I married a CEO wife who looked more alluring in her power suits than out of them. I thought I’d be living out my fantasies of a powerful woman in charge. But three months into our marriage, every time I got her into bed, just as things were heating up, Celeste would get a call from her deceased first love’s younger brother, Liam Reed, and just leave. Ever since her first love passed away, Celeste had poured all her attention and care into Liam. For seven years of our relationship, if Liam needed her, Celeste would leave without a second thought, abandoning me. Sometimes, I’d wonder who her real husband was: me or Liam. Even worse, Celeste and I had been married for years, but the outside world still didn’t know I was the husband of CEO Celeste Vance. She always claimed it wasn’t the right time to announce our marriage, always told me to just “wait a little longer.” Three months ago, Celeste finally promised me the grandest wedding. I was ecstatic, thrilled that she was finally willing to acknowledge our marriage and introduce me to everyone. But I waited for three months, only to see Celeste propose to Liam, and it went viral. Celeste explained that Liam was a celebrity, and he needed her to pull a stunt for him to grab public attention. Watching Liam look so overwhelmed by Celeste’s lavish proposal that he couldn’t speak, the last shred of hesitation in my heart shattered. I turned and made a call: “I’ve made up my decision. I’m going to study abroad in the UK.” And then, I’d finally cut ties with Celeste for good. That evening, the head of the education agency gave me some long-awaited good news. “Mr. Thorne, hello!” “Congratulations! Your study abroad application has been approved. Our agency will handle all subsequent arrangements. In one month, you can simply register at the school.” A faint smile touched my lips. This was the only thing worth celebrating in a long time. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, I hung up. Turning around, I saw a woman standing behind me. It was my wife, in name only—Celeste Vance. “Who were you just talking to? What school? What time?” She started with an interrogation, her tone icy, her expression displeased. I deflected, “Nothing, just chatting with the kids at the orphanage about school. Do you need something?” Her brows furrowed slightly, and her gaze grew deeper, as if she were scrutinizing the truth of my words. “Nothing major. I just came to tell you that what Liam and I did today was just a rehearsal. He’s still young, don’t hold it against him.” Rehearsal? I couldn’t help but scoff aloud. “A rehearsal in front of so many people, with media reporters and live streams? Do you really expect me to believe that?” “Julian Thorne, I’m here to explain this to you now, and I’ll only say it once. You’d better recognize your place and stop looking for trouble.” Celeste’s voice suddenly turned cold, and her expression grew stern. Her words were like a sharp knife, piercing my heart without warning. I suppressed the pain and met Celeste’s gaze. Celeste visibly flinched, a flicker of panic in her eyes. Perhaps she had never seen me look at her with such an expression before. Calm, numb, devoid of any emotion. But Celeste, accustomed to being in charge for so long, quickly masked her reaction, as if nothing had happened. Perhaps seeing my silence, Celeste surprisingly softened her tone. She approached me, gently took my hand, and said with a sigh, “Julian, why do you have to be so difficult with Liam? He’s still so young, and as a public figure, he needs the exposure and buzz.” “This rehearsal, although a bit…” Celeste paused, seemingly searching for the right words. As Celeste racked her brain for how to defend Liam in front of me, I pulled my hand away. “You yourself know how inappropriate your actions were. Our wedding was supposed to be *ours*, but you turned it into a stage for him. You’re truly generous.” “As for saying he’s young, don’t forget he’s only a year younger than us.” With that, under Celeste’s stunned gaze, I turned and went back to my room. Moments later, I heard the door close from outside. I knew Celeste had left. As for where she went, I didn’t even need to think to know the answer: to her “younger brother,” Liam Reed. Liam Reed was the younger brother of Celeste’s deceased first love. On his deathbed, her first love’s biggest concern was his brother, so he asked Celeste to look after him. That “looking after” had lasted nine years. Celeste and I dated for seven years, and Liam Reed was a constant presence between us for all seven of them. In the beginning, it wasn’t so bad. Liam was a trainee overseas, rarely coming back, mostly just calling. But ever since his team disbanded and he returned, he completely inserted himself into our relationship. Anytime Liam needed her, Celeste would leave without hesitation, abandoning me. At first, she would explain, saying Liam