Chapter 1

I had been in a secret relationship with the billionaire who sponsored my education for six years.

In public, Julian Vance treated me as his most capable executive assistant. At home, he was a clingy, doting lover who showered me with affection.

But one day, I accidentally found a million-dollar custom diamond jewelry set hidden in his drawer. I was thrilled, thinking it was a birthday surprise for me.

On my birthday, however, I saw him holding a girl whose silhouette looked just like mine. Under a sky full of fireworks, he cried tears of joy, saying his true love had finally returned.

Holding back my tears, I wanted to ask him for the truth.

But instead, I overheard him talking to his friend.

"You've got your dream girl now. But what about the charity case you've been sponsoring?"

Julian laughed coldly. "She's just a clingy toy. I'll get rid of her when the time is right."

Heartbroken, I immediately called my biological parents. "Mom, Dad, I agree to marry the billionaire CEO of the Cole Group in L.A.!"

Later, when Julian found out my engagement party was on the exact same day as his wedding, he abandoned his bride and fell to his knees, begging for my forgiveness like a madman.

On the other end of the line, my parents' voices cracked with emotion.

"Elena, if it weren't for that terrible storm years ago that separated us, you wouldn't have had to rely on the Vance family's charity for so long. Now that you've finally decided, come home to L.A. right away."

I took a deep breath and said softly, "Give me a week to wrap up things at work. After that, I'll stay in L.A. to be with you..."

Thinking of Julian, my chest tightened with a sharp pain.

He used to be my savior, the light of my life, and my secret lover of six years.

But the cold words he said to his friend made our six years together feel like a cruel joke.

Back at the office, I called a lawyer as fast as I could.

Julian had once given me a one percent share in the company under the guise of rewarding the top salesperson. Now that I was leaving, I wanted to return everything that wasn't truly mine.

As soon as the lawyer drafted the stock transfer agreement, I signed my name without hesitation.

While we were talking, Julian suddenly burst in, looking exhausted from his trip.

I quickly hid the documents and sent the lawyer away.

The moment the door closed, Julian wrapped his arms tightly around me from behind, his eyes dark with unreadable emotions.

"Why did you need a lawyer?"

I pushed him away firmly and said flatly, "Just reviewing some sales contracts."

Julian didn't think twice. His brow cleared, and a cheerful spark returned to his eyes.

He pulled a small gift box from his pocket and raised an eyebrow. "Open it! I bought this birthday gift specially for you while I was on my business trip."

I opened it casually. Inside was a sterling silver butterfly brooch.

Julian leaned in warmly, trying to pin it on me.

But I recoiled, filled with aversion.

He had always loved giving me butterfly-themed accessories. Every time, I would refuse in fear. I had even told him that I only got lost and separated from my parents because I was chasing a butterfly as a child. Yet, he stubbornly kept giving them to me.

Now, knowing that his beloved Chloe was a botanical painter who spent her life drawing butterflies, I finally understood. Julian only saw me as her substitute. He only remembered her preferences, while remaining completely deaf to my needs.

Whether someone loves you or not is always painfully obvious.

My sudden coldness caught Julian off guard.

Just then, Chloe Brooks walked right in, followed by several bodyguards.

She wrapped her arm intimately around Julian's and pouted. "I've been looking for you everywhere. Why are you in another girl's office?"

Julian rubbed her hair dotingly, completely ignoring me.

"She's just the student I've been sponsoring for years. She's our top salesperson now, so I was just checking in on the recent sales reports."

Chloe smiled warmly at me. "Oh, so you're the little charity case our Julian helped out? I'm glad to see you're grateful enough to work for his company after graduation."

"Work hard. Julian and I won't treat you badly!"

Julian quickly winked at me and slipped a small note into my hand.

I looked at the note: "Chloe has a severe anxiety disorder. My family is helping her get through therapy. Don't take anything she says to heart. Just go along with it."