After relentlessly chasing and finally getting the brilliant but struggling Julian, I got bored. So, I pulled some flimsy excuse and broke up with him:
My family’s loaded, yours isn’t. Our worlds just don’t mesh, Julian. We’re totally incompatible.
I blocked him on everything right after, then bought a plane ticket and traveled for three months. I had the absolute time of my life, completely forgetting about him.
But when I came back three months later, I found out Julian had completely transformed.
He wasn’t just some struggling student anymore; he was the Sterling family’s most favored heir.
My jaw dropped. I was completely speechless.
The entire social scene practically exploded with laughter. Everyone was just dying to see me become the biggest joke in town.
At the gala, Julian stood there, gripping a champagne flute, his face utterly cold as he stalked towards me.
My legs practically gave out.
I stumbled back against the wall, reaching out and clutching the edge of his designer jacket. I practically shrieked:
I’m pregnant, Julian! And it’s yours!
You can’t hurt me… not physically, not even with your words!
*Sniffle*, Julian, I’m pregnant, and you’re still ignoring me?! You total jerk!
After relentlessly chasing and finally getting the brilliant but struggling Julian, I got bored. So, I pulled some flimsy excuse and broke up with him:
My family’s loaded, yours isn’t. Our worlds just don’t mesh, Julian. We’re totally incompatible.
I blocked him on everything right after, then bought a plane ticket and traveled for three months.
I had the absolute time of my life, completely forgetting about him.
But when I came back three months later, I found out Julian had completely transformed.
He wasn’t just some struggling student anymore; he was the Sterling family’s most favored heir.
My jaw dropped. I was completely speechless.
The entire social scene practically exploded with laughter.
Everyone was just dying to see me become the biggest joke in town.
At the gala, Julian stood there, gripping a champagne flute, his face utterly cold as he stalked towards me.
My legs practically gave out.
I stumbled back against the wall, reaching out and clutching the edge of his designer jacket.
I practically shrieked:
I’m pregnant, Julian! And it’s yours!
You can’t hurt me… not physically, not even with your words!
*Sniffle*, Julian, I’m pregnant, and you’re still ignoring me?! You total jerk!
Even at the airport, when my brother, Leo, picked me up, he gave me a look that was way too meaningful, practically saying I had some serious guts.
Later, at the party, Bianca sidled up to me, her face practically glowing with malicious glee as she spilled the beans.
That “poor genius” I dumped three months ago, using his lack of money as an excuse, was actually Julian Hayes, the incredibly low-key heir to the Hayes empire.
“You’re so screwed.”
Bianca laughed, a wild, triumphant sound.
“He was just playing it low-key, and you actually believed he was *poor* enough to break up with him?
He’s absolutely seething, swearing he’ll tear you to shreds the moment he lays eyes on you.”
I shivered.
My fear skyrocketed the moment Julian practically shoved me into his car.
I huddled against the door, watching in horror as he started pulling off his jacket and loosening his tie
“What are you doing?!”
I forced a shaky bravado.
“It was just a breakup, Julian!
Adults break up and move on all the time. Why are you being such a drama queen?”
“Breakup?”
He actually chuckled, a humorless sound, clearly furious.
“Is that what you call a breakup, Ava?
You sent a breakup text, blocked me, and then jetted off on a trip overseas.
If your dad and Leo hadn’t guaranteed you’d eventually come back, I would’ve assumed you just vanished.”
He stopped undressing.
He slid into the driver’s seat, pulled me into his lap, and his voice was a low rumble.
“Explain.”
“Explain what?”
“Why did you break up with me for no reason?”
Why else? Because I was sick of him.
I chased him for three long years, from freshman year until graduation.
And even then, it took a fourth year for him to finally give in C out of pity, not love.
Being with him? That was the real nightmare.
I was pretty, came from a good family, and my parents had spoiled me rotten my whole life.
I lived on my own terms.
But he *insisted* on setting rules for me.
Eating snacks in bed? Absolutely not.
Skipping breakfast? Not allowed.
Staying up late gaming? Still a hard no.
The endless, petty rules gave me a splitting headache.
Id try to argue, boiling with anger, only for him to give me the silent treatment.
Id sob hysterically, practically screaming, while he just sat there, calmly reviewing his files.
After my voice went hoarse from crying, hed finally look up and ask:
“Are you done throwing a fit?
“If you are, go eat. I have to work this afternoon.”
That feeling of just hitting a wall, of having your anger just absorbed into nothing? It was beyond frustrating.
As much as Id liked him when I was chasing him, thats how much I hated his controlling ways now.
I was completely over it!
My dad always told me that a pampered, high-maintenance girl like me needed a soft-spoken guy who would just indulge me my whole life.
I never really bought it before.
Now? Now I think Dad was absolutely right.
I’m pampered, I’m willful, I’m dramatic, I’m a total diva.
If Julian couldn’t handle indulging me, then I’d just find a boyfriend who could.
