Chloe had poured her entire youth into loving Julian, only to overhear him, in German, confess that his marriage certificate with someone else was real. All her desperate efforts, all her unwavering devotion, had merely been his desperate last resort. When the truth, like an icy blade, pierced her heart, she chose to take the money and vanish. Later, he would beg for her forgiveness on global live television, but she would only whisper under the warm sun of a foreign land, “I wish you happiness.” Chloe pov Inside the private screening room, Julian’s kisses left me breathless, gasping for air. My skirt was pushed up to my waist, the intense heat of his body pressing against me, even through the fabric. Julian, however, hadn’t even loosened his tie. This feeling of being utterly dominated made my cheeks flush, and an irresistible urge to escape bubbled up. But before I could even move, he pulled me closer, lifting me to sit on his lap. He even leaned in, a wicked chuckle rumbling against my ear. “The soundproofing is military-grade. What are you scared of, hmm?” I met the churning desire in his eyes, feeling a primal urge to wrap my arms around his neck. Just as I was about to reach my peak, an abrupt FaceTime request shattered the moment. Julian frowned, annoyed at the interruption, but seeing the caller’s name, he still put on his Bluetooth earpiece. I lay on the sofa, panting, and from my angle, I could clearly see the face on his laptop screen. It was his best friend, Lucas. “Julian, have you lost your mind…?” Julian glanced at me, then retorted in German, his voice sharp. “Switch channels.” Lucas on the other end paused, immediately understanding his meaning, and switched to German as well. He thought I wouldn’t understand. But I just watched in silent horror as the AI live-translated subtitles scrolled across the bottom of the screen. Each word was like a cold, sharp knife, carving itself into my vision. “Julian, are you really insane? Is that marriage certificate real?!” “Have you forgotten that Seraphina betrayed you and left with someone else after your leg broke?” Seraphina? His first love! The woman he’d always pined for! My mind exploded, my whole body trembling uncontrollably. Julian didn’t look at me, his German reply fluent and chillingly detached. “If I didn’t help her, her family would utterly destroy her. I couldn’t just stand by.” I watched the subtitles scroll, a terrible chill settling over me. “What about Chloe? She’s been with you for years, her entire heart devoted to you. Do you think we’re all blind?” Listening to Lucas’s barely suppressed anger, Julian merely chuckled. “Chloe won’t hear a word about this.” “How can you keep something like this a secret? You know how desperately she wants to marry you, don’t you?” Julian’s patience wore thin, his words quickening. “You suppress the news. Not a single word. As for Chloe, I’ll find another arrangement for her.” With that, he abruptly ended the call. He pulled off his earpiece, tossed the laptop aside, and reached for me, eager to continue. But I, now armed with the agonizing truth, trembled uncontrollably, lying beneath him like a frozen butterfly. When it was over, as I dressed, I longed to ask him about everything I’d just heard. But before I could speak, his wristwatch emitted a short, sharp alarm. It was a special medical alert. Julian glanced at it, immediately rose, and stopped the driver. “Chloe, there’s an urgent matter at the company. You get out here and take a cab home.” I said nothing, merely nodded in silence, and opened the car door. The black Bentley swiftly disappeared into the stream of traffic. I stood on the roadside, staring blankly at the streetlights, tears streaming down my face. I had taught myself German years ago, hoping to delve deeper into his world. No one knew this about me. I understood every word of their conversation, even without the subtitles. Their words were like relentless insects, gnawing at my heart. I was just the chauffeur’s daughter, while Julian was the most powerful man in this city. That year, I first stepped into the Harrington family estate with my father and saw Julian sitting alone in a wheelchair under the moonlight. He was the most handsome man I had ever seen, even though he always looked so melancholic. I fell deeply in love with him then. I never told anyone about this humble, secret crush. Not only because our social statuses were vastly different, but also because his heart already belonged to someone else. That girl was Seraphina, the neighbor he grew up with. He never hid his love for her, cherishing her like a precious jewel. He even suffered a comminuted fracture in his right leg in a plane crash at eighteen, saving Seraphina, completely destroying his dream of becoming a pilot. But from that day on, Seraphina vanished, even quickly getting engaged to someone else. The Harrington family had many children. Julian’s parents were busy with their commercial empire and had no time for their injured son. Julian was sent to a remote estate, as if abandoned by his own family. I voluntarily asked my father to let me go to the estate and took care of him for five full years. When I was twenty-five, I used my own design patent to secure an opportunity for that world-renowned orthopedic specialist to perform surgery on Julian. That patent was originally something I was preparing to submit for an award. But now, it was all gone. Still, Julian got back on his feet. He took only a year to reclaim the pinnacle of power, becoming the family’s undisputed heir. I accompanied him through rehabilitation, and I stood by him through those long five years. We kissed, we hugged, we held each other close… I never imagined that the first thing he would do after recovering was marry Seraphina, the woman who had abandoned him! Over the years, to keep up with him, I had studied relentlessly. I was no longer the timid little girl I once was. But no matter how much I transformed, Julian’s parents always saw me as a stain, trying many times to pay me off and make me leave him. Julian always fought his family for me, and I believed he loved me, so I never thought of leaving. Until today, when I heard all of it. I didn’t want to stay anymore. I wiped away my tears, pulled out my phone, and dialed a number. My voice was calm. “Mrs. Harrington, I accept your terms. Transfer the money to my account, and I will vanish completely from his world.”
