Chapter 3

Chloe pov

At the gala, everyone was toasting. Julian and I had just taken our seats when I saw Seraphina. She walked directly over and sat in the empty seat next to Julian. All evening, Julian leaned in, whispering to Seraphina, not sparing me a single glance.

When the gala ended, he pulled me up, ready to leave. I excused myself to the restroom midway. As I stepped out, I saw Seraphina cornered in the hallway by a group of sleazy men, who were harassing her.

"Well, well, isn't it Seraphina? After what you did to Julian, you have the nerve to show your face back here?"

"Heard your family's almost bankrupt, and your dad's trying to sell you off to some old geezer? Why not come with us boys? We promise we'll treat you better than any old man ever could…"

Before they could finish, I saw a figure dash down the stairs. Julian's face was terrifyingly grim. He landed a furious kick on the man closest to Seraphina, then pinned him to the ground, punching him relentlessly, without mercy.

"Get lost! If I ever see you near her again, I'll make sure you vanish from this city!" His terrifying warning sent the men scrambling. The hallway filled with onlookers.

Julian helped Seraphina up, his gaze filled with concern. "Are you hurt?"

Seraphina threw herself into his arms, crying pitifully. "My ankle feels twisted. It hurts so much."

Julian's expression darkened. He bent down, lifted her into his arms, and swiftly left. He shielded Seraphina completely, protecting her. I stood right beside him, yet he didn't even look at me. His heavy wristwatch even cruelly grazed my temple.

The blow made me stumble, my head hitting the hard, decorative corner of the wall behind me with a sickening thud. A line of blood immediately streamed down my forehead.

"Oh my God, she's bleeding! Call an ambulance!"

My vision blurred, the searing pain making cold sweat trickle down my back. I watched Julian's retreating back, his stride unwavering, and my mouth filled with a bitter taste.

Years ago, when I pricked my finger during drug trials for him, he would be anxious for half an hour. He once held my hand and said, "This place is too lonely. Once I'm powerful enough, I'll fill it with a unique star just for you."

Now, my head was bleeding profusely, and he pretended not to see. My "star" gift, too, had been given to someone else.

I was loaded into an ambulance and quickly taken to the hospital. I registered, had my wound cleaned, and stitches put in, all by myself, returning home late that night. I was in too much pain to sleep. Julian didn't come home all night.

The next morning, I dragged my exhausted body out of bed to change my dressing, only to see new socialite news. It was a short video: Julian, half-kneeling, was carefully applying medicine to Seraphina's ankle. I had never seen such tenderness in his eyes.

I watched it several times, until tears streamed down my face, then fell back asleep. When I woke again, it was dark outside. My phone vibrated incessantly. As soon as I answered, I heard Julian rattle off an address.

"The Phoenix Lounge, VIP room. Get here now."

I thought about it for a moment, then chose to get up.

When I arrived, pushing open the door, I saw Seraphina, her eyes red, sitting there like a startled, pitiable rabbit. Julian looked at me, his expression grim, saying nothing.

"You called me here. What's wrong?" I spoke first.

Julian sat up straight, his hands clasped, a posture he used at the negotiating table. "Chloe, were those men yesterday, were they arranged by you?"

I froze. I instinctively looked at Seraphina, catching a fleeting flicker of triumph in her eyes. I understood instantly. I shook my head. "It wasn't me."

Julian's expression didn't soften. He lowered his gaze, his voice calm. "Stop stirring up trouble. Seraphina is a thing of the past. The person standing by my side now is you, and that will never change. Her family is down and out; anyone can kick them while they're down, but it shouldn't be you. You don't need to use such methods for my sake."

When I heard those words, my heart lurched violently. Five years of my companionship, dismissed by his casual "a thing of the past." I thought of the wedding photos one last time and couldn't help but cry.

"Yes, we've been together for five years. How am I only just finding out who's truly in your heart now?"

Julian froze at my words. "What do you mean?"

I shook my head, a bitter laugh escaping me. "What I mean is, as a chauffeur's daughter, where would I get the connections or the power to bully a former heiress?"

Even when I spelled it out clearly, Julian still didn't believe me. I was tired, too tired to explain anymore.

"Since you don't believe me, what do you want me to do?"

Julian pressed his fingers to his temples. "Apologize."

At that moment, Seraphina, sitting beside him, suddenly spoke, her voice pitiful. "No need for an apology. If you truly feel sorry for me, then eat all these sea urchins on the table."

Chapter