On the day of our civil wedding, my boyfriend, Julian Blackwood, had me kicked out of the courthouse, then walked in with his childhood sweetheart.
He looked at me with an indifferent shrug:
Seraphina’s child needs his birth registered. Once we’re divorced, I’ll marry you.
Everyone expected me, so deeply in love, to willingly wait another month for him.
After all, I had waited seven years.
But that very night, I accepted an arranged marriage abroad.
And vanished from his world.
Three years later, I returned to the country with my husband for a family remembrance trip.
Asher had a sudden business emergency, so he arranged for someone from his domestic branch to pick me up.
I never imagined I’d run into Julian Blackwood, whom I hadn’t seen in three years.
“You’ve played this game long enough. It’s time to come back… Seraphina’s child is starting kindergarten soon, you can handle the pick-ups and drop-offs.”
1
In the arrival hall, I spotted someone holding a sign with my English name. Walking closer, I realized it was my ex-boyfriend, Julian, whom I hadn’t seen in three years.
He was with Seraphina Hayes and a few of his buddies, all craning their necks, eagerly peering into the crowd.
“Julian, isn’t that your simping ex, Elara?”
Julian looked surprised to see me, but quickly masked it, feigning nonchalance.
“See? I told you she’d come crawling back.”
They all snickered, turning their attention to me:
“Elara just vanished without a word back then. Now that Julian’s made it big, she’s probably crying herself to sleep every night, filled with regret!”
“But Elara, if you’re trying to stage a ‘chance encounter,’ why are you wearing casual clothes? Didn’t you bother to spruce yourself up?”
“Don’t tell me without Julian, you can’t even afford decent clothes? Look how low you’ve fallen!”
I used to meticulously apply my most exquisite makeup and choose the most flattering clothes, always presenting my best self whenever I met Julian.
But now, there was no need.
My husband didn’t allow me to wear makeup while pregnant and insisted I wear whatever was comfortable. This casual outfit was custom-made for me by someone he specifically hired.
Still, listening to them, I realized they only knew my English name but had no idea *I* was the person they were supposed to be picking up.
Seeing me remain silent, someone I used to be close with quickly tried to smooth things over.
“Elara, it’s good you’re back. Julian has actually been looking for you all these years… asking around for any news!”
Julian’s smile froze, but he quickly composed himself, speaking as if nothing had happened.
“Seraphina’s child is starting kindergarten soon. You can be in charge of picking him up and dropping him off.”
Julian was still as self-important and arrogant as ever.
But I was no longer the girl who used to endlessly tolerate him. Seeing him again, all that was left in my heart was annoyance.
Unwilling to waste time with them, I was about to reveal my identity when Seraphina spoke first:
“Elara, please don’t blame Julian. He’s just trying to take care of you. After all, who knows what you’ve been doing out there for three years?”
“Now that you’re looking so run-down and poor, even if he wanted to give you my personal assistant job, you couldn’t handle it.”
“Don’t worry, just help me take care of my son. Nobody will look down on you for that.”
Three years, and Seraphina was still so haughty, still capable of making me frown in disgust.
Julian, however, misinterpreted my reaction, thinking I was still jealous and angry over him. A flicker of triumph crossed his eyes.
“Alright, you’re obviously not making it out there, so what airs are you putting on?”
“Just take care of the child and stop causing trouble. You need to recognize your place.”
“Don’t worry, there’s still a room for the nanny at my house.”
At his words, the people around us immediately broke into mocking laughter.
“Elara, see how good Julian is to you? He’s worried you’d suffer out there, so he’s arranged your food and lodging.”
“He’s just asking you to help Seraphina with the child—isn’t that way better than your current impoverished life? Why aren’t you thanking Julian?”
Seraphina touched her earring, feigning concern.
“Elara, don’t worry. If my son is naughty and disobedient, I’ll help you discipline him. I won’t let you be wronged.”
Julian chuckled, giving me a dismissive glance.
2
“Wronged? What’s there to be wronged about? She disappeared over such a small matter back then. Now she’s back because she couldn’t make it on her own. A little hardship is what she deserves.”
My heart practically stopped at those words.