Chloe pov After I spoke, Eleanor Harrington’s voice on the other end of the line was filled with undisguised excitement. “You’ve finally come to your senses? That’s right. A chauffeur’s daughter, how could you possibly be worthy of my son, the Harrington heir? Where are you now? Come immediately to sign the agreement.” I looked at the address she quickly sent me and hailed a cab. At the café, Eleanor pulled out a pre-drafted agreement. “Black and white, no backing out once you sign. I’ll transfer half the money after you sign, and the other half once you’ve completely disappeared. You have to promise never to appear before Julian again in this lifetime.” I glanced at the astronomically high penalty clause in the agreement and smiled faintly. Of course, I wouldn’t appear again. Because in this lifetime, and the next, I never wanted to see Julian again. Without hesitation, I picked up the pen and swiftly signed my name. Eleanor put away the agreement, satisfied. “I want to see your departure record within this month, Chloe. Don’t play any tricks; you know what the Harringtons are capable of.” “I understand. Don’t worry.” I saw Eleanor off and returned home. Making Julian never find me would be simple. The Harrington family’s influence was so extensive, their core members faced unusual travel restrictions. If I immigrated, a vast distance would separate us. I researched all night, finally deciding on New Zealand. After making my decision, I picked up my phone and saw a financial news alert on SnapChat. 【SHOCKING! Harrington Heir Julian Suspected to be with Old Flame, Mysterious Girlfriend Seraphina Surfaces.】 I tapped on it, revealing nine high-resolution photos. Three were selfies of Seraphina holding blue roses, three middle ones showed wedding preparations, and the bottom three were two pairs of hands tightly clasped. I knew that if Julian wanted to hide something, these photos would never have leaked. Seraphina must have intentionally released them to the media, flaunting them in front of me. But I wasn’t angry. I simply clicked ‘like’ on the news story. As I exited, I received a message from Julian. “Chloe, I have to go to another city for a few days. I won’t be back.” I replied with a casual “Okay” and put my phone down to get ready for bed. On Monday, I woke up early to handle the immigration procedures. I printed all the necessary documents and even applied for expedited processing. After getting into the car, I scrolled through a new alert. 【EXCLUSIVE! Julian Spotted with Mysterious Girlfriend Seraphina at Cloudscape Villa Estate, Suspected to Be Living Together!】 In the accompanying photo, Julian’s profile was clearly visible. Like yesterday, I clicked ‘like’ again. Although I tried hard to appear calm, my heart still ached terribly. It’s okay, a new life is about to begin. The next day, I went to the company and handed in my resignation. When I got home, the news alerts showed Seraphina already wearing a custom-made wedding gown, a massive diamond ring sparkling on her ring finger. I continued to ‘like’ the posts, then buried myself under my duvet. The following days brought new, increasingly dramatic alerts. This time, even more exciting: cameras aimed directly at newly hung wedding photos in the marital home. I liked those as usual, then put on makeup and went out for a farewell dinner with friends. That evening, I dragged home several large boxes and purged everything related to Julian. The gifts he gave me, our couple’s trinkets, our shared photos… Nothing remained. Everything went into the community donation bin. I was just about to rest after finishing, when Julian suddenly returned. He saw the mostly empty room and was clearly displeased. “Why are so many things missing from the house?” “I got tired of them, so I threw them out.” Julian casually pulled off his tie, his gaze sweeping over the half-empty room before landing on the suitcase nearby. “Where are your things?” he asked, then noticed the airline tag on the suitcase. “Are you planning a long trip?” “You resigned?” I remained silent. Then he spotted my passport on the coffee table. “Why did you suddenly take out your passport?” “Work’s been too exhausting; I want to take a break. My passport’s just about to expire, so I’m going to renew my visa.” I quickly explained, then stuffed my passport into my bag, fearing he’d ask more questions. Julian didn’t give my explanation another thought. He simply pulled me into his arms, his voice tender. “I’ve neglected you these past few days. It’s your birthday soon. Tomorrow, I’ll take you to a charity gala, and we can pick out some jewelry you like?” I didn’t refuse.
