullied by dogs? Fine, if you drink all of these, I’ll listen to you.” I wanted to tell him that wasn’t what I meant, that I wasn’t lecturing him, I was… worried about him. So, even though I was allergic to alcohol, for his sake, I didn’t hesitate for a second. I picked up a bottle and drank it all. Within minutes, I was rushed to the hospital. When I woke up, I saw him sitting by my bedside, his face dark. “*I* was the one who was drunk, not you! You knew you were allergic to alcohol, why would you gamble with your life?” I only answered with one sentence. “Because I was worried about you, Julian. Your eyes will see again eventually. Even if they don’t get better, I’ll stay with you for life. So, please, don’t give up, okay?” From that day on, Julian quit drinking. For years afterward, not even an empty bottle could be found in the house. Thinking back, I started to laugh, but tears glimmered in my eyes. I didn’t explain further. I leaned over, picked up the mustard powder sitting nearby, and poured it into the glass, my voice resolute. “Just these drinks? How can that show sincerity? I’ll add some self-penalties. Is that enough?” With that, I picked up the glass, tilted my head back, and poured it down, one glass after another. The burning, bitter taste spread down my throat, filling my stomach, but never reaching my heart. It wasn wasn’t until the seventh glass that Julian, unable to bear it any longer, finally called out. “Enough!” Looking at the dozen or so unfinished glasses, I smiled. “Is that enough? Have I completed my apology? Have I pleased your beloved enough?” Hearing this, Julian abruptly stood up and grabbed my hand. His usually expressionless face was now dark enough to drip acid. “You know I don’t mean it like that! Vivian, I told you, Serena and I are completely over. The Albright family disapproves of you, and if you do something so outrageous, people will seize on it. I just don’t want you to be cornered or criticized!” Julian spoke with conviction, and it all sounded perfectly logical. But I laughed out loud. The Albright family disapproved of me, a housekeeper’s daughter with humble origins. But did he really think they’d welcome Serena, who repaid kindness with malice, into their family? Yet, despite a thousand difficulties ahead, he still married her simply because Serena asked him to, didn’t he? It was all just an excuse for not loving me enough! I didn’t want to say any more pointless words. I shook him off, turned, and walked away. Just as I reached the door, my body swayed, and I passed out. “Vivian!” Julian’s heart seized. He rushed forward without hesitation, scooped me into his arms, and turned to leave. Serena quickly grabbed his sleeve, calling out with a sob, “Julian, I feel a little dizzy.” Julian paused. But only for a few seconds. He then strode away swiftly, leaving only one sentence behind. “I need to take Vivian to the hospital. Call my assistant to take care of you.” When I woke up again, I found myself in the hospital. Julian, who hadn’t slept all night, finally breathed a sigh of relief when he saw my eyes open. We stared at each other for a long time, saying nothing. Julian poured me a glass of warm water, handed it to me, tucked in my blanket, then got up to call the doctor for a re-examination, patiently taking note of all the instructions. He pushed off several urgent meeting requests. Seeing his assistant waiting by the door, looking troubled, I finally spoke. “You should go. I can take care of myself. These things aren’t your responsibility anyway.” Julian paused, the hand holding the knife still. His voice was slow. “Everything I do for you is my responsibility, Vivian. Have you forgotten? Back then, you took care of me the same way.” A flicker of haze crossed my eyes. Back then, because of his blindness, he was abandoned by his powerful family like a discarded pawn. Only I taught him Braille, studied with him, took him out to sunbathe, prepared all sorts of delicious food for him every day… It was like privately possessing the moon; my once gray life became bright as day. And those seven lost years were some of the most precious, joyful times of my life. Unfortunately, the moon didn’t belong to me, and I couldn’t go back to the past. In the afternoon, the doctor took me into the examination room. Half an hour later, a nurse helped me back to my room. The moment the door opened, Julian was holding my phone, his brow furrowed, speaking in a chilling voice to Mrs. Albright. “I told you, Vivian and I are truly in love, we like each other. I don’t care about her family background. You don’t need to waste any more effort. I will marry her, and she won’t leave me.” Hearing the movement, he looked up at me. The next second, Mrs. Albright’s confused voice came through the phone. “What do you mean, she won’t leave? Don’t you know? Vivian already agreed a few days ago to go abroad…” ### Chapter 5 The words stopped abruptly. I dragged my faltering steps forward, snatched back my phone, and hung up. Julian looked at me in astonishment, not understanding why I was so agitated. “What’s wrong?” Seeing his clueless expression, I knew he hadn’t heard Mrs. Albright’s entire conversation. I breathed a sigh of relief, looked away, and tried to make my voice sound calm. “Nothing. I just don’t want you all fighting over me anymore.” Indeed, the Albright family had been constantly arguing about Julian and me, always trying to break us up, and he had fought with them several times. Hearing me say that, Julian didn’t suspect anything further. He then asked about my test results. “The doctor said there are no major issues. I can be discharged.” After returning home, Julian didn’t go out much for the next few days, staying by my side. I wasn’t as lively and cheerful as before, often sitting in a corner, lost in thought, looking unenthusiastic. Julian couldn’t figure out why. He hugged me, wanting to coax me, but I got up and went to the bedroom. “I’m not feeling well. I’m going to rest for a bit.” Watching my retreating back, Julian seemed surprised. He thought I was still dwelling on the apology incident last time, so he asked his assistant to prepare a surprise. On my birthday, he specially hosted a banquet to celebrate. Out of respect for Julian, most people in his circle attended. In front of him, they were civil to me. But the moment he left, they would gather, whispering and judging, their gossip never-ending. “If it weren’t for Julian, I’d never come to a housekeeper’s daughter’s birthday party. It’s so degrading to even say!” “I wonder what Julian sees in her. Look at that cheap and tacky, reeking of poverty vibe. It’s suffocating!” “Julian truly is a man of honor. If it were me, I’d just pay her off. If he really marries her, it’ll disgrace the Albright family name!” Despite being the guest of honor, I stood alone, unnoticed. Listening to the undisguised insults and mockery from all directions, I felt utterly exhausted. If it weren’t for fearing Julian would notice something amiss, I wouldn’t have come here. Because of this deliberate exclusion, every single minute dragged on unbearably. It wasn’t until seven o’clock that the banquet hall suddenly buzzed with excitement. All the guests turned in unison towards the main entrance, their expressions of disgust instantly morphing into fawning smiles. News travels fast in these circles. Who didn’t know about Julian’s outburst for Serena last time? This sight confirmed he still cared, so they quickly scrambled to curry favor. “Mr. Albright, so you left earlier to pick up Miss Serena! So many years have passed, and your feelings are still so strong!” “Of course! They’re true childhood sweethearts. Look at Miss Serena’s elegance and beauty; she’s such a perfect match for the extraordinary Mr. Albright.” Amidst all the speculation, I looked at Serena, who entered arm-in-arm with Julian, and a sudden understanding dawned on me. She wore a magnificent haute couture gown, a dazzling diamond necklace accentuating her graceful posture. Her delicate, refined face exuded an air of refined elegance, born from wealth and privilege. Even standing beside the imposing Julian, she showed no hint of inferiority or nervousness. Randomly, I remembered a sketch Julian had drawn after regaining his sight, a sketch without a clear face. Back then, he said he just drew it out of boredom, and I only thought it was pretty, not thinking too much of it. But today, seeing Serena, I knew exactly who was in that drawing. It wasn’t a reunion after all, but a love he’d simply never forgotten. I lowered my gaze, turning silently, but Serena called out to me. “Miss Vivian, I heard it’s your birthday today. I came uninvited, I hope you don’t mind? I even brought a gift!” With that, she signaled someone to bring in a small, pure white puppy. “Its name is Ari. Isn’t it adorable?” Seeing the playful puppy leap towards me, I recoiled several steps in alarm, bumping into a table. My face paled, and my eyes filled with fear and panic. “Please take it away. I don’t like dogs.” ### Chapter 6 Hearing my words, Serena’s face fell. “Julian, is Miss Vivian still mad at me about last time? Then I’ll just leave now, I don’t want to bother you two.” With that, she turned to go, but Julian quickly grabbed her arm, frowning as he looked at me. “She meant well, Vivian. Don’t you usually love animals? Just accept it.” Seeing the displeasure in his eyes, I clenched my hands tightly, only able to turn to his assistant. “Mr. Hayes, I’m wearing heels, so it’s inconvenient. Could you please help me hold the puppy?” The people around me started to murmur sarcastically again, saying I was ungrateful and liked to put on airs. Julian also assumed I was deliberately giving Serena a hard time again. His face darkened, and he led Serena into the inner room. The main hall quickly emptied, leaving just me. I poured a glass of water and