Chapter 2 · The Son He Never Knew Became My Crown

Chapter 2

The next day, every news outlet in Silvergate was buzzing about Edward and Claire's wedding. It dominated the business, entertainment, and even society sections.

The headlines screamed in bold, impossible to ignore: [Sterling Holdings CEO Edward Sterling Announces Wedding to Ms. Ashton], [Five Years of Waiting Finally Comes True: A Real-Life Fairy Tale Romance].

I sat on the couch in my rented apartment, staring at my phone.

On the screen were their high-definition wedding photos.

Edward was in a white tux, smiling softly and tenderly.

That was a smile I'd never seen on his face before. When he smiled at me, it was always polite and distant.

Claire was in a white wedding dress, nestled in his arms. Her face held the kind of happy, proud smile only a winner could have.

They looked so perfect together, as if they were made for each other.

And me, Julia? I was a shameful footnote in their fairy-tale romance, the ex-wife who'd taken her place, only to be cast aside when the real one came along.

My phone buzzed. Two words flashed on the screen: Helen Sterling.

I swiped to answer.

Helen's voice came through, low and controlled, but the smugness was impossible to miss. "Julia, you saw the news, right?"

I stayed silent.

"Edward and Claire are getting married today. The wedding's at a private estate outside the city. No outsiders allowed. But I figured you should know."

Her voice dripped with honey, but there was poison underneath. "You should've stepped aside a long time ago. If your grandfather hadn't pressured Edward into marrying you, he never would've left Claire.

"You've been Mrs. Sterling for three years. It's more than enough. Claire's been the one who had to endure all this for three years. She's always been so patient, waiting quietly. Now, everything's finally back to the way it should be."

Every word Helen said was like a knife, slashing open new wounds in my heart.

So in their eyes, I was nothing but a shameless intruder from the very beginning.

My existence was a mistake.

All my efforts, all the times I bent over backwards to please him, were a joke.

I thought I could melt a stone with my warmth. But in the end, I realized it was an iceberg that would never melt.

Maybe not an iceberg. He gave all his warmth and tenderness to someone else. All I got was endless coldness.

"Julia, are you even listening?" Helen sounded annoyed when I didn't respond. "I'm telling you this so you'll finally let go of any hope. Stop chasing after Edward.

"You two aren't even in the same league anymore. Take the money Edward gave you, find some ordinary guy, and settle down. Live your life quietly."

Her tone was patronizing, as if she was doing me a favor.

Suddenly, it all seemed absurd to me.

Holding my phone, I couldn't help but chuckle quietly.

"What's so funny?" Helen's voice turned wary.

I stopped laughing, my voice calm and steady. "Mrs. Sterling," I said, switching to a more formal address. "Thanks for letting me know.

"But I think you've got it wrong about one thing. I didn't take a single cent from Edward. Yesterday, I walked out with nothing."

There was a dead silence on the other end.

I could picture Helen's stunned face.

"As for chasing after him?" I paused, making sure every word hit home. "Don't worry. Even if he begged, I wouldn't even look at him."

With that, I didn't let her get another word in. I ended the call.

With a beep, the call ended. Finally, the world was quiet. I tossed my phone aside and let out all the frustration I'd been holding in. It was such a relief.

I looked out the window.

The sun was shining, the sky a clear blue. It was a beautiful day, perfect for a wedding and for saying goodbye.

I got up and walked over to my desk and opened my laptop.

The screen lit up, mirroring my calm expression.

I pulled up the airline's website. My fingers flew across the keyboard: [Destination: Lumin. Time: Tonight.]

I booked a one-way ticket and paid for it successfully.

The confirmation email waited quietly in my inbox.

From that moment on, Silvergate, Edward, all of it. None of it had anything to do with me anymore.

Chapter 2

The next day, every news outlet in Silvergate was buzzing about Edward and Claire's wedding. It dominated the business, entertainment, and even society sections.

I sat on the couch in my rented apartment, staring at my phone.

On the screen were their high-definition wedding photos.

Edward was in a white tux, smiling softly and tenderly.

That was a smile I'd never seen on his face before. When he smiled at me, it was always polite and distant.

Claire was in a white wedding dress, nestled in his arms. Her face held the kind of happy, proud smile only a winner could have.

They looked so perfect together, as if they were made for each other.

And me, Julia? I was a shameful footnote in their fairy-tale romance, the ex-wife who'd taken her place, only to be cast aside when the real one came along.

My phone buzzed. Two words flashed on the screen: Helen Sterling.

I swiped to answer.

Helen's voice came through, low and controlled, but the smugness was impossible to miss. "Julia, you saw the news, right?"

I stayed silent.

"Edward and Claire are getting married today. The wedding's at a private estate outside the city. No outsiders allowed. But I figured you should know."

Every word Helen said was like a knife, slashing open new wounds in my heart.

So in their eyes, I was nothing but a shameless intruder from the very beginning.

My existence was a mistake.

All my efforts, all the times I bent over backwards to please him, were a joke.

I thought I could melt a stone with my warmth. But in the end, I realized it was an iceberg that would never melt.

Maybe not an iceberg. He gave all his warmth and tenderness to someone else. All I got was endless coldness.

"Julia, are you even listening?" Helen sounded annoyed when I didn't respond. "I'm telling you this so you'll finally let go of any hope. Stop chasing after Edward.

"You two aren't even in the same league anymore. Take the money Edward gave you, find some ordinary guy, and settle down. Live your life quietly."

Her tone was patronizing, as if she was doing me a favor.

Suddenly, it all seemed absurd to me.

Holding my phone, I couldn't help but chuckle quietly.

"What's so funny?" Helen's voice turned wary.

I stopped laughing, my voice calm and steady. "Mrs. Sterling," I said, switching to a more formal address. "Thanks for letting me know.

"But I think you've got it wrong about one thing. I didn't take a single cent from Edward. Yesterday, I walked out with nothing."

There was a dead silence on the other end.

I could picture Helen's stunned face.

"As for chasing after him?" I paused, making sure every word hit home. "Don't worry. Even if he begged, I wouldn't even look at him."

With that, I didn't let her get another word in. I ended the call.

With a beep, the call ended. Finally, the world was quiet. I tossed my phone aside and let out all the frustration I'd been holding in. It was such a relief.

I looked out the window.

The sun was shining, the sky a clear blue. It was a beautiful day, perfect for a wedding and for saying goodbye.

I got up and walked over to my desk and opened my laptop.

The screen lit up, mirroring my calm expression.

I pulled up the airline's website. My fingers flew across the keyboard: [Destination: Lumin. Time: Tonight.]

I booked a one-way ticket and paid for it successfully.

The confirmation email waited quietly in my inbox.

From that moment on, Silvergate, Edward, all of it. None of it had anything to do with me anymore.