Chloe pov At the gala, everyone was toasting. Julian and I had just taken our seats when I saw Seraphina. She walked directly over and sat in the empty seat next to Julian. All evening, Julian leaned in, whispering to Seraphina, not sparing me a single glance. When the gala ended, he pulled me up, ready to leave. I excused myself to the restroom midway. As I stepped out, I saw Seraphina cornered in the hallway by a group of sleazy men, who were harassing her. “Well, well, isn’t it Seraphina? After what you did to Julian, you have the nerve to show your face back here?” “Heard your family’s almost bankrupt, and your dad’s trying to sell you off to some old geezer? Why not come with us boys? We promise we’ll treat you better than any old man ever could…” Before they could finish, I saw a figure dash down the stairs. Julian’s face was terrifyingly grim. He landed a furious kick on the man closest to Seraphina, then pinned him to the ground, punching him relentlessly, without mercy. “Get lost! If I ever see you near her again, I’ll make sure you vanish from this city!” His terrifying warning sent the men scrambling. The hallway filled with onlookers. Julian helped Seraphina up, his gaze filled with concern. “Are you hurt?” Seraphina threw herself into his arms, crying pitifully. “My ankle feels twisted. It hurts so much.” Julian’s expression darkened. He bent down, lifted her into his arms, and swiftly left. He shielded Seraphina completely, protecting her. I stood right beside him, yet he didn’t even look at me. His heavy wristwatch even cruelly grazed my temple. The blow made me stumble, my head hitting the hard, decorative corner of the wall behind me with a sickening thud. A line of blood immediately streamed down my forehead. “Oh my God, she’s bleeding! Call an ambulance!” My vision blurred, the searing pain making cold sweat trickle down my back. I watched Julian’s retreating back, his stride unwavering, and my mouth filled with a bitter taste. Years ago, when I pricked my finger during drug trials for him, he would be anxious for half an hour. He once held my hand and said, “This place is too lonely. Once I’m powerful enough, I’ll fill it with a unique star just for you.” Now, my head was bleeding profusely, and he pretended not to see. My “star” gift, too, had been given to someone else. I was loaded into an ambulance and quickly taken to the hospital. I registered, had my wound cleaned, and stitches put in, all by myself, returning home late that night. I was in too much pain to sleep. Julian didn’t come home all night. The next morning, I dragged my exhausted body out of bed to change my dressing, only to see new socialite news. It was a short video: Julian, half-kneeling, was carefully applying medicine to Seraphina’s ankle. I had never seen such tenderness in his eyes. I watched it several times, until tears streamed down my face, then fell back asleep. When I woke again, it was dark outside. My phone vibrated incessantly. As soon as I answered, I heard Julian rattle off an address. “The Phoenix Lounge, VIP room. Get here now.” I thought about it for a moment, then chose to get up. When I arrived, pushing open the door, I saw Seraphina, her eyes red, sitting there like a startled, pitiable rabbit. Julian looked at me, his expression grim, saying nothing. “You called me here. What’s wrong?” I spoke first. Julian sat up straight, his hands clasped, a posture he used at the negotiating table. “Chloe, were those men yesterday, were they arranged by you?” I froze. I instinctively looked at Seraphina, catching a fleeting flicker of triumph in her eyes. I understood instantly. I shook my head. “It wasn’t me.” Julian’s expression didn’t soften. He lowered his gaze, his voice calm. “Stop stirring up trouble. Seraphina is a thing of the past. The person standing by my side now is you, and that will never change. Her family is down and out; anyone can kick them while they’re down, but it shouldn’t be you. You don’t need to use such methods for my sake.” When I heard those words, my heart lurched violently. Five years of my companionship, dismissed by his casual “a thing of the past.” I thought of the wedding photos one last time and couldn’t help but cry. “Yes, we’ve been together for five years. How am I only just finding out who’s truly in your heart now?” Julian froze at my words. “What do you mean?” I shook my head, a bitter laugh escaping me. “What I mean is, as a chauffeur’s daughter, where would I get the connections or the power to bully a former heiress?” Even when I spelled it out clearly, Julian still didn’t believe me. I was tired, too tired to explain anymore. “Since you don’t believe me, what do you want me to do?” Julian pressed his fingers to his temples. “Apologize.” At that moment, Seraphina, sitting beside him, suddenly spoke, her voice pitiful. “No need for an apology. If you truly feel sorry for me, then eat all these sea urchins on the table.”
