**Chapter One**
After five years of dating, my boyfriend, Julian Sinclair, was finally going to marry me. But at the engagement ceremony, the bride-to-be was his first love, Bella Thorne.
I watched the grand engagement unfold on TV.
Everyone was celebrating Julian and Bella’s wedding.
“Mr. Sinclair and Ms. Thorne are truly a match made in heaven. Let’s send them our sincerest blessings, wishing them a lifetime of love and happiness.”
A huge round of applause erupted. Then, the two exchanged engagement rings.
The TV station even zoomed in on Bella’s ring.
It was a diamond the size of a pigeon’s egg, sparkling with beautiful fire. You could tell it was incredibly expensive just by looking at it.
I watched the TV, finishing the instant ramen in my bowl, seeing my boyfriend smile gently and dotingly at another woman.
That ring was supposed to be mine.
After our passionate night, Julian had taken the ring out to show me.
“Do you like it?”
I nodded excitedly, yet a little worried, “Won’t this be very expensive?”
Julian chuckled, “For the Sinclair family, what’s this? Aurora, don’t worry about these things. Just prepare to marry me.”
At that time, I was overjoyed that our five-year relationship was finally coming to fruition.
I even fantasized about our beautiful future together.
But after Bella returned, I realized I was nothing.
I was just an insignificant placeholder, ready to be discarded at any moment.
“Your flight is scheduled for departure on the 31st at 2:31 PM. Please make your preparations.”
I finished reading the message and turned off my phone.
All these years, I had given up everything to stay by Julian’s side, even abandoning my dreams.
Well, it’s fine now. I can chase my dreams again.
Julian didn’t come home until late that night.
He fumbled his way into bed, embracing the warm person beside him. “Sleeping so early tonight? Hmm?”
He woke me up, and I slowly turned over. “I’m tired.”
Julian kissed my forehead, his hand beginning to roam.
I stiffened and pulled away. “I don’t feel well. Let’s just skip it tonight.”
Julian’s hand paused, then he let me go.
“Are you upset?”
I didn’t answer. No woman would be happy seeing her partner get engaged to someone else.
“Aurora, don’t throw a childish tantrum. It’s just an engagement.”
A bitter ache filled my heart.
*Just* an engagement.
I had waited five years and never even got an engagement. Julian wasn’t even willing to take me to meet his family.
Yet, two years ago, at my birthday party, Julian was singing me ‘Happy Birthday’ one moment.
The next, he took a call and rushed out the door without a word, leaving me embarrassed at my own party. Everyone wondered who the girl on the other end of the phone was, but I couldn’t answer.
I later found out it was the dream girl he could never have from his youth.
And I was merely an insignificant placeholder.
His true dream girl was back, so the one he’d casually found meant nothing.
Bella had only been back for three months, and Julian had already introduced her to all his friends.
That took me five years to achieve.
Later, Julian boldly introduced Bella to everyone, including his parents.
He made it clear that with him around, no one would bully Bella.
Then came the engagement, planned with the highest standards. He loved Bella so much he didn’t want her to suffer even the slightest inconvenience.
It was then I truly understood that Julian had never loved me.
Our relationship would never have a future.
**Chapter Two**
When I woke up, Julian was already gone.
I got up and packed my things into a suitcase.
Yesterday, Julian told me to be more understanding. He said the engagement was just to give Bella security for the future, otherwise, she’d have no one but him to rely on.
But what about me? I felt like I only had Julian to rely on, too.
And now, not even Julian.
Today was our fifth anniversary.
A sliver of hope I didn’t even know I still held lingered in my heart. Regardless, I wanted to bring this chapter to a close.
So, I bought many groceries and cooked a feast, all Julian’s favorite dishes.
Over the years, it had become a habit.
What Julian liked, what he disliked – it was all etched into my heart.
“I’ve made dinner. Are you coming back to eat?”
For the past four anniversaries, Julian had always remembered.
