After my family went bankrupt, I moved overseas for seven years. I started fabricating stories, claiming I was the true love of a powerful old-money heir, just to seem more impressive. “Listen up, Julian Thorne spent a billion dollars on me, buying a private island just for us.” “After I dumped him, he was so heartbroken he found eighteen lookalikes! All young and gorgeous!” “One hundred listed companies went belly-up overnight because they dared to cross me.” At first, nobody in the ex-pat community believed a word of it. Not until someone bold enough to challenge him actually contacted Julian Thorne himself, and he somehow gave them VIP access… The whole community exploded! From then on, they believed every single word about my identity! As I sat on the plane heading back home, my stomach churning with anxiety, I suddenly heard an inner thought. “Julian Thorne ditched me for his true love for the ninety-ninth time. This time, I’m done with him!” Seriously, sis, ninety-nine times?! Why are you so obsessed with breaking them up? Doesn’t ninety-nine times prove it’s true love? Wait! Julian Thorne actually *has* a “White Moonlight”?
On my first day back, Julian Thorne pinned me against the elevator corner, his hands gripping my throat. “Chloe Thorne, you actually dared to come back?!” “Seven years ago, I told you I’d break your legs if you ever showed your face again!” “Did you really think I was just kidding?” My back hit the icy metal panel, sending a shiver down my spine. I’d heard Julian Thorne’s personality had completely changed, but seeing it firsthand was still a shock. I reached up, touching his face. “If it’s you, of course, you can do anything.” Damn it! My flirting habits just slipped out too easily! “You!” Julian Thorne seemed to be struggling with a massive headache. He took a breath, then gritted his teeth, full of resentment. “Chloe Thorne, sometimes I really wonder if I was in a car accident or got seriously sick.” “Otherwise, why would I have absolutely no memory of those wild stories you made up overseas?” I stared at my shoes, trying my best to hold back a laugh. “Go on, laugh. Don’t hold back.” Julian Thorne lifted my chin. “We’ll settle this mess once we get out.” When the firefighters pried open the elevator doors and pulled us out, I immediately saw a familiar face. No way! Julian Thorne’s White Moonlight is my best friend! As for how similar they look, at least 40%! I stared at her, thinking, *You, dude, you like married women?!* “Mr. Thorne.” The young woman walked over timidly, tears still in the corners of her eyes. “Are you alright?” Julian Thorne’s face was cold. “What are you doing here?” I was about to speak, but her inner thoughts reached my ears clearly: “Heh, if it wasn’t for that substitute fee, who’d want to play along with you! As soon as the contract ends in three days, I’m ditching you, you jerk! You’ll regret it!” I was speechless. Wow, these city folks really know how to play dirty. “And you, are you Mr. Thorne’s friend? I’m Skylar. Is there something wrong, ma’am? You keep staring at me.” “Sorry, I just think you smell really good.” The young woman blushed. Julian Thorne pushed himself between us without a word. “How long are you staying this time?” “Three days.” Seven years ago, the Thorne family went bankrupt. Mr. Thorne Sr. pushed his eldest son to take the fall. Now, perhaps with age, he missed his grandson a little. So, he chose his birthday as an excuse for me to bring Caleb back. Julian Thorne looked at me with a complex expression, then suddenly said, “Just go. Don’t bother me for the next few days.” “Otherwise…” Tsk, I only messed with him a few times seven years ago. Is he still this petty? “Chloe—” Everyone exchanged glances, because the person who arrived was none other than my long-suffering bestie.
