Chapter 4

Grabbing my bag, I stormed out of the concert hall without looking back.

I immediately rescheduled my flight to Vienna for tomorrow morning.

Then, I spent the afternoon organizing evidence of Julian and Luna's plagiarism.

Julian had deleted the cloud files, yes.

Back then, I had created a private secondary account with timestamped drafts and audio recordings.

I compiled everything and submitted an official report to the International Music Copyright Committee.

Julian was quick to find out. When he called, his voice was laced with exhaustion and irritation.

"Serena, do you really have to humiliate us like this?"

I replied coldly, "You two humiliated yourselves. Not me."

Julian tried to argue, but I hung up.

Soon after, Luna showed up at my door, tossing an ultrasound report onto the table.

"Serena, I know you hate me."

"But what can I do? I'm pregnant. This baby needs a father."

"If you're smart, you'll walk away. We can still be family."

I looked at the date on the report.

It was dated the very night I was rescued.

A wave of nausea hit me so hard I dry-heaved.

"Want to know why he did it that night, Serena?" Luna sneered.

"Julian told me that whenever he looked at you, he could only picture you being defiled by those vile men for three years."

"He found you repulsive. So I had to comfort him."

"Slap!"

My palm crashed into Luna's cheek.

"Luna, the biggest mistake of my life was saving you that day."

I walked out of the café.

Just as I packed my luggage and hailed a cab to the airport, Julian cut me off, forced me into his car, and dragged me to the hospital.

"Serena, why did you hit Luna?!"

"She's having complications and threatened with a miscarriage! You have to apologize right now!"

I let out a bitter, mocking laugh.

"While I was suffering in hell, she stole my career, my music, and slept with my fiancé."

"Now you expect me to apologize? Who do you think you are?"

Cornered, Julian snapped in defensive fury.

"Serena, can you honestly swear no man touched you during those three years?!"

He knew that was the deepest, most agonizing wound in my soul.

Yet he ripped it wide open without hesitation.

At that moment, the Julian who had once loved me died completely.

Realizing what he had said, Julian softened his tone, trying to backpedal.

"Luna's baby will be your child too."

"Just apologize, and we can still be a happy family."

A family?

My phone buzzed with my flight check-in alert.

"There is no "we," Julian."

"Tonight, I'm leaving for Vienna."

To avoid wasting any more time, I said softly, "Fine. I'll apologize."

Julian was stunned, not expecting me to give in so easily.

I walked up to Luna's hospital bed.

"I shouldn't have pushed you today. I'm sorry."

"You win."

Then I turned to Julian.

"Satisfied?"

Without waiting for a response, I turned and walked straight out toward the airport.

Luna bit her lip, clutching Julian's sleeve.

"Julian, is she really angry with me?"

"It's fine. She's just throwing a tantrum. A little coaxing will fix it."

Julian said the words, but a sudden, suffocating panic squeezed his chest at the finality in my eyes.

He realized he had gone too far. He needed to make it right.

He drove straight to the bakery by our college campus that I used to love.

The old baker recognized him.

"Hey! Visiting alone today? Where's Serena?"

Julian held the pastry box and smiled.

"She's mad at me. I'm taking these home to make peace."

Julian arrived at our house with the box of pastries, pushing open the door with a smile.

"Serena—"