He would buy me flowers, all sorts of gifts.
Only today, I waited until the food grew cold, until the sun set, and Julian didn’t come home, nor did he send me a single message.
My heart felt as cold as the untouched dinner.
I ate the meal bite by bite, and for some reason, it tasted saltier and saltier.
“Aurora, your father’s short on cash lately. Send some money over.”
No sooner had I finished washing the dishes than I received a call from my father.
“I don’t have any money.”
My father had a gambling addiction. I would give him small amounts, but never large sums.
That would only make his addiction worse.
“What about Julian? He’s so rich, tell him to give you some! I’m his father-in-law, surely he won’t refuse me?”
Listening to my father’s entitled tone, my grip on the phone tightened.
Every time, it was like this.
Why did no one ever consider *me*?
A profound weariness swept over me.
“I’m breaking up with Julian, Dad. I don’t have money, and you need to stop gambling.”
“Break up? Are you crazy? If you break up with Julian, where will you find someone so good again? You’ve been with him for five years, who else would want you?”
If I didn’t know this man was my father, I would’ve thought these words came from an enemy.
“He’s marrying someone else. I won’t give you any more money, and don’t call me again.”
I didn’t want to talk to my father anymore.
The phone slipped weakly from my hand. I slumped against the wall, uncontrollable.
Tears soaked my sleeve.
The tangle of emotions in my heart threatened to consume me.
Not until Julian came home.
“What are you doing sitting here?” he asked.
I raised my hand to shield my eyes. Having been in the dark for so long, the light felt a bit harsh.
I didn’t answer, unsure what to say.
Julian pulled me up, then noticed the suitcase in the living room.
He raised an eyebrow. “Packing so much? Where are you planning to go?”
Only then did I slowly speak. “To clear my head.”
Julian scoffed. “Go ahead and clear your head if you want. Just make sure you come back.”
He said it so casually, utterly convinced I wouldn’t leave him.
And why wouldn’t he be? For five years, I had taken such good care of Julian. This man seemed to be the very meaning of my life.
“Aurora, don’t try this runaway drama just because you’re mad at me. You know I don’t fall for that.”
“I’ve already given your father the two hundred thousand he asked for.”
After saying that, Julian walked directly to the bedroom and lay down.
I froze, a thick wave of humiliation enveloping me, suffocating me.
**Chapter Three**
Julian never offered any explanation for the anniversary incident.
Not until I found Bella’s private profile.
I couldn’t help but secretly check her social media, wanting to see what kind of woman Julian had fallen for.
Instead, I saw that on our anniversary, Julian was spending the day with Bella at an amusement park.
They wore matching headbands, smiling at the camera.
Julian looked down at Bella, his gaze incredibly doting.
“My fiancé treats me so well~”
That was Bella’s caption.
I stared, lost in thought.
Bella was beautiful. Unlike me, she seemed incredibly cheerful.
I was always a bit quieter, less outwardly expressive.
That day, Julian had spent the entire day with Bella.
I remembered going to an amusement park with Julian once.
I had begged him to go. Seeing other couples take many beautiful photos, I had similar thoughts.
Julian initially refused, saying he was too busy with work.
But I persisted, and he eventually came.
However, when I tried to put a cat-ear headband on him, he immediately took it off. “Why would a man wear something like that?”
So, our photo only showed me awkwardly standing by with my cat-ear headband, and an impatient Julian.
I thought Julian was just like that, so I comforted myself, thinking he treated everyone the same way.
Until I saw how he was with Bella.
Only then did I realize he simply didn’t love me.
I turned off my phone and deleted Bella’s account.
Since I had made up my mind, there would be no more lingering attachment.
“If you ever ask Julian for money again, I’ll end it.”
After sending that message to my father, I continued packing.
“I’m hungry, Aurora. Why didn’t you bring me lunch today?”
After I had finished packing everything, I received a message from Julian.