“Come on!” She grabbed my arm. “The birthday VIP room is booked, eight male models are ready, just waiting for you!” Julian Thorne turned, stopping in front of us. “Why don’t we all go together?” My best friend squeezed my arm hard, but I nodded with a smile. “Sure.” Who doesn’t love a free drama show? “Chloe Thorne,” my best friend gritted through her teeth, “You’re asking for trouble!” But quickly, she got excited. “Did you see just now? The male models I hired, all eight of them! They’re all changing into suits!” Julian Thorne sat in the corner of the room, casually swirling the drink in his glass. The door suddenly swung open. Eight male models, all 6’1″+ and in suits, bowed in unison towards Julian Thorne. “Good evening, Mr. Thorne!” My best friend froze, grabbed her alarm clock, and ran. Real impressive! I was about to grab my own alarm clock when Julian Thorne took my phone. “Isn’t this a birthday party? Why hasn’t it started yet?” You reap what you sow. I opened the cake box. Julian Thorne started putting candles on it, looking like he was decorating my tombstone. Skylar’s inner thoughts chimed in again: “That jerk, for my birthday, it was just a standard twenty-five candles, but for her, it’s eighteen? Does he have to be so double-standard?” “Before I leave, I have to burn his White Moonlight Shrine of Sorrows to the ground!” White Moonlight Shrine of Sorrows? Ugh, I suddenly really wanted to see it! Would it have a bunch of my bestie’s big head photos? “Miss Thorne, your 1995 Dom Pérignon.” Just as I reached out, Julian Thorne took the glass. “She’s allergic to alcohol.” I paused, suddenly remembering that time seven years ago when I got Julian Thorne drunk and then escaped the country. Could he have been faking it back then? The manager came in, handing over the bill. “Miss Thorne, the total for tonight’s consumption is $88,888. May I put it on card or cash?” I glanced at Julian Thorne in the corner, flipping my black card between my fingers. “Oh dear, I just remembered this card has a limit.” “How about I stay and work off the debt by washing dishes?” Julian Thorne flew into a rage. “Chloe! It’s less than a hundred thousand, why are you pretending to be poor?” “I really don’t have money. Why don’t… you lend me some?” “I lend you money?” Julian Thorne tugged at his tie, shaking with anger. “You ordered the male models! I pay? Do I have no self-respect left?!” Ten minutes later, Julian Thorne paid. Soon after, his company’s finance department called, asking what his latest expenditure was so she could account for it. Julian Thorne realized he’d used the wrong card and mumbled something about it being business entertainment. The finance manager then asked which hotel it was and if there was a receipt. Julian Thorne was so furious he just hung up. I stood there, biting back laughter until my insides ached, trying desperately to hold it in. Julian Thorne pressed his fingertips against his temples, then pulled out a sheet of paper. “Write me an IOU. Now. Immediately!”
Stepping out, I immediately slipped into Julian Thorne’s car. “Who said you could get in?” Julian Thorne’s chest heaved. “I told you to stop bothering me for the next few days, did it go in one ear and out the other?” “I’m going to your place—” Julian Thorne froze. “You… What are you doing at my place?” *To see the White Moonlight Shrine of Sorrows?* *Ding!* Someone’s phone suddenly connected to the car’s Bluetooth. The next second, a steady, mechanical male voice began: “Julian Thorne stepped into the backseat, his hand propped beside Chloe Thorne, fire burning in his eyes. A scorching kiss descended, lips and tongues intertwined, shamelessly and fiercely invading every inch of her mouth…” No… What kind of trashy romance novel is this?! I lunged for the center console, but Julian Thorne pulled me into his arms. He looked at me with a half-smile. “Thanks to you, huh? Want to act it out right here?” A knock came from the car window. Julian Thorne pressed a button, and the glass lowered halfway. His brow furrowed with annoyance. “Speak.” Skylar shrank her neck. “Mr. Thorne, my hamster… uh… seems to be having a difficult labor.” She held up her phone to the window. “Look, the pet hospital has called three times…” “Get lost.” Skylar rolled away, but her inner thoughts still echoed in my ears: “Help! Another half-minute later and that psycho would hang me from the chandelier like a decoration!” “Only his White Moonlight can handle this lunatic…” Julian Thorne… is he really that savage now? Suddenly, the White Moonlight Shrine of Sorrows didn’t seem so essential anymore. “How about I… come another time?” A glint of darkness flashed in Julian Thorne’s eyes. “Are you messing with me?” I shook my head repeatedly. If I refused now, would I be hung from the chandelier immediately? Inside the mansion, Julian Thorne slammed the door shut, barring everyone from entering. Ms. Miller, beaming, welcomed me into my old room. “I haven’t seen Mr. Thorne this happy in a long time.” Happy? Seriously? Where did she see that? “Maybe I should go apologize…” “Now?” Ms. Miller sighed. “Mr. Thorne is having an episode. It won’t do any good if you go now. How about waiting until tomorrow?” “What kind of episode?” “He’s bipolar, you see. Sometimes he gets a bit irritable, sometimes he’s down. He’s been on medication for six or seven years, but it hasn’t really helped. When his emotions fluctuate wildly, it tends to flare up.” No wonder. But why would Julian Thorne suddenly get such a condition? A dull thud from upstairs indicated something heavy had fallen. I took a deep breath. “So, we just let him act out like this?” I reached for the doorknob, but Ms. Miller stopped me. “Miss Thorne, going now… it’s too dangerous.” *It’s fine. What’s the worst that can happen, get hung from a chandelier?* Seven years ago, when I reported my adoptive father, his men tortured me far worse than this.
