The Uncle Who Shattered My Heart How long does it take to get over someone? I’d been with Julian since I was fifteen. From fifteen to twenty-five, everyone else changed so much. But for those ten years, my world revolved solely around Julian. Thinking this, I let my hand fall. “Uncle, Aunt, I’ve made up my mind. I’ll come back to the UK with you.” Hearing me finally agree, my Uncle’s joyful voice came through the phone. “That’s wonderful, Chloe! Don’t worry, our family will take good care of you, just like our own daughter!” My Aunt quickly snatched the phone. “Chloe, I’ll have your cousin Liam come pick you up tomorrow, okay? I’ve had your room prepared, and the school arrangements are all set. You just need to come!” My Uncle and Aunt’s warmth made my heart feel fuzzy. Thank goodness, there were still people in this world who loved me… “Aunt, no rush. I still have some things to take care of here. It’ll probably take about another month.” “After all, he did care for me for ten years.” My Aunt wholeheartedly agreed. “You’re right. We’ll have Liam visit your uncle then. He’s not blood-related, so taking care of you for ten years is an immense kindness; we can never repay that debt.” “Yes, he was very good to me. He’s a good person…” After hanging up, I went alone to handle my visa. On the way back, I originally planned to walk. But I didn’t expect… “Chloe! Walking alone? Get in!” I wanted to refuse, but I couldn’t argue with Seraphina’s persistence. Sitting in the luxury car, I felt incredibly uncomfortable. I kept my head down, awkwardly fidgeting with my fingers. The woman beside me, however, kept talking nonstop. “Julian is really something, letting you out alone. Didn’t even get you a car. If I hadn’t bumped into you, were you really going to walk all the way home? Calling a cab would have been fine. Is Julian so cheap that he doesn’t even give you pocket money? I’ll have to give him a good talking-to about this!” The woman’s name was Seraphina, Julian’s fiancée. And the person I disliked the most. No other reason, except that Seraphina was the woman who had stolen Julian from me. And the woman who had completely shattered my life’s dreams. From fifteen to twenty-two, my world had only contained Julian. My feelings for Julian grew increasingly complex. He was the man who had saved my life, and the man who had raised me. My hero, and the object of my uncontrollable affection. My feelings for Julian evolved from initial admiration to deep love. Over the years, Julian had no shortage of women around him. But I always believed they were merely passing acquaintances, unable to capture his heart. I always fantasized that one day, I could be with him in a different capacity. Until Seraphina appeared, shattering all my illusions. Seraphina was different from all the other women Julian had known. The way Julian looked at her was intense and profound. Unlike the distant chill he showed other women, and not the familial concern he showed me. It was a gaze I had never seen before. I couldn’t help but recall Seraphina’s first appearance, how she effortlessly snatched everything I cared about. It was at a party at the Hayes’ family estate. Seraphina fluttered into Julian’s arms like a little bird. Julian held Seraphina with practiced ease, and Seraphina clung to Julian, their fingers entwined. At that time, everyone still jokingly called me the future lady of the house, Julian’s little wife-to-be. Amidst the guests’ laughter, Seraphina stood on tiptoe, wrapped her arms around Julian’s neck, and pulled him into a kiss. Watching that scene, I felt a searing pain in my heart. I instinctively clenched my fists, so humiliated I wished I could sink into the ground. A sliver of hope still lingered. Please, Julian… Just refuse her, won’t you? Even if it’s just to pretend for my sake! Julian’s gaze also fell on me. He understood the plea in my eyes. But… As if to make me completely give up hope. He not only didn’t refuse Seraphina but actively tilted her chin up, passionately kissing her. They kissed fervently in front of everyone, their eyes seemingly holding only each other, no longer tolerating any unwelcome presence. After their passionate kiss, Seraphina’s face glowed with happiness. Blushing, she wrapped her arm around Julian’s, feigning shyness towards me. “Oh, look at us, making a spectacle in front of Chloe!” She playfully tapped Julian’s chest. And Julian’s face remained full of doting affection. “Seraphina initiated the kiss, I naturally couldn’t refuse.” Seraphina’s face flushed even deeper. “What are you saying? Chloe is right here. No propriety at all.” With that, Seraphina cast a faux-apologetic look at me. “Sorry, Chloe, we just lost our composure. Don’t mind us.” Faced with such a scene, I could no longer bear it and ran out crying. “Chloe, where are you going?!” Seeing me run out, Seraphina feigned concern and made to chase me, but Julian stopped her. Julian watched my retreating figure with a cold expression. “Leave her be. Just her usual dramatics!” “Julian, does Chloe dislike me…?” Seraphina’s eyes welled up, looking utterly hurt. Julian shook his head. “She’s twenty-two, not a child anymore!” “She should know what she should and shouldn’t do!” 2. My thoughts snapped back, the car had already reached its destination. “Get out, Chloe. I told Julian. We haven’t had dinner together in ages, have we? Don’t be shy, we’re family.” Seraphina’s voice was gentle, but I felt no warmth or closeness from it. Seeing the stern-faced man standing at the entrance, my body tensed. My heart was incredibly bitter, filled with sorrow. It truly had been a long time since I’d had a meal with Julian. There were fewer and fewer of Julian’s things in the house, and our connection grew thinner. Julian seemed to be deliberately avoiding me, even moving out of the home we’d shared for seven years to live with Seraphina. Did Julian really hate me that much now? Perhaps my leaving would be a good decision for everyone, at least they wouldn’t have to torture each other anymore. My face was etched with