He had a sensitive stomach and didn’t like outside food, only what I cooked.
I had been bringing him meals for five years.
I still went to buy groceries and cooked.
After all, Julian had given my father quite a bit of money. I couldn’t just stop doing it.
The kitchen was filled with cooking smells, and I was afraid Julian would be impatient, so after cooking, I quickly changed and rushed out.
When I arrived at his company, I went upstairs, but I noticed people around me were looking at me strangely.
I was puzzled, wanting only to complete my task quickly, so I naturally didn’t hear the employees behind me gossiping.
“Isn’t she the one who delivers food from the restaurant?”
A colleague sneered, “New around here, huh? That’s Mr. Sinclair’s ex-girlfriend. Too bad, after all these years, she never even got a proper title.”
I didn’t know any of this. I went upstairs and pushed open the office door. “I brought you lunch…”
Only to see Bella sitting in Julian’s lap.
Her lips still glistened, and it was obvious what had just happened.
Bella looked a little shy. Seeing me, she immediately stood up.
Bella was wearing the latest designer fashion, and the diamond ring sparkled on her finger.
Julian looked at me with some impatience. “Why didn’t you knock before coming in? Have you forgotten your manners?”
Bella immediately stepped in to smooth things over. “Julian, why are you being so hard on her? She just forgot to knock.”
Julian instantly fell silent.
Bella walked up to Aurora Blake. She carried a faint, expensive perfume scent.
Meanwhile, I had just finished cooking at home, my clothes smelling of the kitchen, and rushed out wearing an old outfit I bought two years ago at a small mall.
“Hi, I’m Bella Thorne. Thank you for bringing the food.”
I thought my heart wouldn’t stir anymore.
But at that moment, I was still unbearably heartbroken.
**Chapter Four**
I don’t know how I left the company.
Only then did I understand what those people had been gossiping about.
It was all about how I had worked so diligently for so many years, only to end up abandoned.
I went home and slept the day away, hiding under my covers until the next morning.
Julian didn’t come home that day.
“Aurora, come to the studio.”
I received a text from Professor Davies after I woke up, and I immediately rushed to the studio.
I studied design, and Professor Davies once told me I had exceptional talent, hoping I would pursue further studies abroad.
But at that time, I met Julian. Like a moth drawn to a flame, I fell hopelessly in love and couldn’t pull myself away from the relationship, giving up the chance to study overseas.
Professor Davies had sighed over it for a long time, so now that I decided to go abroad, she was naturally thrilled.
When I arrived at the studio, Professor Davies was drawing, with a young man standing beside her.
“Aurora, you’re here? This is Leo Sinclair. You two will be going abroad together, come and meet him.”
I hadn’t known there would be someone else, and I felt a bit awkward.
But the man extended his hand first. “It’s good to meet you, Aurora.”
His hands were large, with strong, artistic knuckles.
Leo looked at me and smiled, a gentle, refined warmth about him.
“Hello.”
Professor Davies finished her drawing and patted my shoulder. “It’s good to have two of you going together, you can look out for each other. Exchange contact info and connect more. Aurora, you really need to seize this opportunity.”
Knowing Professor Davies only had my best interests at heart, I felt a rare warmth and nodded emphatically.
Professor Davies had other things to do, so Leo suggested they have dinner together.
His enthusiasm was hard to resist, and I couldn’t really refuse.
So, we went to a French restaurant.
“Aurora, this place is really good. I come here often.”
I smiled. “Then I’ll eat a lot! Speaking of which, why do *you* want to go to Germany?”
Leo poured me a glass of water. “The person I like is going, so I’m going too.”
I looked at the young man across from me, sighing at how wonderful youth was, before love became complicated.
We chatted happily, finding our design philosophies perfectly aligned.
The cheerful atmosphere was suddenly broken by a voice.
“What are you two doing here?”
It was Julian.
Bella stood beside him, and for a moment, I didn’t know what to do.
