Chapter 3
It felt like someone had thrown a bucket of cold water over me—suddenly, reality hit me hard. I couldn't help but remember that day when Julian showed up at my door, arms full of bags, asking if we could get back together.
Three years ago, just like so many other couples, we couldn't survive the whole long-distance relationship thing.
It wasn't that we stopped loving each other—it was just that all the petty annoyances and daily hassles kept chipping away at our feelings.
But I never imagined that after we broke up, my parents would be killed in a car crash while traveling for work.
The blow was so huge, it completely broke me inside.
On a day that seemed just like any other, I was ready to end it all.
But Julian came when I needed him most.
After Sienna told him how she felt, he knew I was the one for him.
So, he gave up his comfortable life and moved to my city, starting over.
He proved with his actions that someone in this world would always choose me.
He went with me to see a therapist, and kept promising me, again and again, that he'd always stay by my side.
But six months ago, right before we were supposed to get married, I walked in and caught him and Sienna lying together on the same bed.
And now he was saying he'd always have Sienna's back, that he'd be her safety net, forever.
How long did his forever really last? I couldn't help but wonder.
Maybe my sadness was written all over my face, because Julian paused what he was doing and walked over to me.
He had those narrow, smoldering eyes—whenever he looked at someone, it was impossible not to get drawn in.
I reached up and gently covered his eyes, my voice soft as a whisper.
"Last night you gave me one story, tonight it's another. Julian, which one am I supposed to trust?"
Julian let me cover his eyes. Hearing my question, his lips moved, but he couldn't even manage a single word of explanation.
He gave Sienna the guts to act all high and mighty right in front of me.
And I was still trying to gloss over the mess between us, pretending it was all okay.
Just because he once risked it all to come to me.
But all the things that once moved me. Today, they were finally worn away for good.
I took my hand away from his eyes.
As the light hit him again, Julian blinked, looking a bit uneasy.
It only took a few seconds for him to react. He reached out to grab me, but I turned away, dodging his touch.
He seemed caught off guard that I avoided him, his hand just hanging there, stuck in the air.
Still facing away from him, I said quietly, "Let's make dinner."
Once we finish this last meal together, I'll finally let go.
Over the next few days, Julian was busy covering for Sienna, completely unaware that I'd already sold my parents' old gallery.
I was planning to use the money to move to the island where my parents grew up and start fresh.
To keep Julian in the dark, I only told a few friends about selling the gallery.
The very next day after the news got out, Wendy came looking for me.
After we signed the contract, Wendy asked curiously, "Are you really planning to get married and become a full-time housewife? You're not even running the gallery anymore?"
She went on, trying to talk some sense into me.
"Julian's still showing Sienna off all over town. You should keep something for yourself, just in case," she said.
Where did she even hear that? I felt genuinely puzzled.
"Who said I was getting married?" I asked.
Wendy caught my reaction and couldn't help but frown.
"Julian, obviously," she replied.
"Yesterday, he was out with Sienna and her company's boss for dinner. I happened to be in the next private room," she explained.
I couldn't help but scoff inwardly. Julian's got some real tricks up his sleeve.
To save Sienna's reputation, he just made up a wedding announcement on the spot.
"Don't make the same mistake again," Wendy said.
"Julian's just not worth it," she added.
She was getting a bit too deep, especially since we weren't that close.
But when I saw the genuine concern in her eyes, I couldn't help but feel touched.
"Don't worry. I'm not marrying Julian," I said.
When I got home that night, Julian was waiting for me in the living room.
Noticing a few suitcases packed up in the corner, my stomach dropped.
But seeing him just leaning back on the couch, eyes closed and looking completely exhausted, I finally let out a sigh of relief.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
Julian looked over at me, his eyes questioning, his voice still a bit rough.
His eyes lingered on the suitcases for a moment.
"Switching out your wardrobe for the new season again? I've been pretty busy lately, so I can't help you this time," he said.
It seemed that dealing with Sienna was turning out to be a real hassle.
With Julian in her corner, and plenty of other people backing her up, she's got connections everywhere.
Before I leave, I might as well throw a little more fuel on the fire.
"Yvonne, Yvonne..." Julian called out.
I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn't even notice him calling me.
"What's up?" I asked.
"Why don't you wait a few days? When I'm not so busy, I'll help you pack," he said.
I shot down Julian's offer without a second thought.
I was actually hoping he'd be too busy to help.
Good thing I always like to do a big wardrobe overhaul whenever the seasons change.
Over the next few days, Julian was gone before I woke up and didn't come home until I was already in bed.