bitterness. Julian’s peripheral vision caught my expression; he noticed something was off. But he said nothing, did nothing. In his mind, everything he was doing was to help me grow better. This was the best way for us to be together, good for both of us. During dinner, Seraphina spared no effort in showcasing her intimacy with Julian. “Here, Julian, have some shrimp balls. I remember this is your favorite dish; you always order it.” Seraphina enthusiastically put food on Julian’s plate. Hearing her words, both Julian and I paused. Shrimp balls weren’t Julian’s favorite dish; they were mine. For years, Julian had ordered them first at every meal, just to accommodate me. This time was no different… Seraphina looked a little awkward. She sensed the shift in atmosphere between us, but she didn’t understand why. To ease the tension, Seraphina smiled and put a shrimp ball on my plate too. “Quick, Chloe, you eat too. Their shrimp balls are the best, crispy outside and tender inside. Have them while they’re hot, they don’t taste as good cold.” I didn’t refuse. “Thank you, Auntie.” Hearing my words, Seraphina and Julian both froze. Simply because “Auntie” was the first time I had ever called her that. Before this, I was unwilling to even call Julian “Uncle.” Back then, I was stubborn, stubbornly believing that as long as we didn’t explicitly define our relationship, there was still another possibility for us. “Chloe, what did you just call me?!” Seraphina’s face was beaming with delight. I smiled, my expression even calmer, as if it were the most commonplace thing. “Auntie, of course. Julian’s wife, I should naturally call Auntie. Although you’re still so young, seniority shouldn’t be mixed up.” Seraphina happily tugged on Julian’s arm, shaking it. “Julian, Chloe called me Auntie! She accepts me! This makes me so happy!” But at that moment, Julian’s face showed no hint of joy. His expression was dark, filled with displeasure. He looked at me with heavy eyes. I felt like I couldn’t read Julian anymore. It was he who told me to treat him as an uncle, as an elder. It was he who made me accept reality, accept Seraphina. But why, when I finally understood, gave up, and did what he wanted, was he unhappy? I said nothing, just quietly picked up a piece of fish. As for the plate of shrimp balls, I used to eat half the plate by myself. This time, I didn’t touch a single one. Perhaps a change of taste would also change my mood? Seeing my distant demeanor, Julian’s eyes deepened further. Seraphina then coyly leaned on Julian again. “Julian, I want to eat fish, but I don’t want to pick out the bones~” Seraphina deliberately spoke in a high-pitched, cutesy voice, tilting her head, her large eyes winking playfully. “Alright, my little gourmand, I’ll pick out the bones for you.” “I knew you spoil me the most, darling~” Julian picked up a piece of fish, carefully and meticulously removing all the tiny bones. This gesture, however, once again touched the softest part of my heart. When I was little, I rarely ate fish. I thought picking out bones was too much trouble, so I just wouldn’t eat it. My family thought I didn’t like fish, so they hardly ever made it. In truth, I loved fish; I just hated the hassle. But Julian was different. The first time he took me out to eat, he saw my eyes fixed on the fish dish, yet I didn’t touch it. He instantly saw through my little心思, and personally peeled away each tiny bone from the fish. He handed the tender white fish meat to me. I was so happy to experience such treatment for the first time. I ate very happily that meal. Later, this habit continued. Just like the shrimp balls, ten years of living together, even a single meal was full of memories. At first, Julian wasn’t skilled; the fish he de-boned was often messy. But now, he was incredibly proficient. Every piece of fish he picked was perfectly intact, the tender white meat looking incredibly delicious. Only, the one enjoying this treatment was no longer me… “Wow, darling’s skills are truly amazing!” “I never would have thought, Julian, that you’re such a meticulous person, doing even these little things so well.” “I’m so lucky to have a boyfriend like you!” Seraphina’s voice was filled with happiness. And Julian dotingly ruffled Seraphina’s hair. “Alright, eat up quickly. It’ll get fishy when it’s cold.” “Okay~” 3. “Cough! Cough!” Trying to avoid suspicion, I ate my food quickly, but unexpectedly, a fishbone got stuck in my throat. I coughed hard, trying to dislodge it, but it was no use. The two who had just been so loving had their atmosphere ruined by me. Almost immediately, Julian pushed Seraphina away and rushed over, patting my back. But I covered my mouth, pushed Julian aside, and ran out alone. Julian’s first reaction was unmistakable. Seraphina saw everything, and her face turned incredibly sour. Julian stood there awkwardly. After composing myself, I walked out of the restroom, only to be blocked by Seraphina, who was waiting at the door. She said: “Chloe, Julian and I are getting married. Can I ask you to stay away from him?” “What?” I stared at Seraphina, wide-eyed in disbelief. But Seraphina continued, seriously: “I know this isn’t something I should say, but we’re getting married. And I know you don’t like me, but please, think clearly. He was just your father’s comrade. He raised you for ten years just to repay your father’s kindness all those years ago. What right do you have to waste his entire life?!” “I’ve warned you many times already, why don’t you understand how to keep your distance?! Julian is a man and not meticulous enough, but how can you, a girl, be so disgusting?!” My secret thoughts laid bare in public, I was utterly humiliated. I knew Seraphina was trying to shame me. I tried to use the pain in my palms to remind myself to stay calm. I lowered my head, responding softly. “Okay, I won’t cling to him anymore.” But Seraphina acted as if she hadn’t heard me, closing in step by step, still talking nonstop. “Please, I’m begging you, won’t you let go of Julian, and let go of