had just returned, wasn’t familiar with things here, and had no friends, so as his “sister,” she naturally had to look out for him. But as it happened more often, she stopped explaining. After countless times of being forced to choose and then abandoned, I lost all expectation for Celeste. Still, I never imagined that the wedding I’d waited three months for would end with Celeste proposing to Liam instead. In hindsight, there had always been signs. Liam’s eyes were always filled with utter contempt and disdain, and he often mocked me directly to my face. Then he’d put on an innocent act, claiming he was just “direct and honest” and hoped I wouldn’t get mad. And Celeste would always side with him, comforting Liam while ordering me to apologize, accusing me of being petty and making him feel guilty. But thankfully, my study abroad application had been approved. I would be leaving this place soon. After that, whatever they chose to do, it wouldn’t concern me anymore. As for my love for Celeste, it had already vanished with that sham proposal. Celeste seemed to know that the proposal had upset me. Today, she actually came specifically to find me, suggesting we go out shopping. I thought about it; I would be going abroad soon and did need to buy some things. We left together, driving to the downtown mall. On the way, Celeste glanced at me in the passenger seat while she drove. I just leaned back, propping my chin with one hand, my eyes fixed on the constantly receding scenery outside the window. “Let’s have a good day out. You haven’t left the house in a while, have you?” “Hmm.” My attitude was cold. I didn’t even spare her a glance. At the mall entrance, Celeste reached out to take my hand, but I deftly avoided her. I looked at her sideways, my face expressionless, and said, “Too many people outside. It’s not appropriate, not after yesterday’s news.” With that, I strode in. I hadn’t walked far when Celeste quickly caught up, grabbing my hand forcefully. My body instantly froze. I turned, looking at her with shock. “What are you doing? Let go!” I tried to shake her hand off, but she held on tight, making it impossible to break free. “You’re my husband. What’s wrong with me holding your hand?” “Yesterday’s trending topic is still online, and your face is constantly plastered across business magazines. Plenty of people recognize you.” “You proposed to Liam and went viral yesterday, and today you’re holding my hand and strolling through the mall? Are you really not afraid of being dragged online?” Celeste initially froze, then seemed to understand something. A smile touched her lips, and a hint of delight entered her eyes. “You’re jealous, aren’t you?” I closed my eyes, fighting the urge to roll them. After a moment, I said, “I just don’t want to be called a homewrecker. You two are too ostentatious. I don’t deserve to stand next to you.” With that, I forcefully pried her hand off my wrist with my other hand, without any thought of her beauty. “Julian Thorne, stop.” I paused, turning to face the woman behind me. Her face was composed, her waist-length hair styled in loose waves draped casually over her shoulders. A black bodycon mini-dress perfectly showcased her figure. Now, angered, her eyes held a hint of fury, and her voice unconsciously deepened. “Julian Thorne, if I deal with the trending topic, will you let me hold your hand?” I opened my mouth, but before I could answer, she already had her phone out, making a call. “Hello, Mr. Davison, take down the trending topic about Liam and me immediately, then clarify our relationship.” Mr. Davison on the other end sounded a bit confused. “But… Ms. Vance, what is your relationship with Mr. Reed?” I sneered inwardly. No wonder Mr. Davison was confused. Celeste had just proposed to Liam yesterday, and today she wanted to clarify? Anyone would be puzzled. “Friends. Brother.” With that, Celeste hung up. When her eyes met my complex and disgusted gaze, Celeste froze completely. But I didn’t want to get tangled up with Celeste. I was out for a reason today. Going abroad for studies, I needed to have all the essentials ready. Whatever I could take with me now meant less money I’d have to spend over there. As I was picking out clothes, Celeste’s phone, which was with me, rang. Caller ID: Liam! With a cute little emoji next to it. “Hello? What’s wrong?” The person on the other end began to sob. “Celeste, did you take down the trending topic?” Celeste softly hummed in affirmation. The next second, Liam’s wails came through the phone directly. Even several feet away from Celeste, I could hear him crying. Celeste hurriedly comforted him for a while, promising to buy him a gift before he finally calmed down. Then, she told Liam that she was currently out shopping with me. Hearing that, Liam immediately hung up and rushed over with surprising speed. In less than half an hour, he appeared before me. I was also