Chapter 2

Julian didn't take long.

Not long after I got home, the front door clicked open.

Unlike me, he wore a deep frown, looking stressed.

“Claire, I had some new ideas for the wedding venue. I had to scrap the old design, so we might need to push the date back again.”

Over the past six months, I had heard that excuse more times than I could count.

Every time I saw him working late on drafts, rubbing his temples with an exhausted look, my heart ached for him. *Why don’t we just hire a wedding planner?* I had asked.

He had shot it down immediately.

*“No way. We only get married once. I want to give you something entirely unique, designed by me.”*

I had believed him.

No matter how desperately I looked forward to our wedding, and no matter how many times it was postponed, I always acted like I didn't mind, telling him not to stress.

Now, I finally understood.

It wasn't that he couldn't finalize a design.

It was that his heart was already occupied by Chloe.

The question that had haunted me for half a year slipped out before I could stop myself.

“Julian, do you actually want to marry me?”

Julian froze, then frowned. “Why are you asking that out of nowhere?”

“Of course I do.”

For the first time, I hated how well I knew him.

Those few hesitant words reeked of guilt and hesitation.

He probably had wanted to marry me once.

Before Chloe started showing up in our lives every single day.

My eyes pricked with tears.

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I slowly unclasped the gold bracelet from my wrist.

“Take this back.”

Julian instinctively took it.

When he looked down and saw what was in his palm, his eyes widened in shock.

“Claire, what is this supposed to mean?”

My voice wavered, but I didn't hesitate.

“Exactly what it looks like.”

“Julian, I don’t want to marry you anymore. We’re done.”

Julian’s face darkened instantly.

“Is this because I drove Chloe home first? Or because I mixed up your favorite food?”

“She’s your sister! I’m only nice to her because I love you. Since when did you become so petty that you're jealous of your own sister?!”

This wasn't the first time Julian had chosen Chloe over me.

When Chloe twisted her ankle on a hike, Julian abandoned me on the trail and carried her all the way down.

When Chloe wanted extra cilantro in our takeout, Julian told the waiter to pile it on, even though he knew I was allergic.

When it was sunny, Julian always tilted the umbrella toward Chloe, leaving me baking in the heat.

The signs had been there all along.

I was just too trusting to see them.

Thankfully, it wasn't too late.

I didn't argue. I didn't even look at him.

I walked straight upstairs and started packing.

Living together for five years meant I had accumulated a lot of belongings.

Even after purging what I didn't need, I still filled two large suitcases.

There was a trench coat left hanging in the closet. I didn't touch it.

It was one of the few gifts Julian had ever bought me.

Julian was never the romantic type.

In our five years together, I could count the gifts he gave me on both hands.

I used to tell myself that I didn't care about material things.

Yet my mind involuntarily compared it to Chloe’s social media.

In just six months of their secret affair, Chloe had received countless presents.

Designer dresses, rings, bracelets, necklaces, luxury handbags…

It turned out Julian wasn't incapable of romance.

He just didn't care enough to give it to me.

My chest felt suffocatingly tight.

Refusing to let myself spiral, I shut the closet and zipped up my luggage.

“Claire.”

I paused and turned around. Chloe was standing in the doorway.

Right behind her stood Julian.