me? They say giving you a glass of water is kindness, but giving it forever turns you into an enemy. Julian raised you; he didn’t want you to cling to him for life, did he?!” “What if one day I wasn’t paying attention, would you try to climb into Julian’s bed, to be on equal footing with me?” “Ah!” Seraphina’s words grew increasingly offensive, and I was backed into a corner. When I heard the words “climb into bed,” I couldn’t take it anymore and pushed Seraphina away. I didn’t use much force, but Seraphina fell to the ground, crying out. The moment I saw Julian, I realized it was all a trap Seraphina had set for me! Seeing Seraphina ‘attacked’, Julian immediately rushed over. He furiously shoved me to the ground. “What are you doing?” He glared at my stunned face, his bloodshot eyes looking at me like an enemy. Then, he tenderly picked up Seraphina, carefully cradling her in his arms, and turned to leave. Unwilling, I scrambled up from the ground and blocked Julian’s path. I wanted to explain to Julian. “No, Julian, it’s not like that. I didn’t mean it, it’s a misunderstanding, it was her…” “Julian, it hurts so much…” “Don’t blame Chloe. I was the one who took you away from her, so it’s okay if she slaps me…” Before I could finish, Seraphina, hiding in Julian’s arms, pitifully interrupted. As she spoke, she tearfully revealed her swollen, red cheek, making her look utterly wronged. With Seraphina’s deliberately misleading explanation, Julian’s expression worsened. No matter how much I tried to explain, Julian wouldn’t listen to a word. In his mind, I was already the unreasonable, violent person. I refused to give up, reaching out to block the car door. I looked at Julian, unwilling to accept, wanting to explain, but Julian didn’t want to hear a single word. His eyes were entirely fixed on Seraphina, who was hiding in his arms. Julian roughly pulled me away, carefully placed Seraphina into the car, then slammed the door shut. Unprepared, my hand was caught. “Ah!” I groaned in pain, my hand turning purple. But Julian, who had always been so concerned about me, didn’t even glance my way. He got into the car and sped off. I could only rub my bruised, purple hand, watching the car disappear into the distance. In the end, I went home alone. And that road felt even longer. The bruises on my hand and the marks on my body reminded me how cruel Julian had become towards me. But actually… Julian wasn’t always so cruel to me. 4. My teenage fantasies had always centered solely on Julian. After I came of age, my feelings for Julian began to change. At that time, I tried every way to pursue Julian, hoping to make our relationship closer. I learned to bake, learned to make handmade chocolates for Julian on Valentine’s Day. Julian didn’t have a girlfriend then, and he was very happy when he received the gift. He smiled and said: “Chloe has grown up, and has other intentions.” Julian’s gaze towards me wasn’t entirely innocent back then either. So, in the past, I always believed we were in love. Later, our feelings for each other grew increasingly complicated. My courage also grew. From entwined fingers, sharing a cookie, drinking from the same milkshake, to our lips entwined in passionate kisses. Those days were the happiest of my life. I felt Julian was slowly becoming mine. Until my twentieth birthday, when I had prepared wine, wanting to take the next step. Everything felt so natural. We passionately embraced, slowly unbuttoning each other’s clothes, touching each other’s skin. But at the crucial moment, Julian suddenly stopped. His emotions slowly cooled. He pulled the blanket over my body, said “I’m sorry,” and left without looking back. No matter how much I called out to him, he didn’t turn around. After that day, Julian seemed like a different person. He began actively distancing himself from me, and wouldn’t come home for days and nights. The man who had always been so discreet started to have all sorts of women around him. Every day, he carried the scent of a different woman’s perfume. When he finally returned, I seized the opportunity to confront him, seeking an answer. But Julian said: “I only see you as a child. You have no right to meddle in my affairs.” “Then what did all of *that* between us mean?” I desperately questioned him. But Julian’s face only showed indifference. “I made a mistake before. Just treat it as a bad dream. Wake up and forget it ever happened. I could never love you!” I refused to believe his dismissiveness. I couldn’t believe Julian’s past attitude towards me was false, and even less that he didn’t love me. I deluded myself into thinking those women were just an act, that Julian loved me, and that one day he would return to me. But all these fantasies shattered the moment Seraphina appeared. Unlike those other women, Julian introduced Seraphina as his “lover.” He even deliberately held a gathering to tell all his friends and family that Seraphina was his woman. And that night, Julian didn’t come home. I sat alone on the sofa, hugging my knees, staring at the door, waiting for Julian to return. I never imagined Julian would treat me this way! Couldn’t he at least listen to my explanation? The next day, still unwilling to give up, I ran to Julian’s office. Seeing me, Julian couldn’t help but frown. “Didn’t I tell you I’m busy? The office isn’t a playground for you. Don’t just show up for no reason!” His cold attitude humiliated me once again. My hand, clutching my clothes, tightened. “Uncle Julian, I just came to explain what happened last night. I didn’t mean to hit Serap… I didn’t mean to hit Auntie Seraphina. It was her…” Before I could finish, Julian interrupted her. “Seraphina already told me about it last night. Maybe her words were a bit harsh, but she wasn’t wrong.” “I’ve told you again and again that I don’t love you, and there’s no way we can be in any other kind of relationship. But you stubbornly refuse to give up, clinging to me repeatedly, ruining my relationship with Seraphina. Aren’t you just throwing away your dignity?” “I warned you about