Leo stood up. “Uncle Julian, I’m just having dinner with Aurora.”
He spoke candidly, and my eyes widened in shock.
“He’s your uncle?”
Leo nodded. Julian glanced at him, then turned to me. “What good reason do you two have to be eating together?”
I was about to answer, but I saw the undeniable defensiveness in Julian’s eyes.
Julian’s parents had never met me. He was afraid I might tell people about our relationship through Leo, which would only embarrass Bella.
Before I could speak, Leo interjected, “Aurora and I share the same professor. We’re just discussing some design issues.”
I remained silent.
Julian’s defensiveness eased, and he gave me a deep look. “Just discussing design, then. Aurora, you two have a *good* chat.”
He deliberately emphasized “good chat,” a clear warning.
I forced a bitter smile. I hadn’t planned on saying anything anyway.
Julian finished, then left with Bella.
“Julian, wasn’t that girl the one who delivers food from the restaurant?”
Bella asked curiously.
So, he had never even told Bella about our relationship.
**Chapter Five**
“Aurora, are the dishes not to your taste?”
I shook my head. “It’s delicious, I just don’t usually eat much.”
Leo drove me home. He didn’t press further, only saying, “There are plenty of good men in the world. Sometimes, there’s no need to get fixated on one person, even if that person is Julian Sinclair.”
He spoke with none of the deference he’d shown Julian back in the restaurant.
I looked up at him, my eyes wide. “You… you knew?”
Leo chuckled. “Not just me. No one in the Sinclair family *didn’t* know. Julian just never mentioned you, so they all pretended not to know.”
I fell silent.
When we arrived home, as I was about to get out of the car, Leo leaned closer.
A pleasant scent of cedarwood wafted over me.
I froze, only to see Leo pluck a fallen leaf from my shoulder.
“Aurora, I’m really looking forward to our time in Germany.”
I didn’t understand what he meant, and I tried to get out of the car in a hurry.
Leo calmly stepped out and opened the car door for me.
“Thank you for driving me home. I’ll go now.”
I don’t know what I was thinking, only that I inexplicably wanted to escape.
But Leo grabbed my hand. “Have a good night, Aurora.”
Then, he released my hand.
I bolted upstairs.
Leo chuckled, then got back in his car and drove away.
Perhaps it was because so much had happened, but I was still overthinking things when I finally fell asleep.
In the middle of the night, I woke up with a high fever.
My head throbbed, and my throat was so parched it felt like smoke was coming out.
I forced myself to get up for water, but I was dizzy and stumbled, falling to the floor.
After much effort, I picked up my phone and called the first contact on my list: Julian Sinclair.
He didn’t answer the first time, nor the second.
By the third call, Julian’s angry voice came through. “Why do you keep calling? I’m busy.”
I could hear a girl crying in the background, faintly recognizing it as Bella’s voice.
“She’s clearly your ex-girlfriend! If my friend hadn’t told me, how long would you have kept it from me?”
My throat was so dry, I squeezed out a few words into the phone, “I’m sick…”
Before I could finish, Julian interrupted, “If you’re sick, find a doctor. I’m busy.”
With that, he hung up.
I couldn’t hold on any longer and passed out.
In a haze, I seemed to see someone pick me up.
“Aurora, I’m taking you to the hospital.”
After that, I remembered nothing until I opened my eyes.
The smell of disinfectant filled my nose, and the sunlight was a bit harsh.
There was no one else in the hospital room but me.
Not even a single message on my phone.
Loneliness swept over me. I pulled the covers tighter around me, staring blankly at the ceiling.
The door quietly opened.
Leo walked in, carrying breakfast, and flashed me a smile. “Aurora, it’s those soup dumplings you love.”
A sudden urge to cry welled up, for no reason.
If I were to go abroad with Leo, maybe I wouldn’t be so lonely after all.
Anyway, things couldn’t get any worse than this.
**Chapter Six**
Julian arrived just as Leo was feeding me.
