Chapter 3

He froze. His eyes flickered, unable to look me in the eye.

It took him a long time to squeeze out a forced, awkward smile.

"Audrey, you know I’m not ready for marriage yet. The company just went public, and there are still so many things to handle..."

The answer was already clear. Why did I have to humiliate myself like this?

I hid my breaking heart behind a bitter smile.

"I know. Just kidding," I cut him off, not wanting to hear any more of his tired excuses.

It wasn't that he wasn't ready for marriage. He just wasn't ready to marry me.

This realization felt like a dull knife, sawing slowly back and forth across my chest.

I should have seen it coming.

From the way he always refused to take photos with me, to how he never introduced me to his family, to how he always referred to me as his secretary to the outside world.

The signs were always there. I had simply chosen to ignore them.

"So, what do you want instead?"

He seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, asking eagerly, "Shares? A massive bonus? You can ask for anything."

I shook my head. "We’ll talk when you get back."

I turned and walked into the bedroom to pack.

His bags, and mine.

A barrage of texts flashed on my phone. Predictably, they were from Chloe.

"Audrey, Julian is traveling tomorrow. Make sure to pack the new clothes I bought him today."

"I have great taste, don't I? He looks so much younger in them."

"In the future, leave the wardrobe shopping to me. You’re not as indispensable as everyone says. At least, you couldn't keep your man."

I had bought almost all of Julian's clothes.

But today, there were indeed several new designer pieces hanging in the closet.

In the pocket of one jacket, I found a few unopened condoms.

I knew Chloe had left them there on purpose to mark her territory.

But I felt nothing. I simply blocked her number.

I went back to packing my few belongings.

After seven years, I had shockingly little stuff. Everything fit into a single suitcase.

Just like my place in Julian's life—easily cleared out, without leaving a trace.

When I reached for one of the few evening gowns he had actually bought for me, my hands paused.

He had personally taken me to buy it before last year's annual gala.

"Audrey, you look beautiful in this," he had said with a smile, gently adjusting my collar.

Now I realized that was nothing more than a boss rewarding a valuable employee.

It had absolutely nothing to do with the love I thought we shared.

Just as I zipped up my suitcase, I heard him speaking on the phone in his study.

"Julian, are you seriously proposing to Chloe tomorrow? What about Audrey? Are you really okay letting her go?"

"Of course I'm not letting her go easily. That's why you all need to keep your mouths shut. Don't let her find out."

"Wow, man. You’re really living the dream. Having your cake and eating it too, keeping both your loyal girl and your dream girl."

"She’s not my dream girl. Audrey doesn't even compare to Chloe. Besides, she’s too dependent on me. She can't survive without me."

...

I felt like I was nailed to the floor, unable to move.

Listening to the man I had loved for ten years dismiss my devotion so casually.

There was no affection in his voice. Only arrogance and contempt.

I stood there and listened to the entire conversation.

Every word was like a rusty blade carving into my heart, until I went completely numb.

An old college photo slipped out from between the pages of a book.

In the photo, I was standing next to Julian, smiling like an idiot.

But his eyes were looking slightly away from the camera, as if searching for someone else.

Now I knew. He was looking for Chloe.

Even though Chloe was abroad back then, and even though I was the one who stayed by his side through every dark night, his heart had never belonged to me for a single second.

I threw the photo into the trash.

Along with my seven years of youth and love.

The next morning, when I woke up, Julian was already gone.

A note was left on the kitchen counter: "Audrey, wait for me."

I picked up the note, crumpled it into a ball, and threw it into the trash can.

Dragging my suitcase to the door, I took one last look at the place we had shared for years.

From our rented apartment to this purchased villa, I thought we were building a home together.

Now I finally understood that it was just my own delusion.

My phone vibrated. It was a text from Julian.

"Audrey, I forgot the client's gift at home. Find it and have it delivered to this address."

I didn't need to ask to know he was talking about the ring.

But I simply hired a courier to deliver it. Then, I hailed a cab and headed straight to the airport.

On the way, I sent Julian my final text:

"Julian, let's break up."