drank it, slowly calming my panicked and anxious emotions. I used to love dogs. But five years ago, on a stormy night during a power outage, Julian came down with a high fever. I braved the pouring rain to go out. A neighbor’s large dog chased me all the way, biting a chunk of flesh from my calf. Finally, I endured the pain to bring a doctor back. Only after confirming Julian was safe and sound did I get my own wound treated. That incident left me with a fear of dogs, but I never told him about it so he wouldn’t worry. Even through my dress, I could still feel the outline of that scar. The guests at the banquet were masters of opportunism. Seeing Julian’s attitude, they openly started giving me the cold shoulder. During the celebration, everyone crowded around Serena, as if it were *her* birthday. Julian’s anger had subsided somewhat, and he finally called me over to blow out the candles. I walked over silently, and just as I was about to make a wish, I heard Serena exclaim with delight. “Oh, what a coincidence! Miss Vivian, you and Ari have the same birthday! Why don’t we celebrate together?” At her words, everyone around me covered their mouths, stifling snickers. Seeing the taunt in her eyes, my fingers dug deep into my palms. I took a sharp breath, my voice laced with coldness. “In that case, let the puppy blow out the candles, and everyone sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to it. I won’t intrude.” Seeing that I was actually leaving, a vein throbbed in Julian’s forehead. He called out to me in a low voice. “Vivian! This is *your* birthday banquet. What kind of impression does it make if you leave first?” I ignored him and continued walking towards the door. Julian, at his wit’s end, chased after me and grabbed me. He whispered something close to my ear, then pushed me back towards the cake. “Listen to me! Everyone here today is from our circle. If you abruptly leave, it’ll cause trouble with the Albright family, and they’ll be even more against us.” Against *us*? What ‘us’? Hadn’t he already married Serena…? Happy birthday songs began to echo around me. But I just twitched my lips, stiff and numb like a statue, showing no trace of happiness. Until someone suddenly picked up the puppy and thrust it into my arms, making my skin crawl. Mid-song, the puppy started to squirm restlessly and then leaped out of my arms. The towering champagne pyramid was knocked over, crashing directly towards Serena and me. Screams erupted throughout the venue, and the falling glasses blurred in my vision. I watched, helpless, as Julian shielded Serena and moved away, as countless shards of glass and spilled wine crashed down on me. My pale shoulders were grazed by the fragments, leaving long, bleeding cuts. Streaks of blood dripped down, staining my soaked white dress red. I collapsed to the ground, a pained moan escaping my lips, cold sweat beading on my forehead. Julian heard it and turned back. Seeing I was injured, he was about to return when Serena shrieked beside him. “Ah! Julian, Ari scratched me! What if I get rabies?!” Looking at the tiny scratch on her ankle, Julian hesitated for a moment, then instructed his assistant. “You take Vivian to the hospital to get her wounds treated.” With that, he hurried away with Serena. The other guests also left, not forgetting to kick me while I was down as they departed. “Ari, Vivian… Miss Vivian is quite good at naming things! Look at some people, don’t they just look like a stray dog?” “Don’t insult Ari! Ari is so cute; it’s nothing like a mangy dog trying to climb the social ladder!” Every word, every syllable, landed clearly in my ears. I looked at my utterly disheveled state, my nose stung, and tears welled in my eyes. The birthday sign swayed and fell, landing in front of me. I picked it up, and looking at the chaotic scene of an empty hall, my tears finally fell unchecked. My twenty-third birthday ended like this, in miserable, humiliating end. ### Chapter 7 It was past midnight when I finally dragged my exhausted body home. After turning on the lights, my phone chimed a few times. It was a message from Serena. “You’ve been liking all my SnapChat posts every day, so you must know Julian and I are officially married by now, right? He also said he’s giving me a wedding in the Maldives. I saw the setup; it’s magnificent. Every single detail is exactly what we dreamed of when we were young. I can’t believe he never forgot.” “I also have you to thank. If it weren’t for you, Julian’s eyes wouldn’t have seen the light of day again. I really should thank you for taking care of my husband for seven whole years.” Looking at this unbridled mockery, I was too tired to even be angry. I went back to my bedroom, lay down, and fell into a deep sleep. Julian still didn’t come home that night, only sending a message. [Vivian, I still have some things to deal with. Are your injuries serious? If it hurts a lot, tell me, and I’ll come back immediately.] I stared at the lines of text, my gaze flickering. After a long moment, I replied. [No need.] Julian, from now on, I no longer need you. After the wound on my shoulder scabbed over, I went back to the Albright family’s old estate alone. When Julian was blind, the place where he and I lived was just the two of us. I found a shovel and walked to the still-lush peach tree in the courtyard. Beneath it, buried since Julian’s eighteenth birthday, were the wishes we had made. I dug it up. The iron box was rusted, and moisture fogged the sealed glass bottle. I pulled out the paper folded into a star shape, unfolded it, and saw my own handwriting. “I wish Julian could see the world again. I wish Julian peace and happiness. I wish I could stay by Julian’s side forever.” The future I wished for was all about Julian. Some came true. Some would never come true in this lifetime. Next, I unfolded the other paper, written by Julian. “I wish to regain my sight. I wish Serena all the best.” Every word was about him and Serena. There was no mention of me. It turned out he truly never blamed Serena for abandoning him. He was even willing to suffer the car accident for her, without any regrets. I gave a bitter, sorrowful smile, crumpled the note I had written, and threw it down the drain. Then, I took off the necklace from my neck. This was a gift Julian bought me with the money from his first business deal after returning to the Albright family. I felt bad that he spent so much, but he just held me, kissing me incessantly. “Vivian, they say it’s lonely at the top, but as long as you’re by my side, I’ll have the courage to keep climbing. This is just a necklace. Everything I’ll ever own, including myself, is yours.” I buried this necklace, and everything related to our past. After filling the pit with earth, I turned to go home. But just as I reached the door, I ran into Julian and Serena. Seeing me there, a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes. “Vivian, what are you doing here?” I didn’t answer, but instead countered with a question. “What about you? What are you and she doing here?” Julian hadn’t spoken yet when Serena laughed and said, “I haven’t heard Julian play the piano in ages. He said the piano is at the old estate, so we came back for it. Miss Vivian, you know your way around here, could you lead us?” With that, she didn’t even wait for my consent, pulling me towards the villa. ### Chapter 8 The moment the door opened, countless memories flooded my mind. The furniture and decor in the room were exactly as they had been the day we left, no different. Perhaps from living there for so long, Julian too seemed touched by revisiting the old place. He turned to me. “Vivian, do you remember when we…” “I don’t remember.” I lowered my head, my voice barely a whisper. Julian paused, then pointed to a LEGO model in the corner. “Didn’t we put it in the study after we finished building it? How did it get moved here?” I didn’t follow his gaze, answering flatly, “You couldn’t see then. Many memories are like illusions, all mixed up.” Just like I thought Julian loved me. But in reality, his feelings for me were merely a mirage-like illusion, a desperate comfort born out of desperation. Because he couldn’t see, he could only rely on touch. I was like a guide cane, which was why he felt I was so important. But once his sight returned, once he could do anything he pleased, I became irrelevant. And I, too, had believed that the support we gave each other in our youth could see us through any storm. In the end, it was all like a reflection in water, a flower in a mirror—a beautiful but empty dream. Seeing the fleeting look of desolation on my face, Julian felt a knot of tightness in his chest. He wanted to ask what was wrong, but I turned and went to the balcony. “The piano is in the last room down the hallway. You two can go by yourselves.” Listening to their receding footsteps, I sat in the rocking chair, slowly closing my eyes. Before long, the bright, sunny sky suddenly darkened, and a gentle rain began to fall. I got up and returned to the living room, hearing piano music from nearby. It was the first piano piece I had ever heard in my life, “Liebestraum.” Listening to it, I felt as if I was back in that summer when I was ten. Unconsciously, I followed the sound. Through the window, I saw Julian and Serena sitting at the piano, playing a four-hand duet. Even after so many years, their chemistry hadn’t faded in the slightest; it was just as it used to be. And seven years later, the depths of his eyes still held endless affection for her. It turned out Julian loved Serena so deeply, so much that even after she abandoned him for seven whole years, he never forgot her. Yes, he was a golden boy, she was a golden girl. Why did I, a housekeeper’s daughter, insist on intruding into a world that didn’t belong to me, foolishly dreaming of owning a person who wasn’t mine to begin