I felt a bit awkward, but Leo insisted, saying I was a patient.
“I’ll do it,” Julian said, sensing something was off, and snatched the bowl from Leo’s hand.
“Leo, thank you for looking after your aunt. I was busy yesterday and couldn’t make it.”
Julian said, and then spoon-fed me some porridge.
It almost scalded my mouth.
Leo had always blown on it to cool it before feeding it to me.
Seeing me flinch, Julian put the bowl aside.
Leo spoke calmly. “Isn’t my aunt Bella?”
Julian took a deep breath. “Bella just got back, her parents are gone. She has no one to protect her but me. The engagement is just a temporary arrangement.”
“Otherwise, how could she find her footing?”
Leo didn’t say anything, but the mockery in his eyes was obvious.
I no longer believed those words.
When I went to the office that day, they were clearly kissing.
“Julian Sinclair! Is this how you treat me?!”
Bella stood at the doorway of the hospital room, tears streaming down her face as she looked at Julian.
She didn’t look like she had just arrived; she must have heard everything.
“You promised you’d marry me! You said I was the one you loved most! You lied to me!”
With that, she covered her face and ran out.
Julian was rarely flustered, but he was then.
He stood up, about to chase after her.
But I grabbed his hand.
“Julian Sinclair, you love her, and you’re going to marry her, aren’t you?”
Julian’s head throbbed. “Aurora, don’t make things difficult for me right now. I’ll come back and talk to you later about this.”
I immediately let go, earning an approving glance from Julian.
“Leo, take care of her.”
With that, Julian rushed out.
Five years of shared history, so easily discarded.
Leo picked up the porridge bowl again and fed Aurora. “What’s Uncle Julian thinking?”
I replied calmly, “I don’t care anymore.”
Leo paused, trying to restrain his trembling hand.
His heart was pounding.
After I finished eating, I completed the discharge procedures.
Only five days were left until my departure, and I still had some things to pack.
I didn’t have many photos with Julian. I figured Julian probably didn’t want them either, so I shredded everything in the paper shredder.
Watching our memories turn into a pile of confetti, I suddenly felt a sense of relief.
When everything was packed, Julian returned.
He looked a bit tired.
Seeing the three suitcases in the living room and the empty bedroom.
Having just calmed Bella, a surge of inexplicable anger rose within him.
“Packed so neatly, really planning not to come back?”
My cold hadn’t fully cleared, and I spoke with a nasal voice. “If I don’t leave, how can you marry someone else?”
The fire in Julian’s heart burned brighter.
He scoffed. “Who are you trying to impress, acting like this? I told you it was just a temporary arrangement! Aurora, why can’t you be more understanding? I’m already exhausted, and now I have to come home and take care of *you*?”
Julian could soothe Bella with gentle words, but I never received such treatment.
In the end, *I* was the one deemed “not understanding.”
I didn’t want to argue, nor did I know where to begin.
Seeing my silence, Julian laughed.
“Fine, fine, you really think this can threaten me? That I can’t live without you? If you leave, don’t come back!”
With that, Julian slammed the door and left.
My nose stung, but I held back the tears.
I refused to shed another tear for Julian.
**Chapter Seven**
Julian didn’t come home for two days in a row, and I enjoyed the freedom.
Julian hadn’t let me work all these years, so it had been a long time since I’d drawn any designs.
Holding the pen in my hand, it felt like an eternity.
But fate, it seemed, wasn’t ready to grant me such peace.
“Aurora Blake, you think you’re so tough now, too good for your old man? And you say you’re breaking up with Julian? If you really break up, will he still give me money? I think you just don’t want to give it to me. I’m giving you one last chance. I’ll be waiting for you at the coffee shop. Bring me three hundred thousand, or I’ll go to Julian!”
After blocking my father’s phone number, he switched to sending text messages.
Receiving this message, I had no choice but to go.
