Chapter 3

"I've made up my mind, Sarah. From now on, my only focus is my career."

After hanging up, I instinctively opened Ins.

Chloe had posted just ten minutes ago. It was a selfie taken from the passenger seat of a car, holding a designer bag, making a cute hand-heart at the camera.

Caption: [So grateful to be mentored by such an incredible senior. Learned so much tonight. The future is bright! ("^_^")]

The comments section was already in flames.

[A senior? Is Chloe soft-launching a romance?!]

[Can someone identify whose car interior that is?!]

[She was at the wrap party tonight, maybe it's just a colleague from the crew?]

Looking at the photo, my chest tightened for a split second.

I recognized that car immediately. I was the one who went to the dealership with Julian to pick it up.

The day he bought it, he pulled me into the passenger seat with a proud grin.

"This seat belongs to you and only you."

He had placed a clumsy clay figurine I sculpted right on the dashboard, calling it his claim of territory.

In Chloe's photo, her luxury handbag sat right where my figurine used to be.

As online rumors spiraled, someone leaked that Julian had officially handpicked Chloe as his next leading lady.

My mind drifted back to our senior year of high school.

A boy from the back row had snatched my notebook, waving my audition monologue papers in the air and laughing hysterically.

"Evelyn, your mom runs a tiny corner store, and you think you can audition for prestigious acting schools? The coaching fees alone cost six months of your mom's store inventory!"

They crumpled my papers into balls, but none of them hit me.

Julian had stepped in, shielding me behind his back.

"Don't listen to them. I know you're going to make it."

Throughout all three years of high school, Julian protected me like that countless times.

"Julian, why do you always protect me? Do you have a crush on me or something?"

He hadn't hesitated. He just looked at me with bright, honest eyes.

"Evelyn, I love seeing you shine. It's the most beautiful thing in the world."

My family was drowning in debt back then, so I buried my dreams deep inside.

He followed me to a college in Miami.

I majored in literature, thinking that getting a stable office job after graduation would be enough.

Then, halfway through freshman year, I received a text saying my father had fled town to escape loan sharks.

I still remember that stormy night. I stood at the bottom of the dorm stairwell holding my withdrawal papers, my phone buzzing relentlessly.

"Evie, where are you? The collectors are at the door. I can't afford your tuition anymore. Come home and work."

As I broke down on the wet pavement, Julian came running through the rain holding an umbrella.

"I borrowed this money. Use it to pay off the debt first. Evelyn, do you trust me?"

Sobbing against his chest, I nodded.

Julian filed for academic leave with me. We crammed into a dingy, damp basement studio.

"Evelyn, you're brilliant. I'm going to make sure the whole world sees you."

Eventually, I made it to the big screen.

At our first major premiere, wearing a rented designer gown, he carefully adjusted my earrings.

"Aren't you scared that once you get famous, a big-shot director will steal you away?" he teased.

"Would I ever leave you?"

"Never," he whispered. "As long as you need me, I'll always be your leading lady."

For his sake, I turned down auditions from legendary, Oscar-winning directors.

My fans criticized me for putting romance over my career. Other prominent directors stopped reaching out, assuming I only worked with Julian.

Yet every time I saw his message saying "Let's get married", I thought all the sacrifices and industry gossip were worth it.

When Julian found out what I turned down for him, he held me close, tearful and tender.

"Evie, having you is all I'll ever need."

Some promises, it turned out, only count the exact second they leave someone's lips.