startled, not expecting Liam to follow. Seeing that I wasn’t acknowledging him, Liam casually stepped forward and explained, “Julian, are you picking out clothes?” “Shouldn’t we just stay home and have these brands send stuff over? Then just keep what you like. Doesn’t Julian know about this service?” With that, he gasped dramatically, covering his mouth. “Oops, I forgot Julian came from the orphanage. You probably wouldn’t know about such luxuries.” “But it’s okay, Julian! If you see any brand you like, just tell me. I’ll have someone deliver it, or you can send me your size. I have brand sponsorships, so if anything suitable comes up, I’ll save it for you.” Celeste stood beside him, a faint smile on her face, her eyes fixed on Liam without blinking. “No thanks. I prefer to choose things myself.” The next second, Liam looked at Celeste with a wronged expression, timidly saying, “Celeste, did I say something wrong to upset Julian? He’s looking at me so fiercely.” I ignored him and went straight to the next store. Soon, Celeste quickly caught up, grabbing me forcefully, her voice icy. “Julian Thorne, apologize to Liam, now.” She had long nails from her manicure, and with her grip, they dug directly into my flesh. I shoved her hand away and looked at my arm. Sure enough, there were several bloody marks. I raised my eyes to the two of them, my face grim. “Apologize? Why on earth should I apologize to him?” Celeste also noticed the marks on my arm, and her lips parted slightly. I thought she would ask about my injury, but the next moment, I heard her say: “Why? Liam was kindly concerned about you, and not only did you not appreciate it, but you also said hurtful things. Shouldn’t you apologize to him?” Though it wasn’t the first time I’d heard Celeste’s blatant favoritism towards Liam, hearing it now still brought a pang of sadness. But thankfully, I was used to such things, and the brief sorrow quickly faded. “First, I was picking out things I liked, and I didn’t listen to a word he said. Second, he’s constantly buzzing around me, and it’s incredibly annoying. Whether he’s being sincere or not, his behavior is rude when unwanted.” “I was already being incredibly restrained, considering he’s a celebrity, by not telling him to get lost. So you can tell him to stay away from me and get some common sense.” With that, I turned and walked away, ignoring their mortified expressions. I was out today to buy things I needed. Clothes, daily necessities, electronics, medicine… Most importantly, various seasonings. Because there were many foods I couldn’t get used to, I felt it would be more convenient to cook for myself while studying abroad. Thinking of this, I even bought a cookbook. By the time I got home, Celeste had already arrived. Seeing Celeste sitting on the sofa as I entered, I paused. I thought she wouldn’t come back today, that she’d be with her “dear brother.” Hearing the noise at the door, Celeste turned to look. Seeing me carrying various bags, her already displeased expression grew even more annoyed. “Why are you only coming back now?” I put down my things, organizing them as I replied, “You can see for yourself, I was out shopping.” Hearing my answer, Celeste walked over and took a look. Her eyes immediately landed on the cookbook at the top. Who knows what she thought, but her expression softened a bit, and her tone became gentler. “Alright, you must be tired after shopping all day. If you need anything else in the future, just tell the staff, and they’ll get it for you.” My hands, busy tidying, paused slightly. I just felt Celeste was an incredibly contradictory woman. Today, she was the one who said she’d take me out, but then she abandoned me halfway through for Liam. Now, after I went shopping alone and came back, she was telling me to have others get what I need. And given my position in the Vance household, who exactly would listen to me? All these years in the Vance family, I was superficially her boyfriend, her future husband. But in reality, my life was worse than that of a hired hand. Everyone treated me poorly. Everyone, openly and subtly, whispered that I wasn’t good enough for Celeste, claiming if I hadn’t spent those few years with Celeste when we were kids, I’d never have a shot at a family like the Vances. At first, I was upset. It was true that I stayed with the Vance family because of Celeste, but it wasn’t because I shamelessly clung to them, as people claimed. Celeste was the one who begged me to stay. Yet, once I did stay, Celeste became incredibly distant, giving everyone the impression that I was clinging to her and the Vance family. Gradually, I became numb. After growing accustomed to their cold stares and taunts, I stopped appearing in front of others. Except for essential outings, I spent my days confined to my bedroom. Seeing that I didn’t want to talk, Celeste said nothing more. She reached out, picked up