Chapter 3

"Julian!" Her eyes widened in disbelief, her brows furrowing.

"I'm sorry about yesterday, okay? But it was an emergency. I didn't have time to explain. Liam collapsed and had to go to the hospital. I couldn't just abandon him!"

Liam. Liam. It was always Liam.

Over the past few years, how many times had she abandoned me in the dust for Liam?

Did she really think I would wait around for her forever? That all she had to do was crook her finger and I'd come running back like a loyal puppy?

I stepped back half a pace and let out a cold laugh.

"If he's sick, he should see a doctor. What does that have to do with you?"

"Julian Vance! Since when did you become so heartless? You know he doesn't have any family or friends in this city! Isn't it normal for him to call me for help?"

Chloe glared at me impatiently, acting as if I was throwing another childish tantrum.

I smirked bitterly. "Then why did you come back? Shouldn't you still be by his bedside holding his hand?"

"Enough! What are you still whining about? I already apologized and explained! If you're going to keep throwing a fit like this, then let's just break up!"

She was utterly convinced I would never agree to a breakup. She thought I was completely hooked on her.

And honestly, why wouldn't she? Whenever I asked her to cut ties with Liam in the past, she would brush me off with irritation and warn me not to make a scene.

Like on my birthday last year. I had rushed home early from the office, waiting eagerly to celebrate with her.

All I got was her phone switched off for the entire night.

I sat in the dark waiting for hours, watching the birthday cake melt into a puddle, and she never showed up.

Outside my window, fireworks burst across the night sky, making me feel utterly pathetic and lonely.

Even then, I made excuses for her, convincing myself she was just swamped with work. But when she walked through the door the next morning, the fresh hickey on her neck told no lies.

She had spent the entire night with Liam and simply erased me from her mind.

Time and time again, I compromised. Time and time again, I lied to myself.

But my heart is made of flesh and blood. It bleeds, and it breaks. I couldn't keep watching the woman I loved give her heart to another man.

I steadied my breath, my voice dead calm. "Fine. Let's break up."

"You'd better—Wait, what did you just say?" Chloe froze, her voice suddenly screeching. "What did you say?!"

I repeated every word slowly and clearly:

"I said, we're done. And there's one more thing you should know, Miss Sterling. I got married yesterday."

"That's impossible! You promised to marry me! For the past three years, you've never looked at another woman! Who could you possibly marry overnight?”

“Stop playing these pathetic games just to make me beg for you back!" She glared at me, her chin raised in stubborn pride.

I laughed at myself. How low had I sunk in the past to make Chloe this arrogant?

"Believe it or not, I'm married. That's a cold, hard fact."

She crossed her arms, sneering with pure disdain.

"Fine! Call her out here right now! Let me see what kind of trash you managed to scrounge up overnight!"

From the top of the stairs, a smooth, amused voice drifted down:

"Were you looking for me?"