all this a long time ago. Why can’t you remember?!” Listening to Julian’s words, I couldn’t help but lower my head. I was afraid I’d start crying again, so weak. Yes, he had warned me long ago. Two months prior, I had also barged into Julian’s office, unwilling to accept. What had he told me then? “I know very well what love is and what responsibility is. I don’t love you, only have responsibility for you!” “You need to understand, you’re grown up now. My responsibility for you ended the day you turned adult. I’ve raised you for ten years; I’ve done right by you!” Unwilling to accept it, I blurted out: “We’re not blood-related, so why can’t I be with you…” “Chloe!” Julian’s face changed, and he sharply reprimanded me, stopping me from saying anything more. “I can help you with school, with work, anything. But if you keep thinking about all this nonsense, then I’m sorry, my stance is clear. Go back to where you came from. As far as I’m concerned, I never raised you!” Julian’s coldness was unexpected. I couldn’t imagine the man who had always been so gentle with me could be so cruel. Running here to confront Julian had already exhausted all my courage. I was stubborn, and I was proud. With Julian’s words having reached this point, I could no longer beg him for even a sliver of affection. It was these repeated rejections and hurts that finally made me decide to accept my Uncle’s offer and leave. Thinking this, I gave a self-deprecating smile. Thankfully, I was much more sensible now. I smiled and looked up at Julian. “Thank you for your advice, Uncle Julian. I understand. I’ll be sure to keep my distance in the future.” After saying that, I took a deep look at Julian, then turned and left his office. What I didn’t notice was that Julian, still sitting in his office chair, had become rigid, his fists clenched white. As I ran out, Julian instinctively wanted to chase after me, but he didn’t move. Julian rubbed his aching temples. He hadn’t wanted to be so absolute. But… He had to make me give up! My entire life couldn’t be wasted on him, and they shouldn’t be together! ***Paywall*** 5. After leaving Julian’s company, I also prepared to pack my things and leave this home. I was leaving soon; for the remaining time, I shouldn’t get entangled with him anymore. But unexpectedly, as I was packing, Julian suddenly returned. Seeing my luggage, Julian’s face turned grim, and he couldn’t help but frown. “Where are you going?!” I pursed my lips, a little flustered. “I’m graduating soon, and I need to prepare my final project. I want to move to the studio to focus on it.” Hearing my words, Julian sighed in relief. “Your studio is too small and dusty; it’s not suitable for living. I’ll have Mr. Hayes set up a studio for you at home.” I shook my head, declining Julian’s offer, insisting on moving out. “No, thank you, Uncle Julian. I’m used to the studio; I don’t really want to change. “Besides, you and Auntie Seraphina are getting married soon. When she moves in, it wouldn’t be very convenient for me to keep living here. “You’re right, I’m grown up now. I shouldn’t cling to you anymore.” Julian was speechless, my words blocking him. His brow furrowed deeper, his expression turning grim. He wanted to stop me but realized he had no standing to. In the end, he could only agree with a dark face. “I’ll drive you.” This time, I didn’t refuse, just nodded obediently. “Okay, thank you, Uncle Julian.” Julian was unaccustomed to this version of me. I was too cold, too distant. It was as if he was merely an uncle I rarely saw, with nothing but basic politeness and respect between us. Julian felt incredibly distressed but was unable to react, for he was the one who had brought all this pain upon himself. He had no right to demand more from me. The atmosphere in the car was deadly silent, neither of us speaking. But halfway through the drive, Julian’s phone rang. It was Seraphina. As soon as he answered, Seraphina’s tearful voice could be heard. “Hello, Julian, it’s me, Seraphina. I twisted my ankle, it hurts so much! Is my foot broken?!” “Okay, where are you? I’ll be right there!!” After hanging up, Julian looked at me hesitantly. But I unbuckled my seatbelt first. “It’s okay, Uncle Julian, you can just drop me here. Auntie Seraphina’s injury is more important. There isn’t much further to go, I can walk the rest of the way.” “Alright, be careful.” After dropping me and my luggage off, Julian immediately sped away. I stood alone, dragging my luggage, watching the car fade into the distance, my face filled with bitterness. I was already used to Julian leaving me behind. The drop-off point was quite secluded, and I couldn’t hail a cab along the way. Left with no choice, I dragged my luggage alone for five kilometers. By the time I reached the studio, I was exhausted, wanting nothing more than to collapse on the floor. Skylar, my roommate, was startled to see me like this and rushed over to help me move my things. “Oh my goodness, you didn’t walk all this way, did you? Didn’t you say your uncle was giving you a ride?!” Mentioning Julian, my face flushed with a bit of embarrassment. I could only say: “He was busy, couldn’t take me.” Skylar nodded. “Must have been something really important then!” “Your Uncle Julian really is good to you, though. Remember freshman year, when that girl bullied you, acting all high and mighty because her family was rich, and even the professor didn’t take your side? We all thought you’d have to just take it!” “But then he showed up and got you justice. I remember he even skipped an important meeting for you! He really does care about you!” Skylar’s words brought back memories of those past moments. It was precisely because of these memories that I could never forget Julian. And couldn’t help but love him. But now, our relationship… “It’s all changed.” That was the only phrase I could think of to describe our current relationship. I smiled, saying nothing more about Julian. Skylar also noticed something was off. In the past, I would talk endlessly about Julian, my face always