Julian and I were already in such a mess; I really didn’t want my father to go asking Julian for money again.
When I arrived at the coffee shop, my father, Frank Blake, immediately asked, “Where’s the money? Cash or transfer?”
I replied emotionlessly, “I don’t have any money.”
“You don’t have money? Are you messing with me? And you threatened me, saying you’d end it if I asked for money again? Are you dead?”
Looking at my father’s menacing glare, I didn’t want to give him any more chances.
“I told Julian, and he won’t give you another penny. We’ve broken up, and he has no obligation to give you money.”
Frank scoffed. “You think you can fool me? He gave me two hundred thousand last time! I’m asking you, are you going to give me the money or not?”
“I don’t have money, and I won’t give it to you.”
No sooner had I spoken than Frank yanked me up.
“I’ll find out for myself if you two have really broken up.”
Frank had deliberately chosen a coffee shop very close to Julian’s company.
He dragged me all the way into the company lobby.
“Where’s Julian Sinclair? I need to see him!”
My clothes were askew from being dragged, and all eyes in the lobby were on us.
I was too weak to break free.
“I told you! He won’t give you any money! Why are you doing this?!”
I screamed out loud.
Frank completely ignored me.
“Julian Sinclair! Your father-in-law is here! My daughter gave you five years of her prime, everything she had! And now you’re just dumping her? Do you really think us Blakes are easy to bully?”
Watching the pointing and whispering eyes around us, my heart turned to ash.
The commotion grew too loud, and Julian and Bella came downstairs. He frowned. “What’s going on here? All this yelling.”
Frank saw him and immediately broke into a smile. “Son-in-law, my daughter was with you for so long, and now you’re just breaking up with her?”
Julian started to say something, then glanced at Bella beside him.
Seeing Bella’s questioning look, he finally spoke. “Yes, we broke up.”
“That won’t do! Our Aurora gave you the best years of her life! How can you just break up like that?”
Julian’s frown deepened. “Then what do you want?”
“Give me five million, and this matter is settled. I won’t pursue it further.”
The murmurs around us grew louder, and tears streamed down my face uncontrollably.
I was being bought and sold like a commodity by my own father.
Bella said to Julian, “Julian, she’s so pathetic. Maybe just give him the money and be done with it.”
I looked up, meeting Bella’s pitying gaze.
I had no dignity left to speak of.
Julian was still weighing his options when I slowly stood up. “Julian, we’ve broken up. You don’t need to give him another penny.”
No sooner had I spoken than Frank’s slap landed squarely on my face.
“Is this your place to talk? Shut your mouth!”
My heart was filled with utter silence.
**Chapter Eight**
Julian instinctively wanted to go up and help.
But Bella grabbed his wrist.
“Julian, her father looks terrifying.”
My face was turned to the side from the impact. I glanced at Julian, but he didn’t make a move.
I gave a self-deprecating laugh.
Love, it seemed, was nothing more than this.
“Mr. Sinclair, have you made up your mind?”
Julian was about to agree.
But I spoke coldly. “If you give him a single penny, I’ll end it right here, right now.”
Julian had never seen such a look in my eyes.
I was always gentle, always compliant.
But now, my eyes were as dead as a bottomless lake.
Finally, he said, “I can’t give you the money. Security, please escort this man out.”
Frank was dragged out, still yelling, “You rich people, what’s wrong with giving me some money? This prodigal daughter, she only knows ingratitude!”
“Everyone back to work! What are you all staring at?”
At Julian’s command, everyone dispersed.
Julian looked at me with a very complex expression. He opened his mouth, as if to speak to me, but—
“Julian, let’s go upstairs. I was so scared just now.”
Bella stood beside him, clutching her chest, looking utterly frightened.
So, he ultimately went upstairs with Bella.
I, meanwhile, walked dazedly down the street, almost getting hit by a car.
I found a stone bench and sat down, sobbing uncontrollably.
