Chapter 3

The room fell dead silent.

Even Julian, who usually couldn't care less about me, darkened with displeasure.

I was telling the truth.

In that moment, I actually felt a wave of relief.

I finally didn't have to pretend anymore.

I picked up my clutch and turned to walk out.

Let it end quickly.

This absurd, mistaken-identity farce.

Julian quickly chased after me.

"Evelyn, what did you mean by that?"

I looked at his irritated face. Just as I opened my mouth, he cut me off.

"Is this about Sabrina tagging along? Or because I didn't take you to the ER, or take you home?"

"Or is it because I lied about tonight being a private family dinner?"

Julian didn't believe I was telling the truth for a second. He just thought I was jealous, throwing a tantrum.

I said softly, "It doesn't matter. You don't need to explain yourself to me."

That only made him more certain I was acting out.

"You're always pulling these petty little stunts. I hate it when women act like this."

"Stop throwing a tantrum. I said I'd go with you to see your father, and I will. We'll go tomorrow."

I gave him a dismissive reply. "Whatever you want."

It wasn't even certain if he'd be able to see me tomorrow.

I turned to leave, but he called out to me again.

"No hug? I thought you loved leaning against my chest to listen to my heartbeat."

I shoved his hand away.

"Don't touch me."

Julian froze.

In the past, hearing me say that would have only made him breathe a sigh of relief.

But now, he turned away in sheer frustration.

He thought I would chase after him.

But when he finally looked back, I was already long gone.

Early the next morning, the PI called.

"Ms. Ashford, the car is waiting downstairs. Elliot currently runs a private gallery and studio in Manhattan. The exact address has been sent to your email."

He was still painting, just as he used to.

A surge of joy welled up in my chest, and I immediately started packing my bags.

I didn't know if the "him" who still loved to paint would fall for me all over again.

Just then, my father called.

"Evelyn, the Whitmores are crossing a line. They're taking advantage of you—"

I gently interrupted him. "Dad, I'm done with them. Ashford Holdings can pull all commercial backing for the Whitmore Group."

My father fell silent for a moment.

"Alright. I'll have the lawyers send the formal notice of the broken engagement and the withdrawal of commercial support to the Whitmores today."

His voice softened. "As for you... Nathan is gone, but you still have me. Dad is always on your side."

"I know. Thank you, Dad."

The moment I hung up, there was an urgent knock on my door.

"Ms. Ashford, it's bad! Julian's in the hospital with a severe bleeding ulcer!"

I opened the door to find Julian's assistant, Matthew Cole, standing outside, looking frantic.

"How is he?"

"The ER admitted him." Matthew hesitated. "He took Sabrina out for extremely spicy wings and added a lot of hot sauce. He then suffered severe stomach pain and passed out. The hospital said it might be severe gastritis or a bleeding ulcer."

He watched my expression carefully as he spoke.

I remained perfectly calm.

Matthew quickly added, "They really are just friends. Nothing else is going on."

I dragged my suitcase out the door.

He followed beside me, only then realizing I wasn't heading toward the hospital.

"Ms. Ashford, where are you going? Julian is in the hospital. Aren't you going to take care of him?"

"I'm going to Manhattan," I said, not breaking my stride. "Have the hospital call his family for his follow-up care and updates. Don't ever come to me about him again."

"What?" Matthew stared at me in shock.

"The Whitmore family wants to break the engagement, and my father will handle it. As of today, our two families have no ties whatsoever."

"But Julian is waiting for you! It's not like he doesn't care about you." Matthew was still in disbelief. "Are you really just walking away?"

Whether Julian loved me or not had absolutely nothing to do with me anymore.

Over the years, I had given him resources, time, and care.

Even if I was the one who mistook his identity in the beginning, our debts had long been settled.

I gave a small smile. "Yes. I'm ending the engagement. Whatever he does with Sabrina is his business."

"And give him a message for me. Tell him I had the wrong man all along. I've always loved someone else. Tell him to leave me alone."

The thought of finally meeting the real heart transplant recipient—of perhaps hearing Nathan's heartbeat once again—filled me with an impatience I couldn't hide.

Ignoring Matthew's conflicted expression, I had the driver load my luggage into the car and headed straight for Manhattan.

Meanwhile, Matthew hurried back to the hospital.

"Julian, Evelyn isn't coming. She left Greenwich and went to Manhattan..."

Julian's gaze snapped up.