glowing with happiness. Now, I didn’t want to discuss him at all. She, too, tacitly avoided mentioning Julian again. After I unpacked, I dedicated myself to ceramics. Kneading clay, throwing, molding, carving, sun-drying… I performed these steps with skill and precision. I thoroughly enjoyed the process. Making pottery was when my mind was most at peace, most comfortable. Because when I was making ceramics, my thoughts were entirely on the piece. It demanded all my energy, leaving no room to think about Julian anymore. “Wow! This is too beautiful!” “What kind of hands do you have? Can I just cut them off and have them? Compared to you, my hands look like pig’s feet!” Seeing my work, Skylar excitedly crowded around me. “Don’t flatter me too much. It hasn’t been fired yet. If it turns out to be a failure, I’ll just cry.” I looked at the clay piece with some apprehension. “Don’t worry, Little Pear’s creations are always masterpieces! What kind of hands are these? Master ceramist hands! Nothing can go wrong!” “Besides, how much effort have you poured into this piece? You even went all the way to personally dig up the clay. Every step was so meticulous. Don’t worry, it will definitely be perfect!” Hearing Skylar’s comfort, my heart warmed, and I felt much more at ease. “I hope it’s as you say. Please, don’t let anything go wrong!” After countless other complex steps, the ceramic vase, into which I had poured my heart and soul, was finally fired successfully. The vase was entirely sky-blue, covered with delicate ice-cracked patterns, looking incredibly beautiful. It was so exquisite, it seemed otherworldly. “Wow! Absolutely stunning! So gorgeous!” “Seriously, I’m not exaggerating, you’ll definitely win first prize at this year’s graduation exhibition. No one has more talent or works harder than you, and no one’s piece can be more beautiful than this divine vase!” Skylar was utterly mesmerized, kneeling on the floor, admiring it carefully. Afraid she might accidentally damage my masterpiece. I quickly laughed and helped Skylar up from the floor. “It’s not that serious. It’s just a vase. I’m no master.” “Chloe, my friend, please correct your thinking. This isn’t just a simple vase; it’s a work of art you poured your heart and soul into!” “And seriously, I’m not boasting, this piece of yours is absolutely incredible! You must protect your treasure vase well; it will lead you to success!” Seeing Skylar’s reverent expression, I couldn’t help but laugh until tears came. “Alright, alright, I’ll take good care of my treasure vase!” “That’s more like it.” Skylar was quite smug. During this time, I had been busy working on my graduation project and hadn’t thought about Julian for a long time. It wasn’t until Julian called that I felt like an eternity had passed. “Open the door. I’m outside.” Hearing Julian’s voice, my body instantly tensed, having just been laughing joyfully moments before. Why was he suddenly here?! Skylar noticed my uneasiness and quickly asked what was wrong. I shook my head, saying with a bitter smile: “Uncle Julian is here.” Skylar also froze. She said, somewhat awkwardly: “He’s probably just checking in on you, right?” I nodded, my eyes complicated: “Maybe…” I opened the door for Julian. 6. Standing outside the door were not only Julian but also Seraphina. The moment Seraphina saw me, she immediately smiled and pushed the bag she was carrying into my hands. “Julian and I were just passing by, so we bought some food to come see you. I hope we’re not interrupting your work!” Seraphina was clinging to Julian, her face full of tenderness, looking just like a thoughtful older sister. If I hadn’t seen Seraphina’s true colors before, I might never have guessed the wicked thoughts hidden beneath such a gentle smile. Julian, however, looked indifferent: “Are you not going to welcome us?” I felt uncomfortable but couldn’t just kick them out. I could only step aside, making way for them to enter the studio. “Wow, Chloe, your place truly has an artist’s vibe!” Seraphina looked around my studio. I quietly made tea. “It’s nothing, I’ve just been working on ceramics lately, so it’s a bit messy. Please don’t mind it.” “No problem at all, we don’t mind.” As she spoke, Seraphina picked up the vase I had just finished firing. At that moment, Skylar and I both held our breath. Skylar instinctively cautioned her. “Be careful, please don’t drop it. I’ve poured a lot of heart and soul into this vase!” “Of course not, how could I drop it?!” Seraphina replied dismissively, then held the vase with one hand, examining it up and down. “Tsk, tsk, tsk, it’s really beautiful. Even better than the one I saw at the auction house last month!” Seeing her actions, I had a bad feeling. The next second… “Clang!” “Ah!” “The vase!” Seraphina’s hand slipped, and the vase fell to the ground. I immediately dropped the hot kettle and lunged to try and save it, but it was too late. The scalding hot water spilled onto my hand, but I didn’t care. My mind was entirely focused on the vase I had poured all my heart into, now shattered. Under Seraphina’s clumsy action, the once beautiful vase was smashed to pieces, becoming a heap of fragments on the floor. My eyes instantly turned red. I shoved Seraphina away and loudly demanded: “What are you doing?!” Seraphina feigned weakness, collapsing to the ground. A shard of porcelain had cut her leg, and a few drops of blood seeped out. Even though it was just a tiny, insignificant cut, she immediately burst into tears. “Ah! So… so painful!” “Chloe, I was just clumsy! How could you do this to me?!” The moment she cried, Julian immediately pushed me aside and rushed over, cradling Seraphina in his arms with a pained expression. In doing so, he stepped on the shattered vase, crushing the already broken pieces even further. My heart shattered along with it. Julian carried Seraphina away in a hurry, only managing to say: “Seraphina didn’t mean it. I’ll compensate you for the loss,” before he left. After they left, I could only kneel on the ground, carefully picking up the fragments with my scalded, red hands, silently weeping. Skylar was heartbroken to see me like this. She knelt down and hugged me tightly. “It’s okay, it’s okay, don’t be too sad. The vase is broken, there’s no way to fix it.” Then, a flash of anger crossed her eyes. “I saw everything. That woman did it on purpose! She deliberately broke your hard work, then lied to get your Uncle Julian’s sympathy! She’s so scheming!” By then, I was in too much pain to breathe. I cried into Skylar’s embrace. “Skylar, do you think this is fate? Destined. I can’t leave a perfect piece in Jin City, and I can’t have a dignified ending with him either.” Skylar didn’t understand what I was talking about, nor how to answer me. But she knew that what was shattered was not just a vase, but my heart. 