Chapter 3

When I woke up in the hospital, Victoria was sitting beside my bed.

Seeing the cold detachment in my eyes, a trace of gloom flickered across her face.

I really didn't want to see her right now.

I had no idea how we had ended up like this.

Back in college, Julian and I were roommates.

He was the campus golden boy—rich, handsome, with parents who were heavyweights in the music industry.

I was just a nobody on a scholarship.

Once he discovered my gift for composition, he threatened and coerced me into becoming his ghostwriter.

Every hit song that made him famous had been stolen from me.

I tried to fight back, but nobody believed me. Everyone thought I was just a bitter, jealous loser trying to drag him down.

Except Victoria.

Back then, Victoria was Julian's girlfriend.

Coming from similar elite backgrounds, they were the campus's golden couple.

She had fallen for his supposed musical genius, but after dating him, she realized he wasn't the brilliant artist he made himself out to be.

His complete lack of technical knowledge and shallow understanding of music made her question his real talent.

That was when Victoria started noticing me.

By that time, the relentless plagiarism had driven me into a deep depression, and I had tried to end my life multiple times.

Victoria was the one who found me and rushed me to the hospital.

After seeing my private drafts, she finally realized that the talent she had fallen for belonged to me all along.

Later, with her help, Julian was forced to leave the country, even though we couldn't completely ruin him with plagiarism charges.

"His family has too many connections. Let's just drop it here, okay? Can we just put all this bad blood behind us?"

Victoria had pleaded with me so gently back then, urging me to let it go.

Seeing the sincerity in her eyes, I agreed and turned the page.

Looking back now, she was just trying to protect Julian, wasn't she?

Deep down, she had never stopped caring about him.

That was why, even after promising never to see him again, she couldn't help running back to him the moment he landed.

I looked at Victoria by my bedside and couldn't help asking, "You still have feelings for him, don't you?"

Victoria shifted her eyes away, dodging the question.

"I already told you, he's back to restart his career."

"We're in the same industry. We can't avoid each other. Stop overthinking."

"Restart his career?"

My voice rose, sharp and bitter.

"He's a proven plagiarist! What right does someone like that have to work in this industry?"

Victoria looked conflicted, biting her lip.

Her expression shifted through several emotions before she finally steeled herself to speak.

"That's actually why I'm here. I need a favor from you."

My heart sank, a sickening dread spreading through my chest.

Sure enough, she said:

"Could you, as the other party involved back then, put out a statement to clear Julian's name and apologize to him?"

"Clear his name?"

I couldn't believe my own ears.

Victoria avoided my gaze, mumbling, "Regardless of what happened, he already served his punishment by being away for years."

"Besides, he promised that if you clear his name, he'll give you a massive payout..."

I stared straight into her eyes, utterly devastated.

"A payout? You think the hell I went through can be bought with money?"

"You, of all people, know exactly how he bullied and smeared me for years!"

"I could hear this from anyone else on the planet, but not you, Victoria! Not you!"

My voice grew louder and harsher, startling her.

In the tense silence, the door swung open.

Julian walked in, wearing an irritated sneer.

"Are you done throwing your little tantrum yet? You just want to squeeze more cash out of me, don't you? You think I can't see through you?"

"A lowlife like you should be thanking your lucky stars that you got to marry Victoria!"

"Take the check and shut your mouth! Don't think for a second that being a Hastings son-in-law makes you untouchable to me."

Victoria frowned slightly, but she didn't say a single word to defend me.

She turned to me, sighed, and tried to coax me again.

"It's just a public apology, Lucas. Just say it was all a misunderstanding..."

"Victoria."

I cut her off, my voice dropping into dead, flat silence.

"Let's get a divorce."