with? If time could turn back, I wouldn’t have fallen in love with Julian at first sight, wouldn’t have secretly loved him, and certainly wouldn’t have rushed out to care for him, blind as he was, for seven long years. The piano music gradually faded, finally falling silent. At some point, Serena’s hand rested on Julian’s, sliding upward. Through the window, I saw Serena climb onto his shoulders, offering her red lips to him. “Julian, I know you still love me…” In that moment, I couldn’t bear it anymore and turned to leave. The rain grew heavier, drenching me completely. My mind was a blur. One moment I felt like dry grass on the edge of a cliff, the next like a lone boat overturned by waves. Rootless, adrift everywhere. Even my tears were lost in the rain. Leaving no trace. ### Chapter 9 After arriving home, I pulled out a suitcase and began packing my last few belongings. I worked until early morning. Julian still hadn’t returned, but I no longer cared. The next day, I went to the immigration office and retrieved all my documents. On the way back, I booked a flight departing that afternoon. When the car pulled up to the gate, I saw Julian’s Maybach parked in the driveway, and I couldn’t help but quicken my pace. As soon as I entered the bedroom, I saw Julian by my suitcase, seemingly about to open it. In a panic, I blurted out, “Aren’t you with Serena? Why are you back?” Julian froze. He slowly turned around, and the moment he lifted his head, his eyes actually held anger. He walked over to me, his voice filled with deep helplessness. “Vivian, what crazy thoughts are running through your head now? I told you, Serena and I will never have any connection again.” Never again have any connection? But you married her to protect her. I laughed through my tears, still choosing not to expose him. “Then I misunderstood.” Seeing no unusual expression on my face, Julian slightly exhaled in relief. “Tonight, there’s a family dinner at the Albright’s. My family has agreed that I can bring you back with me.” Hearing that, I was also stunned. Mr. and Mrs. Albright… agreed? Seeing my dazed look, Julian ruffled my hair and handed me a card. “Vivian, don’t worry, one day I’ll make them accept you, and you’ll stand proudly by my side. I’m a bit tired now and want to rest for a while. How about Mr. Hayes accompanies you to pick out some suitable dresses?” I stared at the card for a long moment before taking it. “You rest. I’ll go by myself.” Julian rubbed his temples and nodded. I put the documents I had just retrieved into my bag. Julian lay on the bed, falling into a deep sleep. Looking at his face, which hadn’t changed much since he was seventeen, I felt a slight trance. I slowly raised my hand one last time, tracing from his brow downwards. Perhaps he sensed my small movement in his dream, for Julian caught my hand, murmuring softly. “Serena, stop bothering me.” Hearing that mumble, I smiled soundlessly. I withdrew my hand, picked up my luggage, and went downstairs. The villa was quiet; the housekeepers were all on their lunch break. No one knew I had left. On the way to the airport, I blocked and deleted all of Julian’s contact information. Then, I deactivated all my social media accounts. The busy airport buzzed with people coming and going. I watched the constantly changing display screen and made one last call. “Mrs. Albright, I’m at the airport as promised, about to board.” Mrs. Albright on the other end sounded very pleased, her delight unconcealed. “Good. As long as you don’t show up at tonight’s family dinner, the remaining money will be transferred to your account. Well then, goodbye.” Listening to the boarding announcement over the loudspeaker, I gently shook my head. “No, Mrs. Albright. It’s never goodbye.” Then, I hung up the phone, tossed it into a trash can, and walked into the boarding gate. Striding purposefully. Without a second thought. ### Chapter 10 Julian’s sleep wasn’t peaceful. He vaguely dreamt of past memories, the dark, confused pain resurfacing. But this time, the girl who had always silently stayed by his side was gone. “Vivian…” He murmured her name, his brow deeply furrowed. Trapped in a nightmare, his chest heaved violently. In the dream, he groped his way up, searching everywhere for the person who should have been with him, but no matter how he called out, only desolate silence answered. Overwhelmed by intense fear, his eyes snapped open, beads of sweat glistening on his forehead. The blackout curtains were effective, plunging the room into darkness. His heart hammered, and for a moment, he couldn’t distinguish reality from the dream. He sat up, his voice trembling. “Vivian?” The room was silent. He called out again. “Vivian!” When there was still no response, he stumbled out of bed, fumbling to switch on the light. The room instantly filled with light. Only when he truly saw everything in the room did he finally breathe a sigh of relief. The palpitations from the nightmare gradually receded. Julian rubbed his temples, and seeing no one he wanted to see in the room, he froze for a moment. Where was Vivian? His recently calmed heartbeat began to pound violently again. He gasped, abruptly opening the bedroom door. The villa was unusually quiet, with only a few housekeepers tidying the living room. Seeing Julian emerge from his room, they all greeted him in unison. “Where’s Vivian?” He spoke almost impatiently, his voice trembling. “Miss Vivian? We haven’t seen her. Shouldn’t she be resting in the room with you, sir?” Julian was about to say something else when his phone chimed with a familiar notification. He instinctively tapped the message. Serena’s whining voice came through the phone. [Julian, the lights in my living room are out, and no one’s home right now. Can you come help me?] Julian frowned, about to refuse, when another voice message came through. [Julian, I know you’re taking Miss Vivian back to the Albright’s tonight. I’ll be all alone tonight, and if there are no lights…] The rest of the words were left unsaid, replaced by a soft, low sob. “If Vivian comes back, give me a call. I have something to take care of now.” Dropping those words, Julian went back to his room, changed clothes, grabbed his car keys from the table, and left. Arriving at Serena’s place, as soon as he pushed open the door, he saw Serena casually lying on the sofa in a flimsy, cool nightgown, a large expanse of her chest exposed. Hearing the noise, she opened her eyes, seemingly just woken up and hazy. “Julian, you’re here.” She seemed incredibly happy, scampering forward and throwing herself into his arms. The softness of her chest pressed against him, sending tingles through him. “Why are you wearing so little? What if you catch a cold?” He instinctively hugged the woman in his arms, letting her bury herself against his chest. “I was a little scared. If you hadn’t come, I would have been alone tonight…” Her tearful voice came from below. He responded almost instantly. “Then you can come back to the Albright’s with me tonight.” But the moment he said it, he regretted it. He was about to try to backtrack when the woman in his arms looked up, her eyes red, at him. “Really, Julian?” ### Chapter 1

In that instant, the words of refusal caught in his throat. But seeing his troubled expression, Serena’s tears instantly fell. “Julian, are you very conflicted? It’s okay, I don’t mind. If it’s too much trouble for you, I won’t go tonight.” She had expected him to immediately soften his tone and coax her, but the man in front of her suddenly seemed relieved. He reached out and stroked her head. “Tonight is indeed a bit special. You shouldn’t come with me.” Serena’s eyes widened in disbelief, a flicker of hatred crossing them, quickly replaced by a pitiful, vulnerable look. The tears that were about to stop now streamed down her face again. “Julian…” Julian, however, was clearly distracted and didn’t notice. He gently pushed her away and looked up at the light fixture. “Is this the one that’s broken?” Seeing that he wasn’t following her lead, Serena bit her lip and gave a whiny ‘hmm,’ then sat on the sofa in a huff, no longer looking at him. Julian’s mind wasn’t on the present at all. The dream from earlier kept surfacing, and the dread in his heart grew, almost engulfing him. Noticing Julian’s unusual behavior, Serena still sidled up to him, sobbing as she tugged at his sleeve. “Julian, what’s wrong?” Julian snapped back to reality, a cold sweat breaking out on his forehead from his violently pounding heart. He shook off Serena’s hand, frowning as he pulled out his phone, intending to call Vivian and ask what was going on. But strangely, the call wouldn’t go through. The constant ringing made him increasingly anxious. “Serena, I have to go. I’ll find someone to fix it for you later.” Hurriedly dropping those words, he ignored Serena’s reaction, opened the door, and strode out. Watching the door slam shut in front of her, Serena’s eyes were almost overflowing with venom. She didn’t need to think; she knew Julian had rushed off to find that bitch Vivian. She pulled out her phone and furiously typed a line of text. [Vivian, why are you such a slut? Do you really want to be a mistress who hides in the shadows? Why don’t you just die!] The moment she pressed send, a glaring red exclamation mark popped up! Vivian had blocked her! Instantly, a bad feeling rose in her heart. She instinctively hurried to delete the provocative messages she had sent to Vivian from her phone. Meanwhile, Julian, back home, pushed open his bedroom door, still unable to see the figure he yearned for. “Vivian? Hasn’t she returned?” For some reason, his anxious voice was trembling. “We haven’t seen Miss Vivian since noon.” “Oh, and sir, when we were tidying the room earlier, we noticed Miss Vivian’s belongings seem to be missing.” The words struck him with a chill, and he began to tremble uncontrollably. “What do you mean?” The housekeeper looked up, perplexed. “Sir, didn’t you take Miss Vivian’s things away? All her clothes are gone. I thought you wanted to buy her new ones…” ### Chapter 1

