I really did brave the storm with him. For eight years we were together, only for me to discover he was already married to someone else. It was his first love, the same woman who abandoned him after he lost his sight. For eight years, I was by his side, tending to him, I even knelt outside a renowned doctor’s office for days, begging him to help. But my eight years of devotion meant less than a single word from her. I chuckled, a bitter, self-deprecating sound. I dialed a number. “I accept your terms.” ### Chapter One Inside the Maybach, Julian Hayes was kissing me, stealing my breath and my senses. My clothes were gone, scattered somewhere, but Julian remained impeccably dressed. The stark contrast between us made my cheeks flush crimson. Julian reached out, encircling my waist, and murmured, his voice a low chuckle, “The soundproofing is up. The driver can’t hear anything, and he wouldn’t dare to. What are you blushing about, hmm?” I watched as the usually aloof man’s movements grew more fervent. I embraced him, my eyes filled with love. Just as the wave of pleasure surged, climbing rapidly towards its peak, it was abruptly cut short by a sudden phone ring. Julian frowned, annoyed by the interruption during such an intimate moment, but he picked up when he saw the caller ID. I gasped, catching a glimpse of the contact name. It was Leo, his best friend from his inner circle. “Julian, you’re out of your mind—” Julian’s brow furrowed slightly as he cut him off in flawless Italian. “Not convenient. Speak in Italian.” There was a deep sigh on the other end. After a long pause, Leo’s voice came through in Italian. “You actually registered your marriage with Seraphina? What in God’s name are you thinking? You lost your sight saving her all those years ago! She abandoned you at your lowest point, ran off with another man, and almost ruined you! And now you’re back with her?” Those foreign words automatically converted into English in my mind. When I finally processed what he was saying, a cold dread spread through me, like plunging into an ice bath. Julian, however, didn’t notice my abnormal reaction. “If I don’t marry her, her family will force her to marry an old man. I can’t bear to see her suffer that kind of humiliation.” “What about Chloe? She was the only one with you when you lost your sight! She’s been by your side for so many years, loving you so much she almost gave you her heart! We all saw it!” Leo’s voice was filled with barely contained fury. Julian remained detached. “I’ll find a way to keep it a secret. She’ll never know.” “How long can you hide it? A lifetime? Doesn’t Chloe want to marry you?” The more Julian listened, the more irritated he became, his tone growing urgent. “You need to suppress the news of Seraphina and me registering our marriage. Don’t tell anyone. In a while, I’ll prepare a fake marriage certificate for Chloe.” With that, he hung up, unwilling to hear any more of Leo’s nonsense. When he looked down again, Julian dropped his phone and resumed his assault on me. My entire body trembled uncontrollably. As we both reached climax and began to straighten our clothes, my lips parted. I was about to speak when his phone buzzed again. It was a SnapChat notification, a special alert. Julian picked it up, glanced at the screen, and then instructed the driver to stop. “Chloe, something urgent came up at the office. 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 flash of lightning. I stood on the roadside, staring blankly at the bustling street, no longer able to hold back the tears that streamed down my face. No one knew that to bridge the distance between Julian and me, I had long since learned Italian. So, every word he and Leo exchanged, I understood. Each phrase echoed in my ears, like countless sharp blades piercing deep into my heart. And with the disillusionment of my love, those dusty memories all flooded back into my mind. Julian Hayes was a high-born young master, and I was the daughter of their housekeeper. That year, my mother and I stepped into the opulent Hayes family mansion. There, I saw Julian, elegantly playing the piano bathed in sunlight. I had never heard such beautiful music, nor had I ever seen such a handsome boy. With just one glance, the name Julian Hayes was etched deep into my heart. I never told anyone about the person hidden in my heart. This wasn’t just because of the huge disparity in our social classes, but also because I knew Julian’s heart already belonged to someone else. That girl was Seraphina. They had grown up together, childhood sweethearts. He never hid his affection for her, cherishing her like a precious gem, guarding her in the palm of his hand. At seventeen, Julian even lost his sight in a car accident while saving Seraphina. But from that day on, Seraphina vanished completely, never reappearing at the Hayes mansion. She even started dating someone new. The Hayes family had other grandchildren, but Julian’s parents were constantly busy with their careers, with no time to care for their son who could no longer see. Julian was sent to a remote family estate in the countryside, left alone and isolated. It was I who volunteered to be transferred to the old estate, looking after him personally for seven years. When I was twenty-three, I pleaded relentlessly for days outside a renowned doctor’s office, refusing to leave until he agreed to perform the surgery that finally restored Julian’s eyesight. He broke free from long-term stagnation, like a butterfly emerging from its cocoon, achieving astonishing success that made the world take notice. In just one year, Julian returned to the top, becoming the heir to Hayes Industries. I was