Chloe pov On the table, there was a spread of golden, enticingly fresh sea urchins, already shelled. I looked at Julian, waiting for his answer. The light was dim, I couldn’t see his expression clearly. I felt a little breathless. Back when I first went to the estate, Julian, due to his injury, was irritable and refused all treatment, even starving himself. I was desperate, trying every method to persuade him. Until one day, he pointed to the table laden with premium seafood and sneered, “A chauffeur’s daughter dares to tell me what to do? Fine, you eat all these sea urchins, and I’ll cooperate with the treatment.” I wanted to tell him that I wasn’t telling him what to do; I was… heartbroken for him. So, even though I was severely allergic to seafood, I didn’t hesitate for a second. I picked up a fork and ate it. Within minutes, I went into anaphylactic shock and was rushed to the hospital. When I woke up, he was sitting by my bedside, his face grim. “You knew you were allergic. Why would you risk your life?” I only replied, “Because I didn’t want to see you give up. Master Julian, your leg will get better. Even if it doesn’t, I’ll be your legs for life, so please, stop tormenting yourself, okay?” From that day on, Julian broke all his bad habits and actively cooperated with treatment. For the next five years, sea urchins never appeared on our dinner table again. Thinking of this, I smiled, and tears fell. I didn’t explain further. I picked up a fork, scooped a lobe of sea urchin, and put it into my mouth. “Just eating them isn’t enough to show sincerity, is it?” I said, picking up a glass of wine. With the burning liquid, I swallowed a mouthful of sea urchin, glass after glass. The sweet and spicy flavors mingled in my stomach, making me numb with discomfort. It wasn’t until my seventh glass that Julian finally roared, “Enough!” I looked at the half-eaten plate of sea urchins and smiled. “Is this enough? Have I truly apologized? Is it enough to satisfy your beloved?” At that, Julian sprang to his feet, seizing my hand. His usually stern face was now so dark it looked like it could drip water. “You know perfectly well I didn’t mean it that way! Chloe, I told you, Seraphina and I are over! My family won’t accept you, and if you pull stunts like this, people will find reasons to gossip. I just don’t want you to be the subject of rumors!” Julian’s words sounded so righteous. But I just laughed. If the Harringtons wouldn’t accept me, would they accept Seraphina, who had betrayed him? But with just one word from Seraphina, didn’t he still marry her? Everything was just an excuse for not loving me enough. I didn’t want to say anything more. I shook him off and turned to leave. Just as I reached the door, my vision blurred, and I collapsed to the ground. “Chloe!” In a daze, I heard Julian’s frantic call of my name. Seraphina, however, was weeping beside him. “Julian, I feel a little dizzy.” But this time, Julian refused her. “I’ll take her to the hospital first. Get my assistant to pick you up.”
