Julian Blackwood was a name whispered in fear across the city’s underworld. The night before he was set to finally leave that life behind and marry me, Isabella Hayes, I stumbled upon a phone in his closet I’d never seen before. The wallpaper showed a sweet-faced girl. No suspicious messages, no explicit photos – nothing overtly intimate. I wasn’t about to play dumb. I slammed the phone down in front of him, my voice shaking with rage. Julian didn’t say a word, didn’t try to soothe me. He stayed in his study all night, only walking into the bedroom as dawn broke. He pulled me into a hug. “She’s someone I owe a debt to, a debt I can never truly repay. That’s all there is to it.” Twelve years we’d been together, through hell and high water, from a life of danger to finally finding some peace. And he expected me to just let go, based on a few innocent-looking chat logs? No way. The next day, I tied his tie for him and let the wedding proceed as planned. But just as we were about to exchange rings, one of his men burst in. “Mr. Blackwood! Chloe Davies knows you’re getting married… she jumped!” My hand froze in mid-air. Julian, without a single backward glance, spun around and rushed out. My eyes burned with tears as I screamed after him: “You step out that door today, and you’ll never see me again!” He hesitated for a split second, then left, his back a cold, unyielding wall between us. … My hands trembled as I stared at the chat logs on the phone, my wet hair clinging to my cheeks. I scrolled through every single message. Not one was overtly intimate. Just mundane good mornings and good nights, daily shares, an occasional song recommendation. My wet hair and tears dripped onto the screen as I tortured myself, re-reading every single message. It wasn’t until Julian walked into the study and gently pulled me into his arms. “What are you looking at? Why didn’t you dry your hair after your shower?” “Want me to do it for you?” Before all this, I would have dragged the girl out, thrown her in front of Julian, publicly exposed his infidelity, and then, completely unburdened, told him I never wanted to see him again. But now, I’d spent twelve years by his side, helped him leave his dangerous life, finally putting an end to those tumultuous, uncertain days. Tomorrow was my long-awaited wedding day. Trembling, I handed the phone to Julian. He didn’t offer a single word of explanation. Instead, he just slowly wiped away the tear stains from the girl’s face on the screen, then walked out of the room without a backward glance. He didn’t return until dawn the next day, slowly stepping into the study, reeking of the familiar scent of stale cigarettes. Julian’s voice was hoarse. “Her father died protecting me. His dying wish was for me to look after Chloe.” “I admit, I felt a deep sense of pity for her, a responsibility.” My heart felt like it was being squeezed in a vice, every breath a fresh stab of pain. Julian held me in a desperate, bone-crushing embrace, his searing hot tears soaking into my back. “But Bella, we’ve been through too much to just give up now. I promise you, I’ll keep my distance from her from now on.” Twelve years. He had already become an inseparable part of my life. I choked back the agonizing pain and chose to forgive him. But now, the wedding was at its most crucial part—the exchange of rings. Just as he was about to slide the ring onto my finger… He casually tossed the ring to the floor because of one panicked sentence from his subordinate. The wedding instantly dissolved into chaos. He left me there, humiliated and abandoned, without a moment’s thought. He had broken his word after all. 2 The guests’ hushed whispers were like a thousand tiny needles, pricking at my heart, over and over. Both sets of parents rushed to my side, looking utterly bewildered. Jason, Julian’s right-hand man, stood awkwardly to the side, his face bright red, completely lost. “Bella, Mr. Blackwood was set up by some old rivals. Chloe was alone at the villa, and only Mr. Blackwood could sort it out. He had no choice…” Jason had been with Julian for ten years, always greeting me warmly as “Boss’s wife.” But now, his eyes darted nervously, and his words stumbled out. I wondered how many secrets he’d kept about Julian and Chloe. Perhaps, from the very beginning, I was the only fool kept in the dark. I numbly picked up the ring from the floor. My parents quickly came to embrace me. “What on earth happened? Who could possibly be more important than you today? Did he just leave you here alone?” Mr. Blackwood Sr. anxiously called Julian, while Mrs. Blackwood Sr.’s eyes turned red with guilt. “Bella, this is that ungrateful son’s fault! I’ll make him come back and apologize to you right now!” I clutched the diamond ring so tightly it cut into my palm. I