7. Skylar bandaged my hand, but the scald still throbbed, keeping me from sleeping well all night. The next day, Julian called. Not to ask about my injury, nor to care about my work, but merely to clean up Seraphina’s mess. “How much was that vase of yours? I’ll pay for it. Consider it bought by me for Seraphina. She told me it was just an accident, and she got hurt too, so don’t blame her.” I furrowed my brow, my face filled with pain. “Julian, that vase was my graduation piece, half a year of my hard work. It’s not something money can buy. And Skylar saw everything; Seraphina was clearly delibe—” “A million dollars. I’ll give you a million dollars. I’ll help explain things to the school too. Anyway, your pieces will eventually be sold, so consider it an advance purchase from me.” “And stop saying those things. I told you, Seraphina is always kind-hearted; she couldn’t have done it on purpose!” Hearing Julian’s words, I couldn’t bear it anymore and wretchedly hung up the phone. After the call disconnected, Julian called several more times. But I just let it ring, unwilling to answer. After ringing three more times, Julian gave up and didn’t call again. He directly transferred a million dollars to my account and sent me a message. “Don’t be childish. It’s just a broken vase. If it’s really an issue, I’ll buy you a better one at next month’s auction.” Seeing Julian’s message, my heart ached beyond words. I couldn’t imagine how Julian could say such things without shame. He knew that becoming a good ceramist was my lifelong dream. My mother was a renowned ceramist, and my father had always supported her career when he was alive. He would even personally fly to Yuncheng to find the best kaolin clay for my mother. I had thought that even if Julian and I didn’t have a good outcome, at least he would respect my passion. But I never expected that, in Julian’s mind, the career I wanted to dedicate my life to, the work I poured my heart into, was nothing but a joke. At that moment, my heart ached to its core, more painful than when the vase shattered. I was completely disillusioned with Julian. It turned out that in his eyes, I was merely that. Fortunately, in ten days, I would be leaving Jin City. I wouldn’t be an eyesore anymore! Although the vase was broken, I still did my best to repair it. But even after three days and three nights without sleep, I couldn’t restore it to its original state. There was still a gap in the middle of the vase. That piece of porcelain had been crushed to dust by Julian’s foot, forever lost. Just like my broken heart, which could never be fully repaired. When I submitted the damaged vase, my professor was also filled with regret. “Oh, what a wonderful piece! How did it break?!” Hearing my professor’s words, I lowered my head in shame. “I’m sorry, Professor, I’ve disappointed you.” The professor shook his head, kindly comforting me: “Chloe, don’t take it too hard. It’s not a big deal; you have a long way to go in life. Although this vase is beautiful and perfect, it won’t be the only great piece in your life. You’ll create even better works in the future!” “Besides, even though this vase is broken, you’ve repaired it wonderfully. The small missing piece in the middle gives it a unique beauty, lending the vase a special meaning. Don’t forget, regret can also be a form of appreciation.” Hearing my professor’s words, my heart felt warm. I told my professor that I would be leaving Jin City for the UK in ten days. The professor was greatly surprised: “So sudden? Are you going with your Uncle Julian?” I shook my head bitterly. “No, just me.” “Does your Uncle Julian know? He’s really good to you. Yesterday, he even called me specifically to ask if your broken ceramic piece would affect your studies and if there were any remedies!” Hearing my professor’s words, I smiled bitterly. “He knows. After all, he’s getting married soon and will have his own children. He can’t possibly keep supporting me for life, can he?” The professor nodded, understanding. “True. You’re not blood-related, so he’s done right by you.” I also nodded with a bitter smile. Yes, Julian had done right by me. What right did I have to ask for more from him? 8. At this point, my only remaining attachment in Jin City was to repay Julian for his kindness in raising me. Fortunately, I had always kept meticulous records, noting every expense Julian had covered for me. It amounted to over ten million dollars in total. My parents’ inheritance, plus the million dollars Julian had given me, could repay most of it. For the remaining portion, I decided to sell off the ceramic pieces I had made over the years. Because I was in a hurry to sell, most didn’t fetch good prices, and many pieces I loved had to be sold for cheap. Even though it pained me, I gritted my teeth and sold them. I was leaving soon, and I wanted to leave cleanly, owing Julian nothing. On the third day before my departure, I returned to that house. My mother’s few remaining works were still there in the villa, and I wanted to take them with me. I carefully took out my mother’s works, caressing them with longing. At this moment, it was as if the scenes of my childhood, making pottery with my mother, were right before my eyes. “Mom, I’m taking you to reunite with Uncle