the one who accompanied him through winter and summer, I was the one who accompanied him from deep night to dawn, I was the one who helped him endure those difficult seven years. Kissing him, embracing him, sleeping with him… it was all me. But I never imagined that the first thing he would do after regaining power was to marry Seraphina, the very woman who had abandoned him! Over the years, I pushed myself relentlessly to keep up with him. But no matter what I became, Julian’s parents always felt I wasn’t good enough for their son, trying multiple times to pay me off and make me leave. Julian always argued with his family for me, and I never wanted to disappoint him, so I never thought of 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. Hayes, I accept your offer of fifty million. I’ll leave Julian Hayes forever!” ### Chapter Two On the other end of the line, Mrs. Hayes instantly became ecstatic. “You’ve finally come to your senses? That’s wonderful. You’re just a housekeeper’s daughter; how could you possibly be worthy of my son, the heir of Hayes Industries? Where are you now? Come over quickly, we’ll sign the agreement.” I chuckled derisively as I looked at the address she impatiently sent me. I hailed a cab. Upon arriving at the café, Mrs. Hayes asked me many questions. After I answered each one, she showed a satisfied expression, then took out an agreement and pushed it towards me. “Black and white, no regrets once you sign. I’ll transfer half the money to your account immediately, and the other half will be transferred the day you leave. You must promise that once you receive the money, you’ll never appear before Julian Hayes again, understood?” My eyelashes trembled as I looked at the astronomical compensation written in the agreement. I certainly wouldn’t reappear. Not in this life, nor the next. I never wanted to see Julian Hayes again. So, without hesitation, I picked up the pen and decisively signed my name. Mrs. Hayes finally relaxed. She put away the agreement, stood up, and gave a final instruction. “I’m giving you two weeks. You can change your name or move abroad, whatever you choose. You must find a way for Julian to never see you again.” “I understand, Mrs. Hayes. You can rest assured.” After watching Mrs. Hayes leave, I returned home. Making sure Julian Hayes would never see me again was simple. The Hayes family had deep roots in the country, a powerful legacy spanning generations. It was an unspoken rule, almost a family tradition, that key members couldn’t establish permanent residence abroad. It was about preserving their power and influence, their name, their empire. If I immigrated, Julian would never be able to see me again. After spending most of the night researching overseas information, I finally decided to immigrate to Australia. Once decided, I picked up my phone to check the time, only to see a new SnapChat story notification. I opened it, and it was Seraphina’s post with nine photos. The top three were selfies of her holding roses, the middle three were marriage certificates, and the bottom three showed intertwined hands. I knew that since Julian wanted to keep the marriage a secret, he would never let Seraphina post about it. Yet she still did, and she posted it with settings to ensure only I could see it, a blatant taunt. I played along and liked the post. As soon as I exited SnapChat, I received a message from Julian. “Chloe, I’m going on a business trip. I won’t be back for a few days.” I replied with “Okay,” put down my phone, and went to wash up. The next day, I woke up early to handle my immigration paperwork. Since I was in a hurry, I specifically applied for expedited processing. The staff promised it would be done within half a month, and I finally breathed a sigh of relief. After getting in the car, I scrolled through Seraphina’s SnapChat again. This time, half of Julian’s body was visible. They were holding hands, looking at new houses, and finally settled on a villa in the exclusive Silverwood Estates. Just like yesterday, I clicked “like.” On the third day, I went to my company and resigned. After carrying my belongings home, I saw Seraphina’s SnapChat story. She was already wearing a wedding dress, a dazzling diamond ring sparkling on her ring finger. As always, I tapped the heart icon, then buried myself under my duvet. On the fourth day, I woke up to a new SnapChat update, fresh content again. This time, the camera was focused on wedding photos hanging in their new home. I stared at them for a long while before snapping back to reality. I liked the post as usual, then put on makeup and went out to have a farewell dinner with a few good 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, our matching toothbrushes and cups, the photos we had taken together… Nothing was left. It all went into the trash bin. 