His heart violently lurched. He instinctively scanned the living room, searching for something. As if expecting Vivian to appear before him the next second. “Vivian…” Julian called her name over and over, the panic in his heart growing larger and larger. An impossible thought gradually surfaced. Vivian left him? He refused to believe it! “Vivian, are you playing a prank on me? Come out, this isn’t funny at all.” “It was my fault this morning, but Serena and I are really just friends. Please believe me, okay?” Julian spoke, his steps never faltering, his gaze sweeping around, trying to find Vivian in hiding. It was only then that he suddenly realized many things were missing from the villa. Our joint photos, Vivian’s personal belongings. All gone! How could this be? How could everything be gone? Julian was almost losing his mind. The dream from noon resurfaced in his memory. Unwilling to give up, he pulled out his phone and tried calling Vivian again. But only a series of beeps came from the other end. He sent a message to Vivian with trembling hands, only to see a large red exclamation mark! Vivian had blocked him! His pupils widened dramatically, his body trembling. A massive dread instantly consumed him. He numbly scrolled through his phone, searching for any social media accounts related to Vivian, but they were all gone. She had deactivated them, all of them! His mind went blank in waves. He racked his brains but couldn’t think of anywhere else she could be. Vivian’s father had died when she was young, and her mother had passed away from a serious illness two years ago. He could only place his hopes on Chloe’s friends. “Hello? This is Julian Albright. Is Vivian with you?” “Huh? What nonsense are you talking about? How could Vivian be here?” This conversation happened countless times. Even Julian’s own friends were asked, but no one knew where Vivian had gone. That extreme taste of despair swept over him again and again. He felt as if he had entered the nightmare where Vivian was gone. His feelings for Vivian now completely filled his heart. Her sudden departure was like a piece of his flesh being torn out. His very being felt ripped apart, the agonizing pain almost shattering him completely. “Vivian, please stop playing games with me, okay? I want to see you.” Julian roared hoarsely, his eyes completely bloodshot, like a lion roaring after losing its mate. But why? He asked himself. Every detail of his interactions with Vivian during this time replayed in his mind. At that moment, he suddenly remembered his bias towards Serena and his neglect of Vivian during this period. And that day, when she heard him speaking Italian with his friend, her body had suddenly stiffened. “Vivian, did she ever learn Italian?” The housekeeper, seeing his somewhat frantic desperation, cautiously spoke. “Miss Vivian has been studying foreign languages for years, and even hired a private tutor, sir. Didn’t you know?” *Bzzzzzz.* The tight string in his mind snapped completely. ### Chapter 1

So Vivian had understood their conversation that day! She already knew he had married Serena and that they were planning to keep it from her. Julian’s heart raced wildly. He had thought he could hide it well, that he could juggle both Serena and Vivian. He thought he was being cautious. Serena, for him, was merely a past obsession. He was furious that she had left him for another man and had become almost manic, wanting to keep her by his side forever. But she was just the one he hid, he didn’t deliberately let Vivian know about their relationship, because the one he truly loved, ever since he lost his sight that year, would only be Vivian. But he never imagined she had learned Italian. She understood that conversation, she discovered everything! But how could she be so cruel? He had only been obsessed with the past, and only felt pity for Serena. How could she deactivate all her information and disappear from his world entirely? His vision blurred, gradually obscured by overflowing tears. He remembered those years Vivian had spent by his side, in the complete darkness, only Vivian’s voice was steadfast and warm. “Don’t be scared, Julian. I’ll be with you forever.” “Forever?” “As long as you don’t do anything to betray me, then of course, it’ll be forever.” At that time, Julian held the young girl in his arms, his voice choked. “I would never betray you, Vivian. So it’s settled, you’ll stay with me forever.” But when did things change? Was it Serena’s repeated pleas, or Serena’s crying, wronged face? Gradually, he began to think that Vivian being by his side was a given. He started to remember the person who had abandoned him, and that person, by chance, was now down on her luck, waiting for him to save her. He confidently believed he could keep everything firmly in his grasp. But he forgot that even though Vivian had only him, she was never one to swallow her pride and compromise. Rather than suffer internal torment, she would rather leave him completely. Vivian understood him too well. She clearly knew that if Julian found out she was leaving, he would definitely stop her, using every means to keep her by his side. So, she abandoned everything—including every way he could find her—and utterly vanished from Julian’s world. Understanding all this, Julian suppressed the bitterness in his heart. “Vivian, no way. I can’t let you go!” He murmured Vivian’s name over and over, his eyes filled with longing for her. “Vivian, it’s my fault. I shouldn’t have treated you like that for another woman.” “You can do whatever you want to me, hit me, curse me, it’s all fine, but please, don’t leave my side?” He apologized countless times, his voice growing hoarse. But the person who should have heard him was no longer by his side. Saying anything more was futile. “Vivian, I will find you. To the ends of the earth, we will meet again!” Julian’s eyes hardened, and he declared resolutely. He would never let go. Vivian would always be his. He would admit his mistakes, he would kneel and apologize, he would find a way to make her forgive him, but he would absolutely not allow Vivian to leave him. Julian’s eyes were filled with determination. He tremblingly opened his phone’s photo album, and piously kissed her photo on the screen. ### Chapter 1

The plane landed in Melbourne right at midnight. The customs officer flipped through my documents, asking some routine questions. “Ms. Vivian, how long do you intend to stay in Australia?” “Hello. I’ve received an offer from a company in Melbourne, and my work visa is all processed. I plan to work here for two years currently.” Hearing my fluent English, the officer didn’t press me further, stamped my passport, and let me through. I thanked her politely, collected my luggage, and left the airport. I used my new phone to search for a hotel’s location and hailed a cab. The driver was an Australian of Asian descent. Seeing my face, she immediately started chatting with me. Hearing my native language in a foreign land filled me with warmth. We chatted idly the whole way, and the driver, who was a bit older, gave me a lot of advice about living in Melbourne, all of which I carefully noted down. When we reached the hotel, before parting ways, we even exchanged contact information. The driver helped me carry my luggage into the elevator before leaving. I used my room card to open the door. Seeing the clean and tidy room, the tension I had been holding onto finally eased. I unpacked my things, went downstairs for dinner, then came back, washed up, and quickly fell asleep on the soft, large bed. I slept soundly through the night. The next afternoon at two, I woke up groggily. Seeing the completely unfamiliar room, I still felt a little disoriented. It took me about five minutes to finally realize I had left my homeland and arrived in a brand new country. Melbourne was in the middle of summer, and the weather was hot. I pulled out a few dresses, changed into one, went out for some lunch, then took a cab near the company, ready to check out the apartment I had booked earlier. The landlord arrived on time and handed me the apartment keys. After entering my new home, I walked around, noting down everything I needed to buy, then hired a cleaner to tidy the place. In the evening, I returned to the apartment with my luggage and settled in. Over the next few days, I bought many necessities, and the previously empty rooms slowly filled up. While unpacking, I kept in touch with my roommate, who would be arriving in a few days. Gradually, I adapted to local life. With my excellent cooking skills and several schools nearby, and being quite young myself, I naturally blended into the international student community and became friends with two girls who lived nearby. They took me shopping, introduced me to local restaurants, and showed me around the sights. I worked at my company and spent my free time exploring with them, living a rather enjoyable life. This morning, there was a commotion outside the door. Rubbing my sleepy eyes, I walked out of the bedroom and saw a girl in her early twenties pushing a suitcase, shyly greeting me. “Hi, are you Vivian? I’m Chloe, your roommate.” I remembered then that my roommate had mentioned a few days ago that she would be arriving in Melbourne today. I quickly welcomed her, helping her with her luggage and showing her around the apartment. In just one morning, the two of us, who had only chatted online, quickly became close. That afternoon, we even went grocery shopping together. Chloe was still a student and would be starting classes in a few days. I personally cooked a spread and invited a few friends I had made earlier for a get-together. After some time together, everyone’s relationships had noticeably grown closer. ### Chapter 1