the cookbook, and casually flipped through it. “Julian, I suddenly have a craving for your cooking. Will you make me dinner tonight, please?” I turned to Celeste. Her expression seemed genuine, and there was a hint of expectation in her eyes. After a few seconds of thought, I softly agreed. “Okay. What do you want to eat? I’ll make it.” Celeste shook her head slightly. “Nothing in particular. Anything you make will be fine.” Her words instantly pulled my thoughts back to a long, long time ago. I was an orphan; Celeste was the heiress to the Vance empire. But when Celeste was little, she was maliciously abducted by people from a rival company. After several transfers, she ended up at the orphanage where I lived. We lived together for three years. From when I was seven until I was ten. Later, the Vance family found her and took her away. After learning about the orphanage’s situation, they generously funded all the children there. We met again the year I graduated high school. All the children from our batch had gotten into good universities. We collectively wrote a thank-you letter and sent it to the Vance family. Mr. Vance, a businessman, valued his reputation. How could he not boast about such a good deed? Later, at a Vance family banquet, I, as the orphanage representative, went on stage to express our gratitude to the Vance family. After I stepped down, Celeste approached me. That’s when I realized the woman in front of me was the little girl who had followed me everywhere, calling me “Star brother” for three years. Later, when we became a couple, I often cooked for her. Then, Celeste became increasingly busy. We rarely even saw each other, let alone had the chance for me to cook for her. I finished tidying up and went into the kitchen. In less than an hour, I had prepared a table full of delicious food. Celeste looked at the dishes on the table, a smile on her face. “It’s been so long since I’ve had your cooking.” I smiled back and served her a piece of fish. But before she could eat much, Celeste’s phone rang. Liam’s choked voice came through the phone. “Celeste, I fell while dancing and hurt myself. Can you come see me?” Hearing that, Celeste immediately got up and left, not sparing me a single glance. The door closed. I looked at the food on the table, suddenly losing my appetite. I gave a bitter laugh. I knew exactly what kind of person Celeste was, yet I still obediently listened to her. Celeste disappeared for a week straight. During that week, I wasn’t idle. I prepared all the necessary documents for going abroad. That night, just as I was getting ready to wash up and go to bed, the front door opened. I turned and saw Celeste entering, supporting Liam. Liam looked at me, smiling, “Julian, hello.” I didn’t speak, instead letting my gaze fall on Liam’s bandaged foot. Noticing my stare, Liam explained, “I accidentally twisted my ankle dancing a few days ago. I’m all alone at my place, so I asked Celeste to bring me back here.” “Julian, you’re not mad, are you? If you are, I’ll leave right away.” Before I could even open my mouth, Celeste spoke, “He won’t be. Anyway, it’s usually just him and me here most of the time. It’ll be livelier with you around.” As she spoke, Celeste looked up at me, her eyes full of warning. If this had been before, if Celeste had brought Liam home and said he was staying, I definitely would have been furious. But now… I wasn’t. A faint smile on my face, I looked at the two of them and said, “No, not at all. There are plenty of empty rooms. Make yourself at home.” Liam choked, seemingly surprised that I was so generous this time, and that I even smiled at him. After all, in the past, when he saw me, I either ignored him or rolled my eyes. “Thank you, Julian! But could you do me a favor and get my luggage? It’s still in the trunk of the car.” I nodded slightly and walked out the door. When I returned with his suitcase, I saw Liam sitting on the sofa, with Celeste peeling an apple for him. “Thanks, Julian.” Liam enjoyed Celeste’s service, mouthing his thanks to me, but his eyes were full of provocation and smugness. I ignored him completely, put his luggage in the living room, and went back to my bedroom. That night, Celeste didn’t come into our room, which allowed me to get a good night’s sleep. The next morning, when I woke up, I found that Celeste hadn’t gone to the company today. Liam sat beside her, very close, chatting animatedly, both with faint smiles on their faces. Seeing me, Celeste’s smile faded, and she said, “I’ll be away on a business trip for a few days. Please take good care of Liam at home. Don’t bully him, okay?” Bully him? I couldn’t help but find it amusing and asked, “Why do you think I would bully him?” Celeste’s expression stiffened. To be honest, she didn’t know why either. But she subconsciously felt I might bully Liam. After all, I hadn’t been fond of him for a long