Chapter 2

I strode toward the front gate. Julian lunged forward and grabbed me, his grip so fierce it made me stumble.

He clutched my wrist tightly enough to bruise bone.

"In front of my family, could you give me some damn face? Stop being so unreasonable!"

"Whatever you want to eat, I'll have the driver pick it up after dinner, and then I'll take you out shopping, okay?"

His voice softened, acting as if he was offering a massive compromise.

I scoffed. Everything took a backseat to his precious sister. What was I to him?

I ripped my arm out of his grasp and looked down at my red, throbbing wrist.

I sneered, "Don't bother, Julian."

With that, I turned around and walked away without looking back. This time, Julian didn't chase after me.

Behind me, I could hear Mia's gloating voice.

"Julian, is she crazy? We've said a hundred times we're brother and sister, yet she's obsessed with imagining we're hooking up. She has severe paranoia!"

Eleanor was sighing too.

"Julian, is this really the kind of girl you like? She has a terrible temper. She'll only cause trouble for you in public."

Julian rubbed his temples in frustration, slinging an arm over Mia's shoulder as they walked toward the dining room.

"Mom, drop it, it's giving me a headache. Forget about her. If she wants to leave, let her leave."

"Come on, Mia. Let me take you inside for your favorite dessert."

Tears finally flooded my eyes. I fought desperately to hold them in, completely breaking down only after I slumped into the back of a taxi.

For this man, I had turned down a secure, prestigious job offer arranged by my parents back home and moved across the country to his city all on my own.

Three years together. I truly believed our love was unbreakable.

I was an absolute idiot.

The moment I got back to the apartment we shared, I started packing my bags.

For two full days, Julian didn't make a single call or send a single text.

Refusing to humiliate myself any further, I began replanning my life.

I messaged the HR director of a firm I had previously turned down, asking if the Director's Assistant position was still available.

They replied almost instantly, confirming the opening and asking when I could start.

I locked in next Monday.

Just when I thought this chapter was closed and I was ready to move on, the doorbell rang.

I opened the door to find Julian standing on the threshold holding a massive bouquet of blue roses, his face devoid of any genuine remorse.

"Surprise!" He forced a stiff smile, thrusting the flowers into my arms like someone completing a chore. "Baby, I came to make it up to you. Forgive me, please?"

As he spoke, his eyes darted past my shoulder, scanning the apartment as if checking on something.

Before I could say a word, Mia popped out from behind him.

She shoved a sleek, designer box into my hands, beaming with a faux-sweet smile.

"Chloe, don't be mad anymore. If a woman stays angry all the time, her skin wrinkles so quickly."

With that, she kicked off her heels and slipped into a pair of slippers as if she owned the place, strutting straight inside.

Those were my favorite plush slippers—the ones Julian had bought for me.

Julian immediately followed her inside, not even sparing me a glance. All his focus was on Mia. "Careful, don't slip."

He led me over to the couch. "See, baby? Mia came all this way just to apologize to you."

He popped open the box. Resting on the velvet cushion was a necklace with a massive diamond that threw blinding facets of light.

"The 'Heart of the Ocean' piece you lingered on at the charity auction last time. I bought it for you. Do you love it?"

My heart gave a faint jolt. Before I could process it, he stepped behind me and fastened the cool chain around my neck.

"Gorgeous," he murmured, his breath brushing against my ear. "It suits you perfectly."

Mia, who had been lingering quietly beside us, suddenly spoke up, her voice laced with expertly measured envy.

"Chloe is so lucky. Julian treats you so well, I'm practically jealous."

She stepped closer, her eyes glued to the necklace on my chest. Her lips pouted slightly, and her eyes welled with tears.

"Julian, in all the years I've grown up with you, you've never bought me a gift this expensive. Last time at the auction, I told you how much I loved this necklace, and you totally pretended not to hear me..."

The warmth on Julian's face froze instantly, replaced by guilt and indulgence toward his sister.

He coaxed, "Be a good girl, Mia. Next time something nice comes up, I'll buy it for you first."

"I don't want next time! I want this one!" Mia started whining, grabbing onto my arm. "Chloe, you're the sweetest. Can I just borrow this necklace for a second? Just for a minute, so I can see how it looks and satisfy my wish..."

"I—"

Before I could finish, Julian frowned with impatience and cut me off.

"Just let her try it on. It's only a necklace. Mia likes it so much, why are you being so petty with her?"