Chloe pov I dragged my unsteady steps forward, snatched my phone back, and hung up. Julian looked at me in surprise, not understanding my intense reaction. “What’s wrong?” I sighed, doing my best to make my voice sound calm. “Nothing. I just don’t want you two fighting over me anymore.” Hearing this, Julian didn’t suspect anything further and instead asked about my test results. “The doctor said there’s nothing serious, I can be discharged.” The next few days at home, Julian canceled all his engagements and stayed with me. I preferred sitting by the bed, lost in thought, unwilling to engage with him. When Julian tried to hug me, I simply got up and retreated to the bedroom. “I’m not feeling well, I want to lie down for a bit.” He thought I was still angry about the previous incident, so he had his assistant arrange a surprise. On my birthday, he hosted a grand charity gala in my name, under the guise of the Harrington Arts Foundation. Out of respect for Julian, all the city’s elite were in attendance. They were polite enough to me in his presence. But the moment he turned his back, their disdainful whispers began, undisguised. “If it weren’t for Julian, I’d never show up to a chauffeur’s daughter’s birthday party. It’s too humiliating!” “I have no idea what Julian sees in her. She reaks of poverty; it’s sickening!” “Julian is too soft-hearted. If it were me, I’d just pay her off. Actually marrying her? Now that would be a joke!” I sighed, unwilling to dwell on it. At seven o’clock sharp, a stir rippled through the ballroom entrance. All the guests turned in unison, their expressions of disdain instantly morphing into fawning smiles. Everyone in elite circles knew Julian had fought for Seraphina. Seeing her now, they rushed to curry favor. “Julian, you left earlier to personally pick up Seraphina? How sweet!” “Of course! They’re true childhood sweethearts. Only Seraphina’s elegance can truly match Julian’s stature.” Amidst the chorus of praise, I watched Seraphina enter, arm-in-arm with Julian, and frowned. She wore a magnificent custom-made gown, sparkling jewelry accentuating her noble grace. Her exquisite face radiated the proud confidence that money cultivates. After Julian’s leg healed, he once drew a sketch without facial features. When I asked him then, he said it was just practice, and I only thought the figure in the drawing was beautiful, not thinking much of it. But… the person in that drawing was clearly Seraphina! His heart, it turned out, had never truly made space for me. I turned to leave, but Seraphina called out to me. “Chloe, I hear it’s your birthday today. I came uninvited; I hope you don’t mind? I even brought you a very special gift!” With that, she gestured for a waiter to present an antique music box. “It’s called ‘Oblivion.’ A beautiful name, don’t you think?” I saw the oddly shaped music box and recoiled in shock. “Please take it away, I…”
Chloe pov Hearing my words, Seraphina’s face immediately fell. “Julian, is Chloe still mad at me? Maybe I should just leave so I don’t upset anyone.” At this, Julian quickly grabbed her arm, stopping her from leaving, and frowned at me. “Seraphina means well, Chloe. Don’t you love antique collectibles? Just accept it.” I could only turn to his secretary. “Mr. Davis, my hands aren’t free. Would you mind accepting it for me?” The people around me began to snicker again, mocking me for being difficult and intentionally trying to make a scene. Julian, too, thought I was trying to humiliate Seraphina. His face darkened, and he led Seraphina further into the hall. The area quickly cleared out, leaving only me. I poured myself a glass of water, slowly trying to calm the bone-deep terror that had seized me. I used to enjoy collecting antiques. But five years ago, on a stormy, thunderous night, Julian had a high fever that wouldn’t break. When I went out to find a doctor, I got trapped in the old, decrepit elevator of the estate. In that narrow, dark, constantly leaking space, the only light came from a malfunctioning phone. It endlessly looped a corrupted audio clip—the very same strange, distorted melody from that music box. I developed severe claustrophobia from that incident and could never bear to hear that tune again. I had never told Julian about it. So he didn’t understand my pain. During the party’s celebration, everyone instinctively gathered around Seraphina, as if she were the guest of honor. Julian’s anger seemed to have subsided a little, and he finally called me over to cut the cake. I was just about to make a wish when I heard Seraphina exclaim in surprise. “Oh, what a coincidence! This