Five years ago, I met Julian, and I pursued him for a long time.
I pursued him until I felt there was no hope, until I wanted to give up, and then Julian agreed.
It wasn’t that I hadn’t heard his friends mention Bella.
But I was naive enough to think that was the past, that Julian had finally been moved by me.
I came from a difficult background. My father gambled, and my mother had vanished without a trace long ago.
Julian never said anything negative about it; he even helped me.
I truly believed it was love.
Even without marriage, I tried my best to play the role of a virtuous wife.
But now, my heart felt shattered into a million pieces, and I couldn’t put it back together.
I stayed by the roadside until late at night, then dragged my exhausted body home.
Two more days, and I would be leaving the country.
Now that I thought about it, this might be the best decision I had ever made—to get away from everything here and start a new life.
Returning home, I pushed open the door. Julian, awkwardly wearing an apron, said, “Why are you home so late? The food’s gone cold.”
I didn’t understand what Julian was doing.
“I’m not hungry.”
With that, I lay down on the bed, quietly processing my negative emotions.
Julian leaned in to kiss me. “Not eating isn’t good for your health. Eat a little.”
I pushed him away. “What do you take me for? Your toy?”
Julian took off his apron. “What kind of talk is that? Wasn’t I just worried you were hungry?”
“You’re worried I’m hungry, but you weren’t worried I was being hit?”
Provoked by my words repeatedly, Julian’s face hardened. “That’s your father! Everything he did was to *you*! I gave him so much money, wasn’t that enough?”
**Chapter Nine**
I gave a bitter laugh. “It’s all my fault. Why do I have a father like this? Why do I have a lover like this?”
Julian knitted his brows.
“Are you serious about breaking up?”
I stared blankly at the floor. “What else can I do? I’m not that shameless. You’re already engaged to someone else; should I still cling to you?”
Seeing me like this, Julian felt a stinging pain in his heart.
Yet, he still felt I wasn’t being understanding.
I had him for five years. In those five years, Julian gave me everything he could.
But Bella, after going abroad, was not only abused by her then-husband but also lost a child.
Bella had no parents; she only had Julian.
I, at least, had family, and five years with him.
Why, he thought, was I always so discontent?
“I don’t agree to the breakup,” Julian said forcefully.
“Didn’t you agree back then? If we broke up, you could take good care of Bella without any worries.”
Julian’s stomach ached with anger. “No matter what you say, I won’t agree.”
I had been by his side for a long time. For him, it wasn’t just love; it was much more.
He couldn’t accept losing me.
“Breaking up doesn’t require your agreement. It’s just a notification,” I said.
I had no desire to intervene in these entanglements anymore. If possible, I just wanted to live my own life peacefully.
The red, swollen marks from the slap were still on my face, but Julian seemed oblivious.
Having been cared for by me for so many years, Julian had come to see me as a habit.
But I was a living, breathing person, not just a “habit” forever.
Julian’s head throbbed as he found me impervious to reason.
Meanwhile, he hadn’t visited Bella in too long, and she kept sending him messages.
He resisted replying.
Until Bella sent a photo of herself.
Bruised knees.
“Julian, I fell down by accident. It hurts so much, I can’t even walk. What should I do?”
Julian started to get restless.
But he also had a vague premonition.
If I left this time, he would lose me forever.
He paced back and forth in the living room, feeling extremely annoyed.
I watched his phone vibrate non-stop, seeing him transform from calm to anxious.
“If you have something to do, just go. Don’t mind me.”
Julian heard me, and then Bella sent another message.
“Julian, it’s so dark here. I’m scared.”
Julian grabbed his jacket, ready to leave.
“I’ll have Assistant Miller come take care of you.”
Leaving that sentence, Julian rushed downstairs.
I stood up and took out a photo from the drawer.
It was the one we took at the amusement park.
Even though it wasn’t a great photo, driven by a strange impulse, I had shredded all the other photos but kept this one.
As a final memento.