But there’s no way in hell I could have guessed that Julian was *the* mysterious heir to the Preston family.
If I’d known Julian was the Thorne family’s beloved heir, the one who had everything handed to him on a silver platter, I never would’ve broken up with him.
Even though I don’t get involved in my family’s business, I still understand how many doors would’ve opened just by being connected to a family like the Thornes.
But he never told me.
He lied to me for four years.
Thinking about it, a fresh wave of anger surged through me.
I peeled myself off Julian, frowning as I looked at him.
“Didn’t you lie to me for four years too? What right do you have to blame me for breaking up with you?”
He probably realized he was in the wrong because he fell silent for a moment before saying,
“Okay, then we’re even. No more keeping score. Let’s just pretend none of this ever happened.”
He reached out, trying to pull me into an embrace again, his voice softening.
“Chloe, let’s go home. I made your favorite”
*Snap!*
I yanked my hand away from his.
“Get this straight, I’m not throwing a tantrum. I’m genuinely breaking up with you. You lying to me means you betrayed me. Just because I’m not holding it against you doesn’t mean I’m going to stick around.”
I took a deep breath, steeling myself against his rapidly darkening expression, and finally, the words came out.
“Julian, I don’t love you anymore. Can we just end this respectfully, for both our sakes?”
The underground parking garage was dimly lit.
Liam glared at me, his brows furrowed with impatience as he warned,
Chloe, youve gone way too far this time.
Apologize to me now, and Ill pretend I didnt hear any of it. Otherwise, you wont be getting out of bed tomorrow.
I shook my head without a moments hesitation.
Im serious about breaking up with you. Im not being childish, and Im not throwing a tantrum.
Liam, I dont like you anymore. Not at all. I genuinely dislike you. You annoy me just by existing. Do you understand?
I repeated I dont like you several times.
Liams face grew darker with each word.
He swung his long arm, hauling me into his embrace, then leaned down, gripping my chin to kiss me.
Liam
Do you remember what I said when we first got together?
His voice was deep.
Confused by the kiss, I fumbled through my remaining thoughts, finally digging out that memory from deep inside my mind
My family is incredibly devoted. Once we commit to someone, its forever.
Chloe, once youre with me, its for life. Are you absolutely sure about this?
Back then, Id answered Of course without a second thought.
Werent those just empty promises couples whispered to each other? He wanted to hear them, and I could spout vows easily enough. But in real life, what good were they?
I never speak nonsense.
Liam nuzzled my cheek with his nose.
For me, dating and marriage are no different. It means Ive already committed to one person.
Theres no divorce in my world, no breaking up. The only way wed ever part is if one of us dies.
Chloe, just *try* me one more time?
Tyrant!
I glared at Julian, seething, my hand itching to pinch the flesh on his arm.
He just lay there, letting me, his other hand gently stroking my head.
Suddenly, he spoke:
“Your dad’s been trying to get a deal with the Maxwell Group lately. Did you know?”
I shook my head.
He continued, “Your family isn’t exactly a frontrunner for that project. It’ll be a tough fight to secure it.
“I can help you, but you need to be cooperative.
“Don’t bring up breaking up again, Jady. One more word about it, and I won’t be so understanding. Understood?”
“…You!”
I couldn’t believe it. “Are you actually using my family’s company to threaten me?
“Are you even human, Julian? You’re a monster!”
“You don’t have to pretend to be eloquent, Jady. No one’s forcing you to sound smart.”
Julian sighed, pressing the space between his brows.
“Jady, I just want you to play nice.
“When you’re not behaving, my mind isn’t on my work.”
“I told you I want to break”
“Enough, Jady. Push me any further, and I’ll actually get angry.”
He lifted a hand, capturing my fingertips, gently caressing them. His voice dropped, low and dangerous:
“Jady, you really don’t want to see me angry, do you?”
I clamped my mouth shut instantly.
When Caleb got mad, it wasn’t just ‘upset.’ It was downright *terrifying*. And I mean that literally.
The last time he truly blew a fuse was when I pushed my body to the limit, pulling an all-nighter gaming. I ended up with a scorching fever that spiraled into pneumonia.
Caleb nursed me back to health, but his face was a mask of cold fury the whole time.
As soon as I was back on my feet, he practically dragged me to the track field and forced me to run five thousand meters.
He ran right alongside me.
I ended up collapsing, sobbing on the track, cursing him, calling him a lunatic.
“Who are you to boss me around?!” I cried out. “You’re absolutely insane, damn it! Waaah, my legs are killing me…”
“Good,” he said, nodding. “Still swearing, I see.”
Caleb nodded slowly. “Great. Another five thousand meters. You don’t sleep until you’re done.”
Seeing him stand up, dust off his tracksuit, and then move to haul me back on my feet to keep running, my head spun.
I instantly latched onto his leg, bursting into tears.
“Honey, I’m so sorry! I won’t do it again! No more late nights, no more gaming! I messed up, waaah, my legs really hurt so bad…”
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