and Aunt and the rest of the family.” Halfway through packing, Julian suddenly came home. Seeing me packing, Julian frowned in confusion: “What are you doing?! Why are you taking these ceramic pieces?!” The moment I saw Julian, I froze, my eyes darting away. “It’s my Uncle Liam. He contacted me a while ago and told me a lot of stories about my mom when she was young. He also said he regretted arguing with her back then, and now he doesn’t even have anything to remember her by. So I thought I’d send him some of Mom’s old pieces so he can feel closer to her.” I told the lie without shame. Julian thought I was acting strange. “When did your Uncle Liam contact you? How come I don’t know?” My heart skipped a beat. “Just a couple of days ago, I guess. Maybe he’s getting older and just reminiscing about the past.” Julian nodded, looking understanding. I finally breathed a sigh of relief, almost exposed. After mailing the items, I prepared to leave, but Julian called out to me. “Your graduation project is fin… finished. When are you moving back in?” I froze again. “No need, Uncle Julian. Skylar and I are living together, and it’s quite nice.” Julian frowned in displeasure, his tone serious and unyielding. “The conditions there are too poor; it’s no place to live. The house isn’t just your room; you shouldn’t have to suffer outside like that.” With him saying that, I couldn’t refuse, so I could only agree. Seeing me nod, Julian finally looked satisfied. He immediately prepared to take me back to get my things. Just then, Seraphina suddenly arrived. She knew the house code and came and went as easily as if it were her own home. Seeing me, she paused for a moment. “Oh, Chloe’s back.” “Perfect, we can all eat together. Even though today is Julian and my anniversary, it’s fine. Chloe, you’re not an outsider, so join us.” Seraphina’s intention to get rid of me was clear. I smiled bitterly. But it was fine, I had no intention of staying anyway. I played along with Seraphina’s words. “Then Uncle Julian and Auntie Seraphina should celebrate properly. I have plans with a friend, so I won’t intrude.” Seraphina was very pleased to see me so perceptive. “Well, alright then. Chloe wants to be with her friends, and it wouldn’t be right for us, as elders, to stop you. Go on, don’t be late!” I breathed a sigh of relief and left as if fleeing, not even glancing at Julian. Julian watched my retreating figure, his expression solemn. When had I started to become so estranged from him? Even being in the same room with him felt so constrained. That night, I suddenly received a message from Seraphina. “Thank you, darling, for the anniversary gift! I’ve already posted it on SnapChat~” Seeing this baffling message, I was puzzled and initially planned to ignore it. But a moment later, Seraphina seemed to realize her mistake and sent another message. “Oh dear, Chloe, I’m so sorry, I sent the wrong message. I meant to send it to your Uncle Julian. Please don’t mind.” Against my better judgment, I clicked on Seraphina’s SnapChat profile. Opening Seraphina’s SnapChat, the first thing I saw was a meteorite fragment I recognized all too well. The caption for the post read: “Who got a piece of the cosmos from their darling? How unbelievably romantic~” Below were countless well wishes from Julian’s friends. “Wow, I never would have guessed! I thought Julian wasn’t the romantic type, but this is so sweet.” “Julian has been buying meteorites at high prices for years. I thought he was a secret astronomy enthusiast, but it turns out it was all a surprise for his lady!” “Giving stars? That’s so unique. I wish my husband would learn a thing or two from Julian, see how romantic he is!” But when I saw that SnapChat post, I couldn’t smile at all. I thought I wouldn’t be sad anymore, but Julian had hurt me again. Because of a “stone.” A seemingly ordinary stone, yet it carried memories unique to Julian and me. Since childhood, I had always loved stars, spending my days poring over astronomy books and visiting planetariums. Later, when Julian learned about this, he would send me a meteorite fragment for every birthday. Black, rocky stones covered with crevices, which others might dismiss as insignificant, worthless rocks. But every time I received this special gift, I would be overjoyed. In my heart, this was the best gift there was. For all these years, this unique gift had become our most precious shared memory. Now, even my stars were given to Seraphina. My heart was filled with nothing but bitterness. It seemed… I truly held no place in Julian’s heart anymore. Unbidden, tears welled up in my eyes, flowing uncontrollably. 9. And Seraphina kept sending me messages. “Chloe, you’re not angry, are you? I’m Julian’s girlfriend, so it’s normal for him to give me gifts.” “You’re grown up now, you wouldn’t get angry with Julian over something so small, would you? Julian raised you all these years out of kindness. Are you really going to cling to him for life?” “I’m not trying to be mean, but I’m much older than you and I understand things better. You lost your parents young, and Julian, being a man, naturally isn’t as meticulous. It’s okay if you don’t understand these things, I just want to tell you that a person should have some basic sense of boundaries!” All of Seraphina’s actions were aimed at driving me away. I understood her intentions and saw through her little schemes. I replied to Seraphina’s message. “Auntie Seraphina, please rest assured, I truly won’t cling to Uncle Julian anymore.” Seraphina replied instantly. “That’s wonderful! I knew Chloe was a sensible, good child!” With two days left until I left, I forced myself to stop thinking about Julian. To do this, I spent entire days and nights in the studio, making ceramics, spinning like a top. But Julian had become my nightmare, omnipresent. Even when I accidentally twisted my ankle, I couldn’t help but think of Julian. When I first arrived at Julian’s house, I was timid. Faced with an unfamiliar environment and people I barely knew, I was always careful. Too shy to