Apart from me, everyone else had a few drinks. Their faces were slightly flushed, clearly a little tipsy. Someone, I don’t know who started it, suddenly began to complain about their ex-boyfriends. Some burst into laughter, others had tears in their eyes. Some of the stories were so outrageous that Chloe couldn’t stop laughing. She casually nudged me, the only sober one. “Vivian, what about you?” I looked blank for a moment, my mind involuntarily drifting back to those past events. For some reason, I found it hard to speak. After all this time, I actually didn’t feel sad when Julian’s name came up. It was just that, looking at these young girls, a few years younger than me and still students, I truly didn’t know how to begin. The atmosphere fell silent. Chloe realized something was amiss and quickly changed the subject, not putting me in an awkward position. After everyone had left, Chloe’s mind cleared a little. She came over, cautiously apologizing. “I’m sorry, Vivian. I had too much to drink, and I wasn’t thinking straight earlier.” Of course, I wouldn’t blame her. I smiled, gently ruffled the poor, sheepish girl’s head, and urged her to go rest. After tidying the room, I washed up, lay on the bed, and opened the SnapChat account I had newly registered before coming to Australia. I had only given this SnapChat to one friend. No one else knew where I had gone or what my new contact information was. Looking at the dozens of messages on my phone, and the constantly increasing red dots, my eyes widened in surprise. I tapped it open and saw that almost all the messages were related to Julian. “Julian is crazy, isn’t he? Wasn’t he perfectly happy with his ‘first love’ before? Now that you’re gone, it’s like he suddenly had an epiphany, realized how important you are. It’s hilarious; he really thinks he’s the male lead in a ‘chase-his-wife-after-burning-bridges’ drama, doesn’t he? Like a few regrets will magically win back his love?” “He comes looking for me every other day, asking where you are. But don’t worry, sis, I’d never tell him your location.” “Oh, right, a month ago Julian had a huge fight with his mom at their family dinner. I only overheard bits and pieces, but it sounded like he was blaming her for driving you away.” “That guy is definitely sick. What does it have to do with his mom? The main problem is him being two-timing and trying to deceive you!” “He’s also been drinking heavily lately. I heard he almost got stomach perforation a few days ago and ended up in the ICU. The doctors gave strict warnings not to drink like that anymore. If you ask me, he’s just too lucky. Why didn’t he drink himself to death?” “…” There were many more messages cursing Julian below. Receiving so many messages about Julian again, I felt no ripple of emotion in my heart. It felt so distant, almost as if those past events had happened in another lifetime. I pulled back the curtains. Outside, the sky was clear and vast, a brilliant blue like a perfectly polished sapphire. The warm sunshine, bright and radiant, dispelled the chill from my body. “Vivian, I’m off to class!” Outside, the cheerful shout of the young girl rang out. I smiled, told her to be careful on her way, and opened my phone, my voice filled with relief and lightness. “From now on, you don’t need to tell me any news about Julian.” The lingering sense of unreality that had clung to my heart finally dissipated completely. ### Chapter 1

When Julian woke up again, everything around him was a blurry white expanse, and his nostrils were filled with the strong smell of disinfectant. The side effects of the alcohol still lingered, his head felt heavy and foggy, and his entire stomach felt a dull, sour ache. He stared blankly at his surroundings, the模糊的景象逐渐变得清明起来。 Mrs. Albright’s eyes were bloodshot, as if furious. “What kind of behavior is this, wanting to die for a woman like that? She’s just a housekeeper’s daughter. What do you even like about her?” His friends gathered around, earnestly trying to persuade him. “Vivian’s been gone for a month, no news at all. She must have done it on purpose, Julian. Let it go.” Julian had heard these words countless times this past month. He had never listened before, and now he just ignored them. His bloodshot eyes were unfocused and empty, his thin lips pressed tightly, his face full of stubble, showing only stubbornness. Seeing his stubborn demeanor, Mrs. Albright didn’t want to say anything more to him. She didn’t even glance at him, slamming the door as she left. The room immediately fell into a dead silence. His friends exchanged glances, then cautiously spoke again. “Honestly, with your status, what kind of woman can’t you have? Julian, there’s really no need to cling to Vivian like this.” “You should let her see that you can live a better life without her, that you’ll have more women. And she’ll be nothing without you, won’t she just come crawling back in the end?” “Yeah, if worst comes to worst, we can find you a few women who look like Vivian. You can train them, isn’t it all the same? What do you say…” *Bang!* A water glass shattered at their feet, spraying water onto each of their pants. But everyone froze, too terrified to even breathe. Before, seeing Vivian devotedly stay by blind Julian’s side, they had been disdainful. A blind man was nothing but a disgraced heir, yet someone still tried to curry favor with him. But gradually, that disdain turned into envy. Each of them was a powerful family’s son, constantly changing girlfriends, but they had never encountered a woman so genuinely devoted. They couldn’t help but introduce women to Julian, yet even after regaining his sight and becoming a formidable figure in elite circles, he never showed interest in other women, doting on Vivian alone. Until Serena returned. They pretended to advise Julian while secretly creating opportunities for him and Serena. Sure enough, this time, they succeeded. Julian’s love for Vivian proved to be fleeting, and a woman like Vivian should realize that there’s no such thing as true sincerity in the world. Now that Vivian had left, they had expected Julian to completely let loose, but instead, he suddenly went mad. And now, he wouldn’t even let them say a few words. “Get out, all of you! From now on, don’t you dare disrespect Vivian again, or I won’t guarantee what I’ll do to your families!” As his chilling words fell, everyone’s faces instantly paled a few shades. One by one, they made excuses and left the hospital room. The last man to leave, still resentful, closed the door and pulled out his phone, calling his assistant and sending a picture of Vivian. “Look carefully at this woman. Go find someone who looks like her for me. The more similar, the better.” He turned, coldly looking at the closed hospital room door. He wanted to see how Julian could keep up his act now! ### Chapter 1

After staying in the hospital for a few days, Julian decided to check out early. The day after he discovered Vivian had left, he scheduled a divorce with Serena. Now that the 30-day cooling-off period had passed, he needed to get the divorce certificate quickly. That day, Serena had cried and sniffled, but ultimately said nothing. She simply obediently went with him to register the divorce. Her misty eyes fixed on him, telling him to be happy. He had initially been displeased with Serena, but seeing her compliant demeanor, he couldn’t bring himself to blame her, even agreeing not to announce their divorce to the public for the time being. He drove to Serena’s house. As he reached the door, he was about to open it directly when he heard voices from inside. “That bitch Vivian, why didn’t she just die when she saw those texts! What’s with this disappearing act? It’s been a month, why hasn’t Julian gotten over her yet?” “What’s so great about that bitch anyway? Good thing I’m already pregnant. It’s been three months now, and the baby is stable. As long as I tell the Albright family, Julian won’t be able to divorce me, no matter how much he rages.” “Why are you jealous? Of course, I’ve always loved you. Even though this baby is his, the next one will definitely be yours, okay?” The intermittent words from inside pierced Julian’s heart like a series of sharp blades. His breathing grew more ragged, his eyes tinged with crimson. The door slammed open. Serena instinctively hung up the phone, her face paling with panic as she looked at the doorway, forcing an unnatural smile. “Julian, isn’t your body still recovering? Why did you check out of the hospital?” “Who were you talking to?” His thin lips parted, his gaze chilling to the core. Hearing that, Serena’s pupils constricted. She tucked a few stray strands of hair behind her ear, forcing composure. “Julian, I was just on the phone with my friend. She was asking if I liked any new King family products. I just got a little sad thinking about having to part with you, so I just gave her some vague answers.” “What’s wrong?” He let out a cold laugh, taking step after step closer. “Who were you calling a bitch? And who was jealous of you?” Serena’s face instantly turned ashen. She grabbed Julian’s sleeve, her eyes pleading. “No, Julian, you misheard. My friend was just jealous because I’ve been spending all my time with you and not with her. She wasn’t calling anyone a bitch…” Julian ripped her hand away, his eyes involuntarily filling with a chilling coldness. “What exactly have you been doing behind my back?” “Don’t make me investigate. You must have said or done something to drive Vivian away!” She started crying again, just like before, large tears streaming down her face, sniffing and sobbing uncontrollably. “I didn’t! I only found out when you told me. I didn’t do anything, Julian!” But this time, it didn’t soften Julian’s heart. He grabbed her wrist, his expression somewhat menacing. The force in his grip steadily increased, as if he intended to shatter her slender wrist. “Serena, I don’t have that much patience to play along with your act. You’d better tell me the truth, and everything you know, otherwise…” “You know I’m not exactly a soft-hearted man.” ### Chapter 1