stared blankly at my bleeding hand. It was already a bloody mess. My dream wedding, fantasized countless times, had turned into this humiliating disaster. Eight long hours, 199 missed calls. Julian answered none of them. Suddenly, I felt dizzy, and the last thing I heard was my mother’s frantic cry. When I opened my eyes again, the pungent smell of disinfectant hit my nose. A nurse was changing my IV drip. Seeing I was awake, she gently said: “You’re two months pregnant. You need to manage your emotions carefully; don’t let it affect the baby.” I gave a bitter smile, watching both sets of parents struggle to hide their excitement. Tears silently streamed down my temples. At ten that night, Julian, who had been missing for eight hours, finally appeared. A flicker of guilt crossed his eyes. Julian’s parents, standing at the doorway, solemnly urged him to explain himself to me, to apologize properly. Julian knelt beside the bed, holding my cold hand, his voice raspy. “Canceling the wedding was a mutual decision, Bella. It has nothing to do with Chloe.” “She’s not like you, Bella. You forged a strong heart surviving that life. She’s never been through any of that. Chloe just woke up, we can’t upset her anymore.” His true priorities, his raw instincts, always showed first. In the first moment he saw me, he didn’t ask about my bloodied hand, nor did he mention leaving me alone to face the chaotic mess. His words were entirely focused on protecting Chloe. Tears rolled down my pale cheeks, landing heavily on the back of his hand. In twelve years, I could count on one hand the times I’d cried in front of him. I mustered every ounce of my remaining strength and nodded. He visibly relaxed. “Chloe’s very emotional right now. We’re postponing the wedding.” “She’s always depended on me. I need to stay by her side for a while. In three months, we’ll have a makeup ceremony in Switzerland, like we always wanted.” Julian’s words weren’t a question; my opinion clearly didn’t matter. I had waited twelve years; what was another three months? But then I thought of the cherished photos in my safe, and suddenly, I felt it wasn’t worth waiting anymore. I slowly caressed my lower abdomen. This was the child we had so longed for, but now, it felt like he had nothing to do with it. I pulled my hand free, wincing from the pain, my voice calm. “Julian Blackwood, when I first met you, I was just as innocent and clueless as her.” “I remember the first time you taught me to hold a gun, how I trembled all over. You held me close, whispered reassurances until I felt safe.” “I remember, to mark our love, you tattooed our initials onto my hip with your own hands. That night, you kissed it, and me, over and over.” “These years, you shaped me, made me who I am – from a sheltered girl to a woman who could stand her ground. You promised you’d always love the strong, passionate woman I’d become.” “Through all the turmoil of these twelve years, I never felt it was hard, because we were in love.” I buried my face in my hands, helpless, letting tears seep through my fingers. “But today, I suddenly feel… you don’t love me anymore…” Twelve years of memories flashed before my eyes in a whirlwind; we had been through so much. Julian’s eyes, for once, welled up. He sighed deeply. “She’s the complete opposite of you, Bella. She needs my protection so much more.” That sentence utterly shattered the last shred of hope I had. I suddenly laughed, tears streaming down my face. “Then you take good care of her.” He lightly kissed the top of my head, then turned and walked away without a backward glance. 3 On the day I was discharged from the hospital, I saw them both at the nurses’ station. Julian, usually so cold, gazed with pure tenderness at the girl in his arms. She was frail, dressed in a hospital gown, with big, Bambi-like eyes and a cascade of dark hair. So this was the girl who made him abandon me at our wedding. My gaze must have been too intense, because her eyes, timid and wide, met mine nervously. She cautiously shifted behind Julian, gently clutching his pinky finger. Only then did Julian turn to look at me. He instantly rushed to my side, his voice edged with accusation. “I told you Chloe’s not like you, Bella! Are you deliberately trying to make a statement, to intimidate her?” Chloe, behind him, looked like her eyes were about to well up. “Sister, Julian and I really have nothing going on… You’re scaring me.” I tucked the pregnancy test results behind my back and offered a small, detached smile. “Nothing. I’m just getting discharged.” With that, I ignored them and turned to leave. A strange flicker crossed Julian’s eyes, and a sudden, inexplicable emptiness hit him. As I walked out of the hospital, he suddenly rushed after me and grabbed my hand. I instinctively