time. “Celeste, Julian isn’t like that. He wouldn’t just bully anyone.” I raised an eyebrow at the man who spoke. This guy, true to his celebrity background, was a master manipulator, always twisting words. One sentence implied I wasn’t that kind of person, the next hinted that I *was* capable of bullying, and not just casually. “Then you two should use this opportunity to get along for a few days.” Celeste stood up, preparing to leave, but I stopped her. “Wait!” I called out, “You should find someone reliable and trustworthy to look after him instead. I’m planning a visit back to the orphanage. Mrs. Albright isn’t well, and I want to see her.” At the mention of Mrs. Albright, Celeste also seemed touched. She knew Mrs. Albright wasn’t well, an old ailment from years of hard work that couldn’t be cured, only managed with rest. Liam looked a bit anxious. He had planned to use this opportunity to cause trouble and torment me, then accuse me when Celeste returned. Now that I was leaving, all his tricks were useless. I saw all his subtle expressions. I also knew that guy would definitely stir up trouble when Celeste was gone, and Celeste would definitely side with him. I just wanted a bit of peace in my last month. If I couldn’t fight him, I could at least avoid him. Besides, I really did want to visit Mrs. Albright and the kids at the orphanage before I left. Celeste and I left the house at the same time. One heading north, to the airport. The other south, to the orphanage. On the way, I didn’t forget to buy some supplements, toys, clothes, and school supplies for the kids. Every time I returned to the orphanage, I felt a sense of peace. It felt like the safest place, the place where I belonged most. Seeing me appear, a group of children in the yard gathered around, all shouting, “Julian!” Every time I saw these children’s smiling faces and heard their innocent voices, I felt happy. I distributed the items I had bought, then briefly asked about their health, daily lives, and studies before going to see Mrs. Albright. Mrs. Albright was sixty-three this year, and her frame was a little stooped. When I pushed the door open, she was organizing the children’s files. “Julian, why are you here?” “Mrs. Albright, I came to visit you and the children.” She pulled my hand and sat me down, examining me for a long time. “Oh, you’ve gotten thin. Are you not eating properly again?” Sure enough, the person who cared about me most in this world was Mrs. Albright. But to keep her from worrying, I made up a casual excuse and quickly changed the subject. I asked, “Were you organizing the children’s files just now?” “Yes, I always review their annual check-up reports. If anyone isn’t feeling well, we need to treat them early.” Talking about the children, Mrs. Albright had endless stories, as if showing off her treasures. My eyes grew a little moist. Mrs. Albright had dedicated her entire life to the orphanage and its children. After a few more minutes of chatting, I spoke. “Mrs. Albright, I plan to stay here for a few days.” Hearing that, she looked at me with a hint of suspicion. “What’s wrong? Did you have a fight with Celeste?” I shook my head, explaining, “No, it’s not that. I’m going to study abroad soon and might not be back for several years. I came to spend some extra time with you and the children.” “What about you and Celeste? Aren’t you two getting married?” I took a deep breath, trying to suppress the bitterness in my heart, and said, “Celeste and I won’t be getting married.” At those words, Mrs. Albright instantly understood. She let out a long sigh, saying resignedly, “As I expected. I knew back then you two wouldn’t last. It wasn’t about your differing backgrounds, but your personalities weren’t suited for each other.” “Most importantly, I felt she didn’t love you that much. Otherwise, she would have come back with you, and there would have been pictures of you two together online.” I lowered my head, the grief in my heart spreading once more. So, her not loving me was that obvious, obvious enough for everyone around to see. It was true. If Celeste really loved me, I wouldn’t have been subjected to the staff’s cold stares and disdain; she wouldn’t have ignored me when I was ridiculed and framed; and she certainly wouldn’t have been so ambiguous with another man. I rested my head on Mrs. Albright’s shoulder, all my grievances pouring out at that moment. She gently patted my back, just as a mother would soothe a child to sleep, with tenderness and patience. “It’s okay. Everything will be fine. My Julian is so kind, so capable; he’ll definitely find someone who loves him even more.” I don’t know how long passed before I stopped sobbing. I awkwardly touched my nose. “Sorry, to make you laugh.” “Nonsense. I watched you grow up. Don’t you think I know what kind of person you are? If you weren’t truly wronged, why would you cry like this?” I didn’t want to continue