Serena’s tears stopped flowing. Her hands hung limply, her face utterly perplexed as she stared at Julian. She didn’t understand why the man’s attitude towards her had changed so quickly. Before, whenever she cried, he would always be the most anxious. But now, his eyes held only indifference. It was as if she could cry until her tears ran dry, and he wouldn’t be moved in the slightest. Serena didn’t dare to admit her provocations against Vivian, nor her deliberate schemes. She tightly sealed her lips, almost desperately praying, “Julian, I didn’t do anything, please believe me! Miss Vivian is such a good person, and you’ve helped me so much. I should be grateful to both of you, how could I ever treat her badly?” “Even though she never liked me, and this tantrum of hers has lasted a bit long… but Julian, please don’t treat me like this just because she left.” As she spoke, she forced out a few more tears. Julian had always been easily swayed, and she could only hope he’d soften towards her and let this matter go. Anyway, he probably hadn’t heard everything. Even if he had, she could just say her friend said those things, and she was merely trying to mediate. As long as he didn’t dwell on these things, and she then revealed she was pregnant with his child, then with their constant interaction and their past affection, she was sure she could make him care only for her! But the man in front of her, abandoning his usual indulgence, let out a cold laugh, a mocking smile spreading across his lips. “You’re truly unrepentant, even at death’s door. After all these years, do you still not know what kind of person I am?” “Serena, my patience has its limits.” With that, he slammed Serena’s head onto the table and clamped his hand tightly around her neck. “Since that’s the case, then I won’t wait for your news and will just tell your family. I’m sure they’ll be more than happy to take you back.” The pain of suffocation was perhaps less than the terror of Julian’s threat. Her mind was filled with the vile grin on her father’s face when he said he would marry her off to that old pervert. Serena was panicking intensely, almost losing her mind with fear. “No, don’t tell them! I’ll talk, Julian, I’ll tell you everything!” Receiving her answer, Julian slowly released his grip. “Speak.” “Cough, cough…” The sudden rush of cold air into her throat made her cough violently, but she didn’t dare stop. She gasped for air, whimpering, “You, you can check my phone!” As she spoke, she fumbled to unlock her phone and handed it over. “I didn’t do anything. You’ve misunderstood.” Serena was secretly relieved that she had deleted all the provocative messages to Vivian earlier. Julian only glanced at it, immediately guessing she was still unwilling and putting on an act. He snatched the phone, intending to send it to a specialist to recover all the data. Hearing Julian on the phone, Serena felt like her world was crashing down. She frantically grabbed Julian’s hand, pleading desperately, “Julian, please believe me, just this once… don’t send it to recover data…” However, this time Julian wasn’t going to give her another chance. He had given her enough chances, but unfortunately, Serena herself didn’t cherish them. Watching Serena collapse to the floor, he spoke in a low voice to his assistant, ordering him to investigate what else Serena had done to Vivian. ### Chapter 1

The investigative findings and recovered chat data were delivered to Julian’s house the next day. He had bought identical replacements for all of Vivian’s former belongings, placing them back in their original spots. Each time he returned, he felt a fleeting illusion that Vivian was still there. But gone was gone. Without Vivian, the entire villa was lifeless and somber, as if it had lost all its vitality. Julian had to do a lot of mental preparation before finally gathering the courage to open the file. The latest entry was a video Serena had secretly filmed on the day Vivian left, showing them lightly kissing at the piano. It also contained accompanying text. “You probably don’t know this, but this is Julian’s favorite place. I won’t film what happens next; I’m afraid you can’t handle it.” “Do you think acting dumb all this time is interesting? How does it feel to be a mistress who knows she’s a mistress? Anyway, you’ll be a mistress in the shadows your entire life. If you’re really desperate, beg me, and I’ll ask Julian to visit you a few more times, okay?” Scrolling further up, more mockery assailed him, filled with countless intimate photos and videos of them. And her SnapChat was filled with countless posts flaunting their affection, all set to be visible only to Vivian. Julian was consumed by towering rage. But when he opened the folder and saw its contents, the angry expression on his face froze, and all the blood in his body seemed to solidify. The ruffians at the auction? Serena had hired them herself! But that day, he had pushed Vivian to the ground, ignored her bleeding forehead, and even forced her to drink alcohol she couldn’t tolerate. He remembered her sorrowful eyes that day, and her soft laugh after hearing his passionate arguments. Julian’s heart gave a violent lurch. The next instant, it felt as if it had been brutally torn open, causing him to break out in a cold sweat from the pain. “Bring Serena here!” His voice was so dark it could drip acid. Soon, Serena was shoved into the room. Seeing the scattered pictures on the floor, she quickly understood, her face turning ashen. She knelt, crawling towards Julian’s feet. “Julian, I’m sorry. I did things I shouldn’t have, but it was all because I love you! It’s precisely because I love you that I spoke those words without thinking. But ultimately, it was only because I wanted to stand by your side legitimately, Julian!” Julian let out a cold laugh, gripping Serena’s jaw tightly, hard enough to leave a bruise on her face. “I told you more than once that you weren’t allowed to mention my help to Vivian. Did you not understand?” “Now that she’s been driven away by you, you must face the consequences!” With that, he coldly flung Serena’s body away. But Serena, her eyes red, crawled back to him, her voice trembling. “Julian, I’m carrying your child! For the baby’s sake, please spare me, okay?” The man in front of her didn’t even spare her a glance. “Of course, I know you’re pregnant. But so what? It’s just a child. I can have as many as I want. What right do you have to bear my child?” “Moreover, getting rid of the one in your belly now will make it easier for you to carry that man’s child, won’t it?” ### Chapter 20 Hearing that, Serena completely panicked. She frantically protected her stomach. The Serena family was no longer what it once was, constantly on the verge of bankruptcy. If she couldn’t keep the child, she would have no way to secure her position as Mrs. Albright. She might even be sent to that old pervert, to be toyed with by such an old creep! Her face was ashen. She instinctively snatched her phone, wanting to call Mrs. Albright. Mrs. Albright valued children above all else; if she knew Serena was pregnant, she would definitely find a way to protect her! He kicked away her phone, which was about to connect, stood up, and used the tip of his shoe to lift Serena’s chin, saying coldly. “Go quietly get rid of the child. I’ve already completed the divorce procedures; whether you agree or not is irrelevant. Don’t think about any more of your schemes.” “When I find Vivian, you’d better sincerely apologize to her. If she’s willing to forgive you, I might leave you a way out.” He gave Serena no chance to refuse. In front of him, she would always be the one begging for favor. Serena collapsed to the floor, utterly undignified, but still desperately clutching her abdomen. As long as the child could be born safely, her future life wouldn’t be too affected. However, Julian wasn’t going to give her that chance. He had already done too many things to betray Vivian. If this child remained, he and Vivian would have no chance at all! Julian’s face suddenly turned ruthless. He directly ordered his bodyguards to drag Serena to the hospital. Serena tried to struggle and resist countless times, crying and begging for mercy, but she was still no match for the bodyguards. She was ultimately pinned down on the cold operating table. As the anesthetic flowed into her veins, she gradually lost control of her limbs, and her eyelids involuntarily closed. When she woke up again, her lower abdomen felt utterly hollow; it had once been her only hope. The anesthetic in her abdomen began to wear off, and excruciating pain racked her body, making even a slight movement incredibly difficult. Tears streamed down her eyes. The child was gone. Her future reliance was completely severed! Julian, meanwhile, returned to the nightclub he frequented, angrily downing drinks in a private room. He hadn’t had a good night’s sleep in what felt like ages. The lingering scent of Vivian in his home grew fainter and fainter; he could barely tell that Vivian had once lived in that villa for so long. He didn’t dare to go back, only escaping to this place, drinking bottle after bottle. “I’m sorry, Vivian… You don’t like me drinking, do you? Come out and stop me… Vivian.” At that moment, a knock sounded at the door. He didn’t bother to respond. Besides him, only his closest friends knew about this private room, but he hadn’t told them he was here today. So, the knocker must have the wrong room. But the knocking continued relentlessly. Seeing he wasn’t answering, they