Even now, did he still think getting married to Seraphina was a “small matter”?
The Julian who once loved me was long gone.
He was no longer the boy who, despite his own injuries, carried me across half the city.
Nor the young man who, with nothing, loudly proclaimed his love and promised me everything.
And certainly not the successful man who once willingly cooked for me with his own hands.
But it was fine. It was all in the past, no need to dwell on it.
After all, I was about to have my second child.
Pushing down my thoughts, I really didn’t want to waste time bickering with them here. It was pointless.
I looked at Julian, my voice calm.
“Aren’t you here to pick me up? Let’s go.”
The scene went silent for a moment. They exchanged glances, then suddenly burst into laughter.
Seraphina scoffed, her voice cold.
“Wait for *you*? You think you’re worthy?!”
She pointed at the sign. “Look closely, we’re waiting for Helina. Do you even know who that is?”
That was my English name. Of course, I knew.
“Helina is Mrs. Montgomery, the lady of the Montgomery family, Mr. Montgomery’s rightful wife.”
“Mr. Montgomery is a fierce decision-maker in the business world, but personally, he’s a true romantic. Rumor has it he didn’t marry for years because he was waiting for Helina.”
“Everyone in our circle knows it’s better to curry favor with Mrs. Montgomery than with Mr. Montgomery. Mrs. Montgomery is the apple of his eye.”
Hearing their chattering, a happy smile touched my lips.
Three years into our marriage, Asher’s business had grown exponentially, and his reputation as a doting husband had only gotten louder.
Seraphina, always wanting to one-up me, seized the opportunity to show off:
“To win Mrs. Montgomery’s heart, Mr. Montgomery once bought a ‘True Love Forever’ bracelet at Christie’s, valued at 20 million… dollars.”
“Mrs. Montgomery is the envy of women everywhere.”
She paused, then pointed at my wrist, her voice shrill.
“It’s this one!”
The crowd suddenly fell silent, everyone staring at my bracelet.
Julian roughly grabbed my hand, scrutinizing it for a moment, then sneered.
“Pretty good fake! Which broke delivery guy got this for you? Gifting knock-offs, seriously.”
“Trash.”
I yanked my hand away from him, a faint smile playing on my lips as I gently caressed the bracelet.
Seeing my happy smile, Julian’s pupils constricted. He grabbed my wrist again, violently ripping the bracelet off.
I hadn’t expected such a sudden move and he succeeded in one swift motion.
3
Seraphina stepped forward, examining the bracelet. She took it from Julian’s hand and toyed with it.
“It’s definitely more exquisite than the fake I bought, but I’d never wear it out. People would laugh.”
“Foreign knock-offs really are different; the texture is quite nice.”
“Or, are you saying, Elara, that *you* are Helina, the legendary Mrs. Montgomery?!”
At her words, the surrounding group burst into laughter.
After all, to them, it was utterly ridiculous.
Asher Montgomery was a globally renowned financial genius, ruthless and decisive in the business world.
And I, three years ago, was still hanging out with them, a nobody Julian had rejected at the courthouse.
It was impossible to imagine.
Seraphina swung the bracelet around on her finger.
“Elara, let me have this bracelet. I’ll pay double.”
Fearing she might drop it, I quickly said,
“Give me back my bracelet! Asher gave me that…”
Before I could finish, Julian slapped me so hard my head snapped to the side, and blood welled at the corner of my mouth.
“Shut up!”
Julian looked at me, infuriated.
“Elara, Mr. Montgomery’s name isn’t something you get to casually utter. How dare you spread rumors about being involved with him? Are you trying to get me killed?”
Julian’s buddies also looked indignant, glaring at me.
“Elara, do you have any idea how hard we fought to get the chance to pick up Mrs. Montgomery today?”
“Julian’s company was acquired by Mr. Montgomery last year. We’re all dependent on Mr. Montgomery for our very livelihood. Only by currying favor with Mrs. Montgomery can Julian’s position be secure.”
“Now you’re here spreading rumors about being involved with Mr. Montgomery? Are you trying to ruin Julian?”
I wiped the blood from my lip, slowly turning my head to meet Julian’s gaze.
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