the conversation, so I stood up and said I’d go check on the children. Watching my retreating back, Mrs. Albright let out a long sigh. On my seventh day at the orphanage, I received a call from Celeste. “Where are you? Why aren’t you coming back?” she asked. “Orphanage. I’ll be back tomorrow.” Getting the answer she wanted, she hung up. That night, I scrolled through Liam Reed’s new Ins post. It turned out Celeste had returned, brought him gifts, and he was showing them off. The next day, as I packed my things, preparing to leave, I found Mrs. Albright and all the children gathered. I understood; Mrs. Albright must have told the children about my going abroad. I’m not one for sentimental goodbyes. I walked up, hugged everyone, said a few words of blessing, and then got into the car and left. When I arrived home, I immediately noticed something was off. The walls were covered with Liam Reed’s posters and many decorations. In the center, ribbons and balloons formed a huge heart. Meeting Liam’s gaze, a hint of disdain flashed across his face before he replaced it with a gentle smile. “Julian, you’re back! It’s my birthday today, and Celeste asked me to invite friends over to celebrate. You don’t mind, do you?” So that was it. No wonder such a grand display. I walked in expressionless, glancing around. Many items that belonged to me, or that Celeste and I shared memories of, were gone. It wasn’t hard to guess Liam had done this, but the fact he dared to meant Celeste, to some extent, supported him. I suddenly remembered Celeste’s call yesterday was after ten at night. That meant she returned then and found I wasn’t there. Her urgency to get back must have been to help Liam celebrate his birthday. “It’s beautifully decorated. Happy birthday.” With that, regardless of his expression, I went straight back to my bedroom. Entering the room, I found many of my belongings missing. The bed clearly showed signs of having been slept in. Even the photo of Celeste and me on the bedroom wall was gone. Liam followed me in, boasting, “Oh, Julian, I forgot to tell you. While you were away these past few days, I stayed in this room.” I turned to him, my eyes filled with disgust and repulsion. This guy, was he not repulsed by himself? So eager to be the third wheel? Seeing me finally display the expression he wanted, Liam was almost delirious with joy. But outwardly, he still put on a tearful, wronged act. “Julian, are you… are you mad? I’m so sorry, truly sorry…” He couldn’t even finish a sentence before tears started to fall. “Julian, if you mind, I’ll move out right away. Please don’t argue with Celeste because of me, I…” “What’s wrong? What did you do to upset Liam now?” Hearing the crying, Celeste rushed over, immediately pulling him into her arms and hiding him behind her. “No, Julian didn’t upset me, Celeste. You’ve misunderstood Julian.” Liam spoke in a small, wronged voice, “It’s because I took Julian’s room, that’s why he’s mad.” Hearing that, how could Celeste not understand? She first calmly and gently comforted Liam, then finally looked at me. But in the blink of an eye, her gaze had shifted from tender concern to cold indifference. “I told Liam to stay here. Anyway, you weren’t around, and the room was empty. This one gets good light and ventilation, and Liam’s ankle was still injured, so I told him to stay here to recover.” She said a lot, all of it defending Liam, taking the blame upon herself. I wasn’t an idiot; how could I not see through it? But if they wanted to act, I didn’t mind playing along. “So, you two slept together?” “Julian Thorne!” Celeste roared, looking at me as if I were dead. “I’ll say it again: I only see Liam as a brother. If you dare to spout such nonsense again, don’t blame me for turning ruthless.” So, in these seven years, she hadn’t *really* turned ruthless yet. For a split second, I actually wanted to see her truly ruthless. “This is the room we shared after we got married. This is our wedding bed. You bring him into our home, put him in our bed, and you expect me to believe you?” Hearing that, Celeste’s body stiffened abruptly. She seemed to have forgotten this was *our* marital home. Celeste knew I was an orphan, and she knew I longed for a home and family of my own. So, from the very beginning, she had told me, “We’ll be together forever, we’ll have our own home, and we’ll have our own children!” She had said it with such conviction then, but now, seven years later, it felt like she’d given me nothing at all. She instinctively wanted to explain but didn’t know how. But before she could think of anything, the person behind her reacted first. Liam suddenly dropped to his knees, his knees hitting the floor with a dull thud. Liam sobbed uncontrollably, stammering out an explanation: “Julian, you’ve misunderstood Celeste and me. Celeste and I have no romantic relationship, truly nothing at all. Please don’t argue