even pushed the door open and walked in. “Get out of…” His harsh words were cut short. He looked up, staring blankly at the girl pushing a cart of drinks and snacks at the doorway. “Hello, did someone here order drinks?” The familiar voice rang in his ears, and his eyes instantly reddened significantly. “V-Vivian?” ### Chapter 21 The young woman in front of him, however, took two steps back, her brow slightly furrowed, as if confused. “Who are you calling?” The similar expression and movements, the almost identical face and voice—for a moment, he truly believed the girl standing before him was Vivian. But her perplexed eyes showed she wasn’t. The girl in front of him was younger, seemingly not even twenty, more like Vivian in her university days. He restrained the urge to pull her into his arms, his voice trembling. “What’s your name?” The girl seemed startled, taking two steps back. “I’m sorry, I think I have the wrong room.” With that, she turned to leave, but Julian grabbed her arm. His hand was still trembling, and warm tears streamed down his face, dripping onto the back of the girl’s hand. The girl hesitated, stopped, and rummaged through her cart, finding a tissue to hand him. “A-Are you okay? You should wipe your face.” When he looked up again, Julian’s eyes had regained their clarity. He looked at the girl in front of him with a complex expression. “Are you working here? Quit. Stay with me. I’ll give you ten times the salary.” The girl, however, recoiled two steps, abruptly shaking off his hand. “What kind of person do you take me for?!” Seemingly extremely angry, she didn’t linger this time, pushing her cart and quickly leaving. Julian was left standing there, staring blankly at the girl’s hastily retreating back. Too similar. His heart hammered. His rational mind screamed at him not to pursue this girl—if Vivian found out, any possibility of them reuniting would be completely destroyed. But a voice kept echoing in his head. *I won’t do anything to this girl. I just want to look at her face. It’s okay. Once Vivian is back, I’ll find a way to send this girl away, ensuring she never appears before Vivian again.* Finally, that voice in his head gradually overpowered his reason. He pulled out his phone and called the owner of the club. Less than half an hour later, the girl’s information was laid before him. Her name was Iris. She was a university student. Her only living relative had suddenly fallen seriously ill, leaving her no choice but to work here. Because the pay was generally higher here, she occasionally received tips. She hadn’t been here long and was only doing simple tasks like serving drinks. “Bring her to me.” Julian’s voice was low. He stared at Iris’s photo in his hand, his gaze distant, as if looking through her at someone else. Soon, the girl stood before him again. She looked at him timidly, a cautious expression he had never seen on Vivian’s face. “Don’t look at me like that. I won’t bite.” Julian’s tone involuntarily carried a hint of impatience. “Stay with me. I’ll cover all your mother’s medical expenses. The only condition is that all your clothes and appearance must be chosen by me.” Iris seemed flustered and helpless. The bodyguard behind her blocked her escape route. She could only look up at the man standing before her. “What do I need to do?” Looking at the face that was eighty percent similar to Vivian’s, he lost himself in thought again. “You don’t have to do anything. Just stay with me.” “I’ll take care of everything for you. Just do as I say.” “And the first thing is…” “Promise me you won’t leave me again, Vivian.” ### Chapter 22 After bringing Iris by his side, he seemed to mention Vivian less and less. He even allowed Iris to become increasingly audacious, to the point where she began updating her daily life with Julian online. The story of the powerful CEO rescuing a helpless girl trapped in a nightclub quickly made her account explode in popularity. Her latest post was even about Julian meticulously preparing a birthday banquet for her, and proposing to her publicly at the event. The proposal video uploaded, her short video account exploded in popularity again. In just two months, she had already become one of the top influencers with tens of millions of followers. The end of the video mentioned their wedding happening in half a month, stating that it would be live-streamed. Time flew by. Half a month passed quickly. He didn’t rush the wedding despite the short timeframe; the entire ceremony was exceptionally luxurious, even inviting many independent media outlets for simultaneous live streaming. The event even made it to the trending topics, ranking first and staying there. At noon, the wedding officially began. All the procedures followed the rehearsal until the officiant asked, “Mr. Julian Albright, do you take this woman to be your wife? Do you promise to stay by her side forever, through wealth and poverty, in sickness and in health?” Julian offered a smile, but his voice was cold as ice. “I do not.” Iris’s eyes widened in disbelief. She rushed forward and grabbed Julian’s hand. “Julian, are you, are you joking?” Julian, however, shook off the woman’s hand. He watched Iris stumble and fall to the ground due to her high heels, then looked down at her. “What right do you have? To marry me? Don’t think I don’t know who sent you.” Iris was instantly speechless. Julian, however, was remarkably calm, signaling for all the live cameras to continue rolling. The live stream chat had already exploded, countless people flooding in to watch the spectacle. The comments were flooded with exclamation marks and question marks. “This woman is a friend—no, I should say, an opponent—who was sent by a friend of mine, found to resemble my beloved. I pretended to fall for it, secretly encouraged her to create an account, and continuously boosted her reach, all for today’s live stream.” “Vivian, I truly know I was wrong. I will only have you as my wife in this lifetime.” “No matter where you are, no matter what you’re doing, I will definitely, definitely find you.” “You promised me you would stay by my side forever.” “To anyone in the live audience, if you know where Vivian is now and can provide relevant information, I am willing to offer a generous reward. Thank you.” Behind him, the large screen that had been showing videos of him and Iris suddenly flickered, then changed to a photo of Vivian. The next second, the live stream was abruptly cut off. Mrs. Albright stood below the stage, her face ashen, hanging up her phone. She was the one who had ordered the live stream cut off. Looking at the man on stage, his eyes filled with a manic desperation, she felt only disappointment. The farce ended. Iris was forcibly dragged away, while Julian, surrounded by his friends, got into a car. “Julian, why did you have to pull a stunt like this? There are many ways to find Vivian. This move has made your mother furious.” Julian, however, leaned back in the seat, smiling as he looked at the many trending topics related to him on his phone. A long-lost smile appeared on his face. “Only this way can more people see it. Netizens will also help me find Vivian. As long as she comes back, nothing else matters to me.” ### Chapter 23 Vivian was about to wash up and go to bed. She had just finished blow-drying her hair when a forceful knock sounded at her door. Vivian was a little stunned and instinctively opened the door. Chloe stood there, her lips pressed tightly together, her expression unusually serious. “Vivian, I think you’re trending in your home country.” With that, she handed her phone to Vivian. The top trending topics all bore Julian’s name, and one of them read: #JulianAlbright’sDeepConfession:VivianWhereAreYou#. The news was plastered with Vivian’s photos, but so far, no one had revealed Vivian’s current location. Vivian’s expression froze. She took the phone, somewhat bewildered, and carefully examined the trending topics, her brow furrowed. Chloe didn’t press her, only looking at Vivian with some concern. Vivian, however, didn’t have much of a reaction. She just sighed softly and acknowledged it. “It’s true. Julian is my ex. After we broke up, I left the country.” At this sudden piece of gossip, the room fell silent for a moment. Chloe spoke after a long pause, in shock. “Huh? If you broke up, why is he making such a big deal? Won’t this cause you trouble?” Vivian rubbed her temples, a little helpless. “It causes some trouble, yes. But I’m overseas, and his family, for certain reasons, can’t leave the country, so it won’t have too much of an impact.” Chloe’s expression, however, grew serious. “Still, it’s better to be careful. He seems so extreme. Someone at your company might recognize you later. Vivian, maybe you should wear a hat or something when you go out these days.” Looking at Chloe, who was genuinely worried about her, Vivian’s heart softened. She took Chloe’s hand and patted it gently. “It’s okay. He can’t leave the country anyway.” Chloe was clearly still worried. She nodded sullenly, even digging out her own hat. “Wear this when you go out. It can cover you up and protect you from the sun.” Vivian took it, wanting to lighten the mood, and joked with her. “It’s just an ex-boyfriend, no need to be so nervous.” “Julian acting so crazy on such an important occasion, he clearly has something wrong with his head. I’ve read a lot of news stories about ex-boyfriends who, driven by love turning to hate, do all sorts of extreme things. Vivian, I’m genuinely worried he might latch onto you and something bad will happen.” Hearing such concern from a girl she had only known for a few months, Vivian’s heart softened. She took Chloe’s hand and gently patted it. “I was with him for many years. Even though he did many things that hurt me, he shouldn’t be that extreme, and he won’t hurt me. Don’t worry.” Though she said this