accept strangers’ kindness, too embarrassed to trouble Julian. During that time, even if I felt unwell, I would silently endure it alone. When I first transferred to the new school, I was still reeling from the trauma of losing my parents and had shut myself off. I always kept my head down, unwilling to speak or interact with anyone. This personality meant that no one in class wanted to play with me, and classmates often deliberately picked on me. Sometimes they would tear up my completed homework and accuse me of not doing it. Sometimes they would pour water on my chair and then laugh at me for wetting my pants. I was afraid of bothering Julian with all this. And I was afraid Julian would find me annoying and kick me out, so I always endured it in silence. Until one time, those bullies went too far. They poured sand into my shoes during my dance class. When I got home, my feet were covered in blisters and bleeding. The housekeeper at home shrieked when she saw the blood on my feet. “Oh my goodness, Miss Chloe, what happened to your feet? Why is there so much blood?!” Julian happened to be home that day. The moment he heard I was hurt, he rushed over. He thoroughly examined me from head to toe. Then he sternly asked what had happened at school, whether I had been bullied. At first, I fidgeted with my clothes, unwilling to tell the truth. Julian sighed and comforted me for a long time. Only then did I finally open up to him, telling him about the bullying I’d been enduring at school. To help me get justice, Julian canceled an important meeting he had scheduled for nine the next morning. He personally took me to school to stand up for me. And when the perpetrator’s parents said: “Children without parents to teach them just have no manners,” Julian instantly exploded, smashing a cup. “Say that again! She’s under my care now; she’s *my* person. No one bullies her!” After that day, no one at school dared to bully me again. And no one dared to call me “the child nobody wanted” anymore. Over the past ten years, such incidents had happened countless times, and Julian had stood by me and defended me countless times. He was like my hero and guardian; whenever I needed him, he would appear as if from the sky. My encounter with Julian happened just as a young girl’s first stirrings of love began. When other girls in class spoke of “love,” only Julian’s image would appear in my mind. I had also asked myself, what exactly were my feelings for Julian? Was it family love? Was it attachment? As a teenager, I felt it was neither. I loved Julian; I had fallen hopelessly in love with him. Recalling these past events, my face grew even more bitter. Tears streamed down, and I drifted to sleep amidst the heavy bitterness. 10. The next day, perhaps due to overwork, my body gave out. A fever raged at forty degrees, and I was unconscious. In a hazy state, out of desperation, I called Julian for help. The phone connected, and I struggled to speak: “Ju… Julian…” However, the person who answered was not Julian, but Seraphina. “You still haven’t learned your lesson, still trying to cling to Julian, are you?!” “No… no, I have a fe—” I struggled to speak. But before I could finish, Seraphina continued to berate me. “I’ve already warned you! Julian has already rejected you himself! What more do you want?!” “You don’t know, do you? Julian spent the entire night with me yesterday. We did everything a couple should do. He never once thought of you!” “Clang!” I used all my strength to desperately hang up the phone. In the end, we couldn’t even have one last conversation. After the double blow of physical and emotional trauma, I had no strength left. The phone slipped from my hand and fell to the floor, and I lost consciousness. On the other end of the line, Seraphina smirked triumphantly when she saw the call disconnected and then deleted the call record. A little while later, Julian walked out of the bathroom, wrapped in a towel, looking curious. He picked up his phone from the bedside table and casually asked: “Were you just talking to someone?” Seraphina feigned ignorance and shook her head. “No, darling. Who would be so inconsiderate as to call this early in the morning?” “True.” Julian nodded, not pressing further. When I next awoke, I was in a hospital room. I weakly opened my eyes, somewhat confused, looking at the unfamiliar man sitting by my bed. “Who are you?” The man was dressed in a suit and tie, handsome and capable. Seeing me awake, he immediately stood up and called a doctor to check on me. Only after hearing the doctor say, “There’s nothing serious, just finish the IV and rest well,” did he nod in thanks, visibly relieved. After sending the doctor off, the man introduced himself. “Hello, my name is Kai Hayes. I’m your brother Liam’s friend. Your brother is in the UK and couldn’t make it back, so he asked me to bring you to the hospital.” “Now that you’re awake, you can give him a call.” I nodded blankly and took the phone. As soon as the call connected, an urgent male voice came through. “How are you, Chloe? Feeling better? You scared me to death, sis!” “I really shouldn’t have let you stay in the country alone. You should come to the UK and live with us as soon as possible, so we can take care of you. It’s a good thing Kai was back on some business this time, otherwise, I wouldn’t have known what to do!” Hearing Liam’s words, I realized that I must have answered his call in a semi-conscious state yesterday. Noticing something was wrong, Liam immediately contacted his friend in the country to take me to the hospital. I felt a little embarrassed and quickly thanked Kai. Kai nodded. “No problem, it was just a small thing.” On the other end of the line, Liam continued to instruct me. “Chloe, Kai is heading back to the UK anyway, so he can bring you with him. Your Uncle and Aunt were so scared when they heard you were sick. If I hadn’t reassured them that Kai was there, they would have flown over themselves that very night to take care of you!”
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