looked down, and the first thing I noticed was a stain on the scarf he had bought me. I casually pulled it off, and he reached out to take it. “Give it to me, you love that scarf. I’ll send it for cleaning.” I ignored him completely, dropping the scarf straight into a trash can. “I’ve worn it for years; it’s just gotten… dirty. Time for a new one, you know I don’t like anything that’s not clean.” Julian’s hand froze in mid-air at my words. He knew I wasn’t just talking about the scarf, but our relationship. He opened his mouth as if to say more, but I had already turned and walked away. When I reached my doorstep, my phone vibrated. It was Julian. “I bought you that sweet pudding from the place downtown. Remember to drink it, don’t be mad.” Julian used to love bringing me this. Even if he had to wait in line for three hours. Holding that bowl of sweet pudding, my eyes suddenly stung. I took a bite, numbly. It was too sweet, sickeningly sweet. Over the next few days, Julian didn’t come home. But I heard through mutual friends that Chloe had caught a cold, and Julian hadn’t left her side. Ending a twelve-year relationship felt like ripping out a part of my soul. I looked at our meticulously decorated home, and my nose burned. I started packing all my belongings, memories washing over me like a tide. The year I met Julian, he lived a life on the edge. Two years later, he’d earned the respect—and fear—of most, and he handed me a Desert Eagle and a set of keys. “Bella, this gun proves my life is yours. I am yours. You’ll always be the lady of this house.” That day was cloudy and rainy, yet it felt warmer than the brightest sunshine. We ran wild in the rain, kissing with reckless abandon. I knew he didn’t want me to live a turbulent life; he wanted to give me a home. We designed every corner of our house together, with our own hands. We’d laugh, curled up on the sofa watching romantic movies. He helped me fill the balcony with the roses I loved. His cheeks were smudged with dirt, but his eyes sparkled like constellations. “Bella, I will always protect you, keep you vibrant and free, never fade, never wither.” But now I realized, this home no longer had a place for me. 4 The setting sun cast long, slanting shadows as I packed the last item into a storage box, three days later. When I called for a moving truck, both sets of parents showed up. I hadn’t told them about Julian’s infidelity, so they still couldn’t understand how people who had been together for so long could bear to separate. Mrs. Blackwood Sr. grabbed my suitcase, refusing to let go. “Bella, please give Julian another chance, okay?” “I’m sure he has a reason…” I ignored her, just told the movers to keep going. Just as Mrs. Blackwood Sr. was about to fall to her knees, begging me not to leave, Julian suddenly returned. And he brought Chloe with him. She wore Julian’s jacket, clutching his hand tightly. Mrs. Hayes stepped forward, trying to separate them. “Julian… who is this girl? Are you… How am I supposed to face your parents?!” Mr. Hayes trembled with rage. “You! What exactly do you think you’re doing!” Julian didn’t respond. His gaze landed on my suitcase, and he spoke calmly. “You’re going home?” He showed no other reaction, as if everything was under his control. He thought I was generous, generous enough to accept him bringing another girl home. I nodded lightly. “Yes, just going home for a bit.” Julian gave my hand a brief, dismissive squeeze. “Be careful. I’ll pick you up before the wedding.” He dismissed it so casually, then began to formally introduce Chloe. “This is Chloe Davies. Her father entrusted her to me on his deathbed. She’s been very emotional lately, so I’m looking after her for a while.” He sounded so matter-of-fact, as if absolutely nothing had happened between them. Chloe flashed a saccharine smile and handed Mrs. Hayes a bouquet. “Mrs. Hayes, Julian has been taking such good care of me. It’s all thanks to you and Mr. Blackwood Sr.’s wonderful upbringing.” “These are the flowers I picked for you, but next to you, they pale in comparison.” Mrs. Hayes’s face was a complicated mix of emotions. She slowly pushed the flowers back. Chloe’s face instantly crumpled into a wounded expression, and she looked up at Julian. “Julian, is Mrs. Hayes misunderstanding something…?” But then she turned her head, looking at me, her lips forming two silent words: *You lost.