with a smile, Chloe remembered Vivian’s silence when they talked about ex-boyfriends a few days ago, and could vaguely guess that this relationship had caused her significant pain. Chloe didn’t know how to comfort her. Racking her brains, she could only come up with a few words. “It will pass, Vivian. You’ve already climbed out of that mud. Just look forward.” “And we’re here with you! I have many classmates. If he dares to cause trouble, I’ll get them and me to protect you!” Looking at her determined eyes, Vivian’s inner anxiety slowly dissipated. She chuckled. “Okay, thank you, Chloe.” She had survived those difficult times. Now, she was living abroad, surrounded by friends who were willing to protect her. What else was there to worry about? ### Chapter 24 Online, the talk about Julian’s obsession grew, with some aggressive netizens even starting to curse Vivian, believing her to be ungrateful. This continued until the friend Julian had been relentlessly targeting, now on the verge of bankruptcy, began furiously leaking all the inside information he knew. “Vivian is a truly wonderful girl. When Julian went blind for his ex-girlfriend, it was Vivian who stayed by his side, helping him out of his despair, and even successfully waited until he regained his sight.” “But after he recovered, Mrs. Albright’s attitude suddenly changed. She looked down on Vivian in every way, yet Julian protected Vivian, and they seemed quite in love.” “Sadly, Serena came back—that ex-girlfriend of Julian’s. She shed a couple of tears, and Julian, completely brainless, married her, even trying to keep it from Vivian.” “During that time, Serena framed Vivian in every possible way, while the man you all call ‘deeply devoted’ protected Serena, tormenting Vivian endlessly. This is precisely what drove her away, making her disappear without a trace.” “You netizens are foolish, believing whatever people say. Do you really think he’s so devoted? Devoted enough to marry someone else, devoted enough to get someone else pregnant, then, when things escalated, he aborted the child and personally sent his ex-girlfriend to an old pervert’s bed.” “If you love this kind of man so much, I wish you all find ‘true love’ like Julian Albright!” At this, Julian’s carefully constructed image utterly shattered. Although the Albright family was quick to pull the trending topics, netizens’ speed and ability to change their minds were even faster. He was just about to get some information about Vivian, but because of this incident, everyone who had intended to tell him her whereabouts cursed him out and blocked him. Julian went mad, becoming even more aggressive towards his former friend, who was now an enemy, even driving him to bankruptcy and massive debt. Perhaps having completely lost hope, one day, as Julian drove out, his former friend, having acquired a van from somewhere, slammed on the accelerator and crashed into him. The van was so dilapidated that its front was completely demolished, and the friend died instantly at the scene. Julian’s car, due to its superior safety features, meant he wasn’t in immediate danger, but his body suffered immense damage, with organs rapidly deteriorating. His eyes, too, were permanently blinded by the impact, with no hope of ever recovering his sight. When Julian woke up, everything was pitch black. He tried to stand, but his whole body felt light and airy, weak and powerless, as if he had fallen into a cloud. “What’s going on? What happened to me?” Having lost his sight again, he felt utterly terrified. The darkness combined with his past nightmares. He called Vivian’s name, his voice trembling non-stop. But no one answered. Only a bodyguard, utterly fed up with the noise, threw out a comment. “Stop yelling! You still think you’re a big shot? Mrs. Albright said you just need to stay alive. If you can’t handle it, then go kill yourself, just don’t show your face in public.” His voice was hoarse. “What do you mean?” The bodyguard was about to answer, but footsteps approached the door, followed by Serena’s mocking voice in his ear. “You’re blind now. You’ll never recover. Don’t you know what that means in your circles?” “Mrs. Albright rescued me from that pervert, and told me to stay and take care of you.” “After all, you’re still her son…” He couldn’t see the woman’s expression in front of him, only feel her slowly approaching, then reaching out and pinching his chin, with the same force he had used on her when he learned the truth. “Julian, how wonderful. Trash like us, we should go to hell together.” His response was a pained grunt. ### Chapter 25 The next two New Years, Vivian also spent in Australia. Every year, Chloe’s parents would come to celebrate, and Chloe would invite Vivian to join her and her family. After spending time together, their personalities and values aligned well, and their bond gradually deepened. That year, Chloe’s family had already relocated all their business operations to Melbourne and planned to settle there. Chloe even pressed Vivian about her intentions to stay. Vivian had considered this question for a long time. Her few close friends back home had all married and started their own families, and her parents and relatives had passed away years ago. She was alone, without any property or assets. From both a personal and professional standpoint, she was more inclined to stay. Her career was also thriving. She had even saved enough money to buy a house with her own funds. Earlier, she had considered returning the money Mrs. Albright gave her, but Chloe stopped her. The girl poked her angrily. “Are you crazy? You poured your heart and soul into taking care of a blind man for so long. All of this is what you deserve. Why would you give it back?” After that, she never brought up the matter again and began preparing her immigration documents. During this time, Chloe’s family helped her immensely, allowing her to overcome various challenges. With sufficient funds and a strong business acumen, she turned down a promotion opportunity from her boss and opened her own studio. Over the next two years, the studio’s scale continuously expanded, gradually gaining a foothold. Four years later, Vivian successfully met the immigration requirements and obtained her permanent residency. When she returned to her home country to complete the formalities, she met up with friends she hadn’t seen in a long time. Years had passed, and time had flown by, leaving its marks; none of them were still the carefree youths they once were. Everyone’s primary concern, undoubtedly, was her relationship status. Facing their gossipy enthusiasm, Vivian was very open and honest. “I dated someone two years ago, but we broke up due to personality differences. Now, we’re more like business partners. My current boyfriend, we got together at the beginning of this year. He’s two years younger than me, a student at Melbourne University, but he has a very mature personality…” A radiant aura of happiness shone on her face as she recounted her daily love life, sharing photos and videos with everyone. Looking at the affectionate couple on the screen, everyone showed expressions of relief and contentment. They chatted for a while longer, when someone suddenly brought up Julian. “Hey, have you heard? Julian Albright seems to be in a really bad way.” Hearing this, my heart gave a tiny jolt, and I subconsciously looked up. Over the years, I had been busy with work and adapting to my new environment, rarely inquiring about things back home. Chloe might have known something, but out of concern for me, she never brought it up. Although I occasionally chatted with my friend about old times, that period always felt shrouded in mist, not quite clear. And the name Julian felt like a faded old photograph, bearing a yellowed, antiquated feel. I thought he would slowly let go of that relationship, move on, and live his own life. But unexpectedly, he seemed to have led a miserable life, now even clinging to life by a thread? The atmosphere in the room went cold for a moment. A few people cautiously observed Vivian’s emotions. Seeing only shock on her face, everyone’s worries eased, and they relaxed into conversation. “I heard about that too, Vivian. But you said you didn’t want to know anything about him, so I never brought it up. After all, it’s a sad story.” “Sad story, my foot! He reaped what he sowed. He treated Vivian so badly for Serena, then started acting crazy later on, and ended up being crashed into by his friend, losing his sight completely. He’s completely useless. Mrs. Albright, I don’t know what she was thinking, but she actually made Serena go take care of him. Anyway, he’s been kept alive by a thread, but he’s also been tormented quite a bit.” So much time had passed that I couldn’t even remember that woman’s name for a moment. Hearing Serena’s name again, I was briefly stunned. Hearing that the two people who had completely altered the course of my life ended up with such a fate, I felt a degree of melancholy. Even if I was momentarily lost in thought, it was only for a brief second. My phone in my pocket vibrated. I snapped back to reality, pulled out my phone. It was Chloe calling. “Vivian, when are you coming back? My mom made your favorite jam. I’ll bring you two jars when you’re back.” “I’ll be back tomorrow.” Everything from the past was gradually becoming blurry and indistinct. I stared out the window, the sun shining brightly, just as it had on the day I left. When Julian woke up again, everything around him was a blurry white expanse, and his nostrils were filled with the strong smell of disinfectant. The side effects of the alcohol still lingered, his head felt heavy and foggy, and his entire stomach felt a dull, sour ache. He stared blankly at his surroundings, the blurry scene gradually coming into focus.

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