music box’s creation anniversary is also today! Why don’t we let it celebrate with us?” At her words, a wave of stifled snickers rippled through the crowd. She was clearly provoking me! I took a sharp breath, my voice icy. “If that’s the case, then let ‘Oblivion’ make a wish. I won’t disturb you.” With that, I turned to leave. Julian’s temple throbbed, and he called out to me. “Chloe! This is your birthday party! What kind of behavior is that?” He grabbed my arm, leaning close to my ear to whisper, “Chloe, don’t embarrass me. My parents are right over there. Give them a reason to accept you.” Accept our relationship? But hadn’t he already married someone else…? Birthday songs echoed around me, but all I felt was annoyance. Until someone, perhaps intentionally, opened the music box and thrust it into my arms. I didn’t want this thing! I stumbled back violently, a sharp pain shooting through me as I collided with an ice bucket! The ice bucket, filled with ice and champagne, toppled over, crashing directly towards me and Seraphina. Screams erupted throughout the venue. I watched in slow motion as Julian instinctively pulled Seraphina into his arms, shielding her and moving her out of the danger zone. Then, I saw countless ice cubes and liquid crash down upon me. A long gash opened on my shoulder, carved by a sharp ice shard. I cried out in pain, collapsing to the ground. Hearing my cry, Julian turned, saw my injury, and started to come back, but Seraphina shrieked beside him. “Ah! Julian, my wrist feels like it was hit by an ice cube! Could it be fractured?!” Looking at the tiny red mark on her wrist, Julian hesitated for a moment, then only instructed his secretary, “You take Chloe to the hospital to get her wound treated.” With that, he picked up Seraphina and hurried away. The guests quickly dispersed, not forgetting to mock me as they left. “Oblivion, Chloe… Seraphina really knows how to name things! Look at her, she looks just like forgotten trash, doesn’t she?” I heard their words clearly. My nose stung, and tears finally fell. My twenty-third birthday ended in such a bleak, desolate way.
Chloe pov It wasn’t until midnight that I dragged my weary body back home. I turned on the light, and my phone buzzed. It was a picture from Seraphina. The photo showed Julian intently applying an ice pack to her wrist. The caption read: “He said my hands are for painting and shouldn’t be harmed. He also said our wedding is set for the Maldives; that starry sky is a dream we shared since childhood.” “Oh, and thank you, truly. If it weren’t for you, Julian’s leg wouldn’t have healed. Thank you for taking care of my husband for five whole years.” I looked at her arrogant taunts, too exhausted to even feel angry. I went back to my bedroom and lay down, falling into a deep sleep. Julian still didn’t return that night, only sending a message. 【Chloe, I’m tied up. Is your injury serious? If it hurts, tell me, and I’ll come back immediately.】 I replied after a long pause. 【No need.】 Julian, from now on, I no longer need you. After the bleeding from my shoulder wound stopped, I took a day off specifically to drive to the secluded estate. I didn’t go into the house but instead went to the small observatory in the backyard. That was something Julian and I built together, piece by piece, from discarded parts when his leg injury was at its worst. At the center of the observatory was a planetarium we had handcrafted and polished. I turned on the power, and the ceiling immediately projected a dazzling galaxy of stars. Among them were two of the brightest constellations, which we had each designed. I clicked on the one I designed, and the note beneath the star map, written in my own hand, appeared: “May Julian soar again, like Aquila the Eagle.” My every wish had been for him. The next second, I clicked on the constellation he had designed. A line of elegant handwriting popped up: “To Seraphina the Princess, my love, forever.” Seraphina. It was Seraphina again. It turned out that every single thing he had ever done for me, his heart had always been thinking of someone else. I deleted the star map I had designed, then removed the necklace from my neck. It was a small meteorite, a gift Julian bought me with his first earnings after rejoining the Harrington family. He once held me and said: “Chloe, they say the more powerful you become, the lonelier you get, but as long as I have you, I have the courage to reach the top. Everything I possess from now on, including myself, is yours.” I buried this star, along with everything related to our past, beneath the observatory.