At that time, I was still happy.
Julian, though busy, still accompanied me to the amusement park.
I thought that counted as a kind of favoritism.
Now, it just seemed I was too foolish.
Picking up a lighter, I lit the photo.
The firelight illuminated my haggard face.
From now on, all the past would vanish into thin air.
I slept well all night.
**Chapter Ten**
I woke up early.
I watered all the plants in the house and made myself a hearty breakfast.
All my belongings in the bedroom had completely disappeared.
“Aurora, I’ll pick you up at 12.”
It was a message from Leo.
I replied with ‘Okay.’
I was going abroad.
Picking up the coffee from the table, I leaned on the balcony, lost in thought.
Perhaps things would finally get better?
When Julian returned, this was the scene he walked into.
“Aurora, please don’t be angry anymore, okay?”
He embraced me from behind.
“Once Bella settles in, I’ll cancel the engagement. But as her ‘brother,’ I still need to look after her.”
Listening to Julian’s words, my heart no longer stirred.
“Julian, do whatever you want. You don’t need to tell me.”
Seeing my calm demeanor, Julian thought I had truly come to terms with it.
“I’ll talk to my family about getting married then. We’ll have two beautiful babies, and everything will be alright.”
With that, he took a velvet box from his pocket.
“Aurora, didn’t you say you liked this one? I had someone bring back an even better one.”
It was the ring I had once longed for.
Julian knelt on one knee and slipped the ring onto my ring finger.
“Aurora, stay with me.”
I examined the ring on my hand. It was indeed beautiful, even prettier than Bella’s.
But I didn’t need it anymore.
Seeing my expression, Julian kissed my forehead. “I’m off to the company. I’ll be back for dinner tonight.”
I didn’t answer, and Julian just gave a helpless smile.
He thought I would always be easily appeased, and even if I was upset, I would just deal with it myself.
Julian left, feeling reassured.
I took off the ring and put it back in the box on the table.
It was almost twelve.
Leo came upstairs to help me with my luggage.
“Thank you, Leo.”
Leo, casually flexing his bicep, smiled and said, “It’s my pleasure to help you, Aurora.”
We got in the car together and headed to the airport.
The scenery outside the window constantly changed.
The news headlines updated.
“Sinclair Group CEO spotted dining with new love at梧桐树 Restaurant, sharing smiles and laughter.”
Within a minute, the news was taken down.
But I had still seen it.
The photo showed Julian and Bella.
The Sycamore Restaurant was where Julian and I first fell in love five years ago.
Turning off my phone, I said to Leo, “I heard Germany is a culinary wasteland. Will we starve?”
Leo chuckled. “Don’t worry, Aurora, I’m a good cook.”
I laughed with him.
We checked in, got our boarding passes, and boarded the plane.
Before leaving, I sent Julian one last message: “Julian, we won’t be getting married.”
After sending it, I deleted his contact and then turned off my phone.
Julian received the message while he was out shopping with Bella.
He shook his head and replied, “Aurora, I’ve already humbled myself. What more do you want from me?”
But the message showed a red exclamation mark.
He started calling, but her phone was off.
“Bella, here’s my card. Buy whatever you want.”
Bella pouted. “Julian, is it Aurora bothering you again?”
Julian was anxious inside, but maintained a smile. “No, it’s just some urgent business. I’ll be back later.”
Bella finally nodded.
Julian rushed home.
The living room was meticulously clean. Our matching cups were still on the table.
He breathed a sigh of relief, then rushed into the bedroom.
Only to discover that the photos we had together, my clothes, and my belongings were all gone.
Julian couldn’t believe it. He frantically searched for any trace of me.
But then he saw the box on the table.
The incredibly beautiful ring lay quietly inside.
A note beside it read: “I’ve gone abroad. Goodbye.”
↓ ↓ Download the Novel Master app, Search 【 286928 】reads the whole book. ↓ ↓
NovelShort