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 as soon as he saw the empty room, his brows furrowed. “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, and tossed them onto the sofa, but his gaze was drawn to the boxes beside it. “You quit your job?” He paused, then saw the documents on the coffee table. “Why are your identification documents out all of a sudden?” “I was too tired and wanted to rest for a while, so I resigned. The identification documents are because I have some paperwork to take care of.” I explained each point, putting the documents into my bag. Seeing how calm I was, Julian didn’t think much of it. He pulled me into his embrace, his voice tender. “I’ve been busy these past few days and haven’t had time to be with you. Your birthday is in a couple of days. Shall I take you to the auction house tomorrow to pick out some gifts?” I didn’t refuse. The next day, as soon as we settled into our seats in the main hall, I saw Seraphina. She sashayed over to us and sat in the empty seat next to Julian. All evening, Julian kept his head turned towards me, talking, not sparing a glance for the woman beside him. After the auction ended, he didn’t linger, pulling me downstairs with him. Before heading home, I went to the restroom. As I came out, I saw Seraphina cornered in the stairwell by a group of arrogant trust fund kids, who were openly mocking her. “Well, well, if it isn’t Miss Seraphina. You ungratefully abandoned Julian Hayes back then, and now you’ve fallen to this. Wouldn’t you say this is karma?” “I heard your father is forcing you to marry an old man with one foot in the grave. You’re still quite beautiful. Why don’t you come with us? We’d certainly appreciate you more…” The rest of his sentence was cut short. Julian descended from upstairs, his face thunderous, and kicked the young men. ### Chapter Three Then, he pinned the leader to the ground, punching him repeatedly, relentlessly, leaving them all bloody and pleading for mercy. “We’re sorry, Mr. Hayes! We were wrong! Please, be merciful and spare us!” “Get out! If you ever dare to show your faces in front of her again, you’ll face the consequences!” His furious roar sent them scrambling away, practically tripping over themselves in fear. Many onlookers had gathered in the stairwell. Julian ignored their prying glances, helped Seraphina to her feet. “Are you hurt?” Seraphina collapsed into his arms, sobbing dramatically, tears streaming down her face. “I twisted my ankle, it hurts so much.” Julian’s eyes darkened. He scooped her up, pushed through the crowd, and quickly left. To protect the woman in his arms, he held out an arm, accidentally pushing me to the ground in the process. My head hit the hard steps, opening a gash that bled profusely, startling the onlookers. “You’re bleeding from your head! Quick, call an ambulance!” My face contorted in pain, cold sweat breaking out all over my body. Warm blood seeped from my fingers, dripping onto my eyelashes, each drop feeling impossibly heavy. I watched Julian’s retreating figure, not bothering to look back, and a bitter taste filled my mouth. Before, if I’d accidentally cut my finger while preparing soup for him, he would worry for ages, insisting on calling a doctor, terrified I’d be left with a scar. I’d find him overreacting, but he would lower his head, kiss my hand, and tenderly whisper, “Chloe, you are the person I hold most dear. If you get hurt, I hurt more than you. Now that our lives are getting better, you don’t need to do these things anymore. Your hand will soon wear the ring I give you, and a scar wouldn’t look pretty.” Now, I was hurt, and he ignored me. And the ring he promised to me was now on someone else’s hand. The ambulance took me to the hospital. I registered, saw the doctor, and picked up my medication all by myself, not getting home until late at night. That night, the pain kept me from closing my eyes, tossing and turning restlessly. Julian Hayes didn’t come home. The next morning, I dragged my exhausted body up to change my dressing and saw Seraphina’s SnapChat story. It was a video of Julian half-kneeling, rubbing and applying medicine to her foot. I watched it several times, my eyes welling up, and unknowingly fell asleep. When I woke up again, it was dark outside. My phone on the pillow vibrated incessantly. I answered the call, and Julian’s voice listed an address. “Riverside Manor, private room 703. Come over now.” I hesitated for a moment before getting out of bed. I washed up quickly and headed over. As I pushed open the private room door, the first person I saw was Seraphina. Her eyes were red, looking like a wronged little bunny, utterly pitiful. Julian gazed at her steadily, saying nothing, his face etched with a pensive, solemn expression. The room was silent for a long time. Finally, I couldn’t help but speak. “Why did you call me here?” Julian straightened up, clasping his hands together, assuming the posture of a man in charge. “Chloe, were those punks yesterday, the ones bothering Seraphina, sent by you deliberately?” I froze. I instinctively glanced at Seraphina and caught a fleeting look of triumph in her eyes. In that instant, I understood that this was all probably Seraphina’s self-directed drama. I chuckled, a self-deprecating sound. “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. “Chloe, the moment Seraphina decided to leave me all those years ago, I completely let her go. You’ve been with me for seven years; you should know who is in my heart now. Seraphina’s family is struggling, and anyone can take advantage of her vulnerability, but it shouldn’t be you. You don’t need to make things difficult for her for my sake.” At this, my heart lurched. I couldn’t help but recall his agonizing cries in the middle of the night, the times I ran around with him, seeking doctors and cures, his silent despair when he was misdiagnosed and told he would never see again… The favored son of fate, who lost his sight completely for a girl. But those desperate days and nights, seven whole years, were now brushed aside so lightly, as if they had never happened. Finally, I thought of the marriage certificate, sealed with an official stamp, between him and Seraphina. Tears welled up in my eyes. “Yes, seven years together. How is it that only now do I know who is truly in your heart?” Julian’s eyes narrowed at my words. “What do you mean?” I shook my head, a self-mocking smile twisting my lips. “It means, I’m just a housekeeper’s daughter. What power or connections do