Matthew stammered on, "She said... she had the wrong man all these years. She's going to find the man she actually loves. And she said... to take a hint and leave her alone."

Chapter 3

The room fell dead silent.

Even Julian, who usually couldn't care less about me, darkened with displeasure.

I was telling the truth.

In that moment, I actually felt a wave of relief.

I finally didn't have to pretend anymore.

I picked up my clutch and turned to walk out.

Let it end quickly.

This absurd, mistaken-identity farce.

Julian quickly chased after me.

"Evelyn, what did you mean by that?"

I looked at his irritated face. Just as I opened my mouth, he cut me off.

"Is this about Sabrina tagging along? Or because I didn't take you to the ER, or take you home?"

"Or is it because I lied about tonight being a private family dinner?"

Julian didn't believe I was telling the truth for a second. He just thought I was jealous, throwing a tantrum.

I said softly, "It doesn't matter. You don't need to explain yourself to me."

That only made him more certain I was acting out.

"You're always pulling these petty little stunts. I hate it when women act like this."

"Stop throwing a tantrum. I said I'd go with you to see your father, and I will. We'll go tomorrow."

I gave him a dismissive reply. "Whatever you want."

It wasn't even certain if he'd be able to see me tomorrow.

I turned to leave, but he called out to me again.

"No hug? I thought you loved leaning against my chest to listen to my heartbeat."

I shoved his hand away.

"Don't touch me."

Julian froze.

In the past, hearing me say that would have only made him breathe a sigh of relief.

But now, he turned away in sheer frustration.

He thought I would chase after him.

But when he finally looked back, I was already long gone.

Early the next morning, the PI called.

"Ms. Ashford, the car is waiting downstairs. Elliot currently runs a private gallery and studio in Manhattan. The exact address has been sent to your email."

He was still painting, just as he used to.

A surge of joy welled up in my chest, and I immediately started packing my bags.

I didn't know if the "him" who still loved to paint would fall for me all over again.

Just then, my father called.

"Evelyn, the Whitmores are crossing a line. They're taking advantage of you—"

I gently interrupted him. "Dad, I'm done with them. Ashford Holdings can pull all commercial backing for the Whitmore Group."

My father fell silent for a moment.

"Alright. I'll have the lawyers send the formal notice of the broken engagement and the withdrawal of commercial support to the Whitmores today."

His voice softened. "As for you... Nathan is gone, but you still have me. Dad is always on your side."

"I know. Thank you, Dad."

The moment I hung up, there was an urgent knock on my door.

"Ms. Ashford, it's bad! Julian's in the hospital with a severe bleeding ulcer!"

I opened the door to find Julian's assistant, Matthew Cole, standing outside, looking frantic.

"How is he?"

He watched my expression carefully as he spoke.

I remained perfectly calm.

Matthew quickly added, "They really are just friends. Nothing else is going on."

I dragged my suitcase out the door.

He followed beside me, only then realizing I wasn't heading toward the hospital.

"Ms. Ashford, where are you going? Julian is in the hospital. Aren't you going to take care of him?"

"I'm going to Manhattan," I said, not breaking my stride. "Have the hospital call his family for his follow-up care and updates. Don't ever come to me about him again."

"What?" Matthew stared at me in shock.

"The Whitmore family wants to break the engagement, and my father will handle it. As of today, our two families have no ties whatsoever."

"But Julian is waiting for you! It's not like he doesn't care about you." Matthew was still in disbelief. "Are you really just walking away?"

Whether Julian loved me or not had absolutely nothing to do with me anymore.

Over the years, I had given him resources, time, and care.

Even if I was the one who mistook his identity in the beginning, our debts had long been settled.

I gave a small smile. "Yes. I'm ending the engagement. Whatever he does with Sabrina is his business."

"And give him a message for me. Tell him I had the wrong man all along. I've always loved someone else. Tell him to leave me alone."

The thought of finally meeting the real heart transplant recipient—of perhaps hearing Nathan's heartbeat once again—filled me with an impatience I couldn't hide.

Ignoring Matthew's conflicted expression, I had the driver load my luggage into the car and headed straight for Manhattan.

Meanwhile, Matthew hurried back to the hospital.

"Julian, Evelyn isn't coming. She left Greenwich and went to Manhattan..."

Julian's gaze snapped up.

Matthew stammered on, "She said... she had the wrong man all these years. She's going to find the man she actually loves. And she said... to take a hint and leave her alone."