Julian Thorne had been staring at the door, eyes bloodshot. When he saw me enter, he just rolled over. “Mr. Thorne, about that money… could you draft a contract for Skylar like that for me too?” Julian Thorne sneered. “You’ve been overseas for seven years and can’t even get $100,000? You must be living quite well.” Being roasted didn’t bother me much. I continued asking, “By the way, how much do you pay your substitutes a month?” “Get out!” I was about to argue a bit more when Julian Thorne grabbed my hands, trapping me between him and the bed. A dangerous glint was in Julian Thorne’s eyes as he leaned in closer. “Be a substitute? Do you even know what you’d be getting into?” “Do you even know why I saved you back then?” I froze. When my adoptive father’s men caught me, they called me ungrateful and shameless, even threatening to sell me off to a human trafficking ring. While I was locked in the basement, I heard Julian Thorne had paid money and bought me. After that, I came here. My adoptive father was Julian Thorne’s paternal uncle, and there was a childhood bond between them. I was worried Julian Thorne would retaliate, so I got him drunk and ran. Could there be some hidden truth in all this? *Bang!* The door burst open, and Ms. Miller pulled Julian Thorne off me. “Mr. Thorne, Miss Thorne has finally come back! Even if you’re having an episode, you can’t hit her like this!” Julian Thorne sat on the floor, his gaze practically murderous. Ms. Miller pulled me back to my original room. “Mr. Thorne is just having an episode. Please don’t take it personally, Miss Thorne.” I smiled faintly, shaking my head. “By the way, Ms. Miller, does Julian Thorne have any kind of… room or secret chamber that only he can enter?” “He does, but Miss Thorne, why do you ask…?” I gripped her hand, my gaze sincere. “I want to see it!” “This…” Julian Thorne and I grew up together. That kid was always pretty cold and detached. My best friend and I even discussed how if Julian Thorne ever dated, he’d probably first draft a ‘Relationship Conduct Rulebook.’ Now, he even had a White Moonlight Shrine of Sorrows, and the object of his obsession was my best friend! How could I not take some pictures to mock her? Unable to resist my pleas, Ms. Miller eventually led me to a storage room. “It’s this one. He hasn’t let anyone clean it since before the New Year. It’s quite peculiar.” “Oh, Miss Thorne, even though Mr. Thorne probably wouldn’t mind, if he asks…” I nodded, made a zipping motion over my lips, and turned the doorknob. As I flipped the wall switch and the lights came on, my jaw dropped. The room was empty, save for a single safe sitting on a mahogany table. *This* is supposed to be the White Moonlight Shrine of Sorrows? I tried Julian Thorne’s and my best friend’s birthdays. No luck. That doesn’t make sense, does it? Could it be… my birthday? I tried it. *Click*. The safe… it actually opened! “What are you doing?” My entire body stiffened. I turned around to see Julian Thorne leaning against the doorframe, his expression unreadable. I swallowed hard. *Oh god, please don’t come closer, you’re terrifying!*
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