* She was right, I had lost. But I didn’t care anymore. I ignored her, turning to walk away. But the next second, Chloe let out a piercing scream. My eyes widened in shock, watching my mother shove Chloe to the ground and slap her across the face. “Mom… you…” My mother’s tears streamed down her jaw, her voice trembling. “You’re my daughter, how could I not know you?” “You’ve been with him since you were seventeen, for twelve whole years!” “Do you really think I didn’t know what Julian did? You got hurt for him, you put yourself in dangerous situations every day just so you wouldn’t hold him back… Unless it was a matter of fundamental betrayal, would you truly have been able to let him go?” “I accepted him because I thought he treated you well. But now? He brings another woman to our home, right to your face. I won’t stand for it! You don’t want to make a scene? I’ll do it for you!” My mother’s voice was low, but it vibrated with an undeniable authority. Chloe huddled in the corner, whimpering softly. Julian immediately pulled Chloe into his arms, his eyes bloodshot. “Isabella Hayes! I told you, don’t drag Chloe into this! She’s innocent!” I didn’t wait for him to finish. I slapped him several times across the face, then pulled out that Desert Eagle and pressed it against his forehead. “Julian Blackwood, *you’re* the one who deserves to die!” With that, I pulled a pregnancy test result from my bag and slapped it hard across his face. “Julian Blackwood, open your eyes and look at what this is!” 5 Julian picked up the paper, and as his eyes registered the words, he looked at me with an expression of pure disbelief. “Bella… I… I’m going to be a father?” He released the trembling Chloe from his embrace and strode towards me, opening his arms as if to pull me into a tight hug. “That’s wonderful! Bella! We’re having a baby! Why didn’t you tell me sooner!” His breath, smelling of his usual stale cigarettes, ghosted over my face, and for the first time, it made my stomach churn. The second before he touched me, I lurched back, avoiding him with every ounce of my strength. “Don’t touch me!” My voice was sharp and cold. “Julian Blackwood, who are you putting on this show for? Don’t you think it’s utterly pathetic?” His outstretched hands froze in mid-air, the wild joy on his face instantly replaced by hurt and confusion. “Bella, what are you talking about? We’re having a baby! We’ve waited so long for this!” I laughed, a bitter, empty laugh, as if I’d heard the funniest joke, tears welling up in my eyes. “Do you even have the right to say ‘we’? When you left me alone at our wedding, did ‘we’ even cross your mind?” My words were like ice-cold blades, plunging deep into his heart. Chloe, whom he had cast aside, was now crying her eyes out, tears streaming down her face. She clutched his jacket, as if it were her only lifeline. She sobbed, inching closer to Julian. “Julian, I’m so sorry… It’s all my fault… I shouldn’t have come and disturbed you.” As she spoke, she forcefully pushed the jacket back into Julian’s hands, shaking her head as she cried. “Sister is pregnant; it’s wonderful news. I shouldn’t be here making her angry… Take this jacket back, thank you for taking care of me these past few days.” “I… I won’t bother you anymore.” Every word she spoke was meant to absolve herself, yet every word was also a subtle reminder to Julian of how understanding, how wronged, she was. Sure enough, Julian’s expression instantly changed. He unconsciously tightened his grip on the jacket, his gaze at Chloe filled with guilt and heartache. He looked at my cold face, then back at Chloe’s resolute, tearful figure already at the doorway, clutching the frame. The conflict in his eyes was almost palpable. He finally called out to Chloe. “Stop right there!” I watched it all unfold, the last flicker of warmth in my heart vanishing completely. I spoke calmly, interrupting their sickening emotional tug-of-war. “Do you actually think that with this baby, everything you’ve done can just be wiped clean?” He turned back to me, his explanation rushed. “Bella, I didn’t mean that! I just…” Fine beads of sweat broke out on his forehead, his lips pressed into a tight, grim line. He looked at my unyielding eyes, then glanced back at Chloe, sobbing uncontrollably at the doorframe. Chloe’s sobs were soft, but they were like a needle, precisely piercing his fragile sense of responsibility. Finally, he gave me a deep, complicated look, one I couldn’t decipher. There was pain, reluctance, but more than anything, a helpless, resigned compromise. He uttered words I would never forget. “Bella, just calm down for a moment.” “Chloe’s very fragile right now, I’m scared she might do something stupid. I just need to check on her, I’ll be right back. The baby… we’ll talk about the baby when I return.” With that, he didn’t even dare to meet my eyes again. He clutched the jacket in his hand and rushed out, without a backward glance. ***截断点*** In that moment, I laughed. A bitter, empty laugh. My heart was utterly broken, completely resigned. Twelve years of love, it was all just a cruel joke. 6 I went back to my parents’ house.
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