with Celeste because of me.” “I’m so sorry, truly sorry. I didn’t know this was your marital room, and I even slept in your marital bed. I’m truly sorry!” Celeste, having recovered her composure, frantically tried to pull Liam up, but he remained stubbornly on his knees. He even said that if I didn’t forgive him, he would stay kneeling indefinitely. Hearing this, Celeste again looked at me with fury. “Julian Thorne, what exactly do you want? Do you only feel happy when everyone else is miserable?” “Liam said he didn’t know. How can you, a grown man, be so petty? Can’t you be a little more generous? You’re constantly jealous of others. Whenever a man comes near me, you act like you want to kill them.” “I thought we knew each other, but you’re truly disgusting.” Even though I no longer loved Celeste, having someone I once deeply loved say such things about me for another person still brought a searing pain to my chest. “Fine, then I’ll grant your wish. I’ll leave!” With that, I quickly packed my things and left the place I once dreamed would be my home, without looking back. On the day of my departure, I was checking the items I needed to take with me. After confirming nothing was overlooked, I closed my suitcase again. I checked the time: 9 AM. My flight was scheduled for 3 PM. If all went well, it would be daytime when I landed in the UK. Thinking I still had some time, I decided to order some food, eat, and play some games to relax. The thought of finally leaving this city made me happy, increasingly so. But before three minutes of joy could pass, a sudden phone call shattered my peace. I frowned in disgust at the repeatedly flashing contact name on my phone. After a moment’s thought, I hung up. The next second, Celeste’s call came in again. Knowing Celeste, if I didn’t answer, she would keep calling until I did. Even if I turned off my phone and hid, with Celeste’s resources, finding me would be a matter of minutes. I couldn’t mess things up at this crucial moment, so, steeling myself, I answered. “Where are you?” No contact for over ten days, and now she calls, pretending to care. She really knew how to pick her timing. I suppressed my irritation and countered, “Is there something you need?” “Have you forgotten what day it is today?” The person on the other end seemed shocked by my reply, her tone shifting from brief surprise to irritation. I glanced at the date on my phone and muttered, “I don’t know what you’re talking about. If you don’t need anything, I’m hanging up.” “Wait!” Celeste’s anxious voice came through the receiver, accompanied by a faint crackle. “Have you really forgotten, or are you just playing games?” Not waiting for my reply, Celeste reminded me, “It’s our seventh anniversary today. Where are you? I’ll come pick you up.” Seventh anniversary! I pinched the bridge of my nose. I hadn’t realized I had been entangled with Celeste for seven years. Seven years, such a distant number. But I truly had forgotten our anniversary today. From the moment I decided to leave, nothing related to Celeste mattered to me anymore. So, forgetting this anniversary was entirely reasonable. What surprised me was that Celeste remembered, and even called to remind me. “No need. I’m a bit busy today. We can talk about it later when I have time.” As I spoke, I was about to hang up when an old voice came through the phone. “Julian, there’s a small banquet this afternoon. Aren’t you coming back?” The voice belonged to Mr. Vance Sr., the most respected person in the Vance family. In the seven years I was with Celeste, I didn’t have much contact with Mr. Vance Sr.; I’d barely seen him a few times. But Mr. Vance Sr. was arguably the only one in the Vance family who treated me decently. “Decently” might not be the most accurate word; it was more like “normally.” His attitude towards me was normal—neither close nor distant. He would smile when he saw me, chat a bit, ask about my recent situation, my life in the Vance home, and most importantly, about Celeste and my relationship. What surprised me was that Mr. Vance Sr. was with Celeste right now, talking about a family banquet. But I had never attended any so-called banquets. Why were they suddenly calling me now, out of nowhere? Could it be… had the Vance family caught wind of something? If they truly decided to intervene, I would never be able to leave this city. “Hello, Grandpa. I’m sorry, I have something I need to do and won’t be able to join you. I’ll make sure to visit you specially next time I have a chance. I hope you won’t mind then.” I thought I had phrased it politely enough that they wouldn’t insist. But the next second, I heard Celeste’s icy voice say, “I’ve sent you the location. Get over here immediately. Otherwise… I don’t mind sending people to bring you.” At her words, there was no mistaking it. I had to go to this family banquet, whether I wanted to or not. After a long silence, I