I have to round up a group of men to bully a young lady?” Even though I laid everything 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 pressed his temples. “Apologize, Chloe. When you’ve done something wrong, you should say you’re sorry.” At that moment, Seraphina, who had been looking pitiful for a long time, suddenly spoke. “No need for an apology. If you’re truly sorry, just drink all this wine.” ### Chapter Four On the table, bottles of amber whiskey were arranged. My gaze drifted up to Julian, silently asking for a definite answer. But the dim lighting obscured his expression. In the overwhelming silence, I felt a sudden lack of oxygen. I gasped for air, and many past memories flashed through my mind. When Julian first moved into the old estate, because he couldn’t see, he numbed himself with alcohol every day. Worried about his health, I constantly tried to stop him, but he never listened. Until one time, when he was drunk, he sneered, pushing several bottles of wine towards me. “Now even a housekeeper’s daughter dares to lecture me? Am I truly a fallen phoenix, worse than a chicken? Fine, you drink all this, and I’ll listen to you.” I wanted to tell him I didn’t mean it that way, 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 downed it. Within minutes, I was rushed to the hospital. When I woke up, I saw him sitting by my bedside, his face dark as he said, “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 one sentence. “Because I was worried about you, Master Julian. Your eyes will see again someday. Even if they don’t, I’ll stay with you for life. So, please don’t give up, okay?” From that day on, Julian gave up drinking. For years afterward, not a single alcohol bottle could be found in the house. Thinking about it, I started to smile, but my eyes shimmered with tears. I didn’t explain further. I leaned down, picked up a packet of mustard powder nearby, and poured it into the wine glass, my voice resolute. “Just these drinks? How can that show sincerity? I’ll add a penalty to myself, is that enough?” With that, I raised the glass and tilted my head back, pouring it into my mouth, one glass after another. The pungent and bitter taste spread from my lips down, filling my stomach, reaching but never quite touching 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. “This is enough? So, I’ve apologized? Is that enough to please your beloved?” Hearing this, Julian abruptly stood up and grabbed my hand. His usually expressionless face was now so dark it looked like it could drip water. “You know I didn’t mean it that way! Chloe, I told you, Seraphina and I have nothing to do with each other anymore. The Hayes family won’t approve of me marrying you. If you do something so outrageous, people will seize on it, and I just don’t want you to be troubled or criticized!” Julian spoke with righteous indignation, his words sounding perfectly reasonable. But I laughed out loud. The Hayes family disapproves of me, a low-born housekeeper’s daughter. Would they approve of Seraphina, who repaid kindness with malice, marrying into the family? Yet, despite a thousand difficulties ahead, he still married her just because she said the word, didn’t he? Everything was just an excuse for not loving enough! I didn’t want to say any more pointless words. I shook off his hand and turned to leave. Just as I reached the door, my body swayed, and I passed out. “Chloe!” Julian’s heart gave a violent lurch. He rushed forward without hesitation, scooped me up, and was about to leave. Seraphina quickly grabbed his sleeve, calling out to him with a choked cry, “Julian, I feel a little dizzy.” Julian stopped. But only for a few seconds. He then strode away, leaving only a sentence behind. “I need to take Chloe to the hospital. Call an assistant to look after you.” When I woke up again, I found myself in the hospital. Julian, who hadn’t slept all night, finally relaxed when he saw my eyes open. We looked at each other for a long time, neither of us speaking. Julian poured a glass of warm water and handed it to me, tucked in my blankets, then got up to call the doctor for a recheck, patiently noting down all the precautions. He postponed several urgent meetings. Seeing his secretary waiting anxiously at the door, I finally spoke. “You should go. I can take care of myself. These things shouldn’t be your responsibility anyway.” Julian paused, his hand holding a knife, his voice slow. “Everything I do is my responsibility, Chloe. Have you forgotten? All those years ago, you took care of me just like this.” A flicker of confusion crossed my eyes. Back then, because he was blind, he was abandoned by his wealthy family like a discarded pawn. Only I would teach him Braille, which I taught myself every day, accompany him to classes, take him out to sunbathe, prepare all sorts of delicious food for him… It was as if I’d secretly claimed the moon for myself, and my once dull life became as bright as day. And those seven years that passed were 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, the nurse helped me back to my room. As I pushed open the door, Julian was holding my phone, his brows furrowed, speaking to Mrs. Hayes in an icy tone. “I told you, Chloe and I genuinely love each other. We are mutually devoted. I don’t care about her family background, and you don’t need to waste any more effort. I will marry her, and she will not leave me.” Hearing the movement, he looked up at me. The next second, he heard Mrs. Hayes’s puzzled voice from the other end. “What do you mean she won’t leave? Don’t you know? Chloe already agreed to go abroad a few days ago…”
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