Chloe pov After filling the pit, I turned to go home. But as I reached the door, I ran into Julian and Seraphina. Seeing me there, a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes. “Chloe, what are you doing here?” I didn’t answer, instead asking, “What about you? What are you and Seraphina doing here?” Before Julian could speak, Seraphina smiled and chimed in, “I haven’t seen Julian paint in ages. He said his old art supplies were at the estate, so we came back to get them. Chloe, you know your way around here, could you show us?” With that, she pulled me inside. The moment I pushed open the door to the art studio, I froze. The room’s furnishings were exactly as they had been when we left. A ripple of excitement, then pain, went through me. Julian, too, seemed touched, turning to look at me. “Chloe, do you remember when we…” “I don’t remember.” My voice was so soft it was barely audible. Julian paused, then pointed to an unfinished oil painting in the corner. “Didn’t we keep this painting in the study? Why was it moved here?” I didn’t look. “You weren’t well back then. Many of your memories are jumbled.” Just like I thought he loved me. But in reality, it was just dependence born of desperation. Once he recovered, my kindness became irrelevant. Julian’s expression was troubled. He wanted to ask me what was wrong, but I didn’t speak, walking over to the window. “The art supplies are on the top shelf of the cabinet. You can get them yourselves.” Listening to the rummaging sounds behind me, I slowly closed my eyes. Before long, it suddenly started to rain outside. I got up and returned to the living room, where I saw Julian had already set up his easel. Seraphina sat opposite him, striking a pose. Through the glass door, Julian picked up his paintbrush, his gaze focused and deeply affectionate. Even after five years apart, his familiarity with her was etched into his very bones. It turned out Julian loved Seraphina so much that, even after being abandoned for five years, he never forgot her. Yes, they belonged to the same world. And I was just a chauffeur’s daughter. Why should I fantasize about owning a sun that didn’t belong to me? When he finished painting, Seraphina rose and walked behind him, her hand resting on his shoulder, then sliding down. Through the glass, Seraphina leaned in and kissed his lips. “Julian, I know you still love me…” At that moment, I couldn’t take it anymore. I turned and ran out into the pouring rain.
hloe pov When I got home, I pulled out my suitcase and started packing my last few belongings. I worked until dawn, and Julian still hadn’t returned. But it didn’t matter anymore. The next day, I went to the immigration office and retrieved all my documents. On the way back, I booked a flight for that afternoon. When the car stopped at the gate, I saw his Bentley parked in the driveway; he was back. Sure enough, as soon as I entered the bedroom, I saw Julian standing by my suitcase, trying to open it. I panicked. “Weren’t you with Seraphina? Why are you back?” Julian froze. He slowly turned around, and the moment he lifted his head, his eyes flared with anger. He walked up to me, his voice filled with deep exasperation. “Chloe, what are you imagining now? I told you, Seraphina and I will never have anything to do with each other again.” Never again have anything to do with each other? But you married her for her. I smiled through my tears, but still didn’t expose him. “Then I misunderstood.” Julian breathed a sigh of relief. “There’s a family dinner at the Harringtons tonight. My parents have agreed for you to attend as my fiancée.” Hearing this, I was stunned. They agreed? Julian ruffled my hair, then handed me a black card. “Chloe, don’t worry, one day I’ll make them accept you, let you stand proudly by my side. I’m a little tired right now and want to rest for a bit. My secretary can take you to pick out some dresses, okay?” I stared at the card for a long moment, then took it. “You rest. I’ll go by myself.” I placed the newly retrieved documents into my bag. Julian lay on the bed, falling into a deep sleep. Looking at his handsome sleeping face, I was slightly lost in thought. He turned over, clutching my hand tighter, muttering in his sleep, “…Don’t leave.” I raised my hand one last time, wanting to gently touch his brow. But his next words shattered my heart completely. He murmured: Seraphina… I pulled my hand back and smiled. As expected, he was still in love with another woman. I picked up my luggage and went downstairs. On the way to the airport, I set all my social media accounts to permanent deletion. I also deleted all of Julian’s contact information. The airport was bustling. I calmly completed all the procedures and walked towards the security checkpoint with my suitcase. I stopped only after passing through the heavy glass doors, leaving the noisy departure hall completely behind me. Through the glass wall, I took one last look at the land I had lived on for so many years. I knew. From this moment on, I was free. I walked to a nearby seating area and pulled out my brand-new phone. I inserted the unused SIM card and dialed Eleanor Harrington’s number. “Mrs. Harrington, I’ve already passed security. You can proceed with the transfer.” Only Eleanor’s cold, crisp two words came from the other end: “Understood.” Then, the call was abruptly cut off. “Don’t worry,” I said softly, a slight curve to my lips as I looked out at the plane about to take off, “I’ll enjoy spending this money.” After hanging up, I didn’t throw away the phone, nor did I break the SIM card. I simply pulled the card out and tucked it into a travel book I carried with me. After all, everything behind me finally had nothing to do with me anymore. I walked towards the boarding gate. My new life was about to begin.
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