took a deep breath, suppressing my annoyance, and said, “Alright, I’ll be there soon.” The call ended, and I immediately received Celeste’s location. Below it was another message: [Dress formally. Look good.] Helpless, I had no choice but to reopen my suitcase and pick out a light grey suit from my neatly packed clothes. Leaving the hotel, I hailed a cab to the Vance family estate. It was about half an hour later when I arrived. I couldn’t understand why these wealthy people insisted on living somewhere so remote and secluded, as if it made them unique. With a belly full of complaints, I followed a staff member inside. The Vance family estate was built into a hillside, vast and serene. After walking through a long corridor for ten minutes, I finally saw people. Upon closer inspection, I found Celeste actually standing at the entrance, as if waiting for someone. Seeing me, a faint smile touched Celeste’s usually icy face. Whether Celeste was too busy, too tired, or had simply changed her ways after ten-plus days, I couldn’t shake the feeling that she seemed different somehow. We didn’t speak after meeting. I quietly followed behind Celeste, constantly feeling her instinctively glance back at me. I didn’t understand what Celeste or the Vance family were up to, but since I was already here, I decided to just take things as they came. As I followed Celeste into the main hall of the estate, the bustling crowd inside instantly fell silent. Everyone was sizing me up next to Celeste, and I was observing them too. Some of these people I had seen before, others were completely unfamiliar faces. Beyond that, I was surprised to see Liam Reed was also here. Celeste first led me to greet Mr. Vance Sr. Mr. Vance Sr. smiled faintly when he saw me. He gently patted my shoulder and said with a smile, “You’re finally here.” I didn’t know what the old man meant, so I just nodded obediently. Noticing my tension, he said, “It’s alright, don’t be nervous. After today, you two can live your lives well. Everything is over.” Everything is over? I silently repeated the phrase, unsure what “over” meant in the old man’s words. About half an hour later, more people trickled in. At eleven o’clock, Celeste slowly walked onto a small stage. She cleared her throat, holding the microphone, and said, “Today is the Vance family banquet, and I’m delighted you could all attend.” “Today, I have two main announcements. The first is that, starting today, I officially take over the Vance Group.” “The second thing…” She paused, looking at me, a smile touching her lips. “Is to introduce someone very important to me.” She pointed at me, openly introducing my identity to everyone. “His name is Julian Thorne—Julian, from ‘justice,’ Thorne, from ‘thorn.’ He’s been my boyfriend for seven years, and he’s my future husband.” At those words, my scalp tingled. I could feel everyone’s curious, appraising gazes sweeping over me. I looked up at Celeste and found her looking at me too. In that instant, as our eyes met, I seemed to see a completely different Celeste. No, more accurately, the Celeste from my childhood—the warm girl who was full of affection for me, who used to sweetly call me “Star brother” as she followed me around. I didn’t know what had happened to Celeste in these past ten-plus days, but I just felt she was different. Seeing me in a daze, Celeste stepped down from the stage and walked towards me, stopping about a meter away. The next second, Celeste pulled out a small box from somewhere. She opened it, looking at me with sincere eyes, and said: “Julian Thorne, will you marry me?” In that moment, it felt like something exploded in my head. What was happening? How had things reached this point? What had happened in these past ten days? What had I missed? I froze for a brief moment, and before I could even think of how to answer, I heard a “thud.” Then, Liam Reed’s startled cry rang out. Everyone turned to look and saw Liam had, at some point, fallen into the swimming pool. Celeste instinctively ran towards Liam. Despite wearing high heels and a fitted gown that made movement difficult, she stumbled and scrambled, practically throwing herself towards Liam. Finally, she jumped into the water without hesitation and pulled him out. As everyone gathered to express concern for the two, I quietly turned and left, leaving behind a solitary, resolute figure. Later, everyone rushed them to the hospital, and the banquet ended in disarray. After leaving the Vance estate, I quickly hailed a cab to the hotel. Then, grabbing my suitcase, I headed straight to the airport. The moment I boarded the plane, my heart finally settled. I looked out the window, watching the place I had lived for so many years grow distant, then blurry. It became a tiny black dot, finally disappearing completely from my sight. I, Julian Thorne, was finally free!
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