Chapter 3

When I arrived at Sylvia's villa, the moment I stepped inside, I heard Julian announcing his upcoming wedding with Chloe to the entire room.

The guests raised their glasses in congratulations.

I looked at them laughing and talking. This was the exact scene I had once dreamed of for myself.

As I stood frozen, Aunt Sylvia took my hand and led me over to Grandpa Charles.

"Charles, look, this is Elena Sterling. She's one of the top executives at our company now! Isn't she wonderful?"

Grandpa Charles smiled warmly. "Wonderful indeed! My daughter rarely praises young people. Elena, you can learn from Sylvia when it comes to your career, but don't follow her path when it comes to marriage. A successful life needs both a career and a loving family!"

I forced a polite smile.

Julian walked over and demanded coldly, "Why aren't you working overtime at the office? What are you doing here?"

Chloe, wearing a glittering million-dollar diamond jewelry set, tapped his chest playfully. "Oh, you men understand nothing! She's a grown girl now with her own dreams. There are so many eligible bachelors here today, we should help her pick a good husband."

Sylvia cut them off immediately. "No need! Elena already has someone. She's moving to L.A. to get married soon. Didn't you know? This party is actually her farewell celebration."

Julian's face turned incredibly dark.

While I was stepping out onto the balcony for some fresh air, Julian grabbed my wrist tightly.

"What kind of ridiculous lie is this? Getting married to someone else? Let me tell you, Elena, you are not allowed to marry anyone but me!"

I stared at him calmly. "Have you forgotten? You literally just announced your wedding to Chloe. How could you marry me?"

Julian hesitated for a second. "I know I was harsh in the office the other day, but didn't I explain it to you? Chloe is mentally unstable. This is just a temporary compromise."

He pulled me intimately into his embrace, trying to soothe me.

"Our families' business interests are too deeply intertwined. Stop throwing a tantrum and listen to me. I promise things will go back to how they were. You're still the only one I truly care about."

"Go back to how they were."

His words stripped away my remaining delusions.

Even though his family had sponsored my education, I had brought millions in revenue to his company through my own hard work. I was not some helpless parasite.

I refused to stay in this toxic, hidden relationship any longer.

As I turned to leave, a visibly drunk Chloe grabbed my arm.

With tears in her eyes, she sobbed, "Please, stop chasing him, okay? I know his family sponsored you for years, and Julian is incredibly charming, but he and I are genuinely in love..."

While playing the victim, her hand—hidden from view—clutched my arm, her sharp designer nails digging deep into my skin.

Behind her, her friends immediately started jeering at me.

"Ugh, what a shameless homewrecker. Trying to use her body to climb the social ladder."

"A charity case from the slums trying to break into high society? What a joke! Julian is used to luxury; why would he ever want street trash like her?"

Unable to bear the stinging pain, I pushed Chloe away.

Chloe fell back, crying out in agony as she clutched her wrist. "My wrist! I think she broke it! It hurts so much!"

Seeing her swollen wrist, Julian's heart practically broke.

He whipped around, glaring at me with pure fury. "Elena Sterling! Get down on your knees and apologize to Chloe right now! Look what you've done!"

Chloe whimpered miserably, "Elena, I don't know why you hate me so much. Even if you're jealous of Julian's love for me, you shouldn't have resorted to violence."

Her tears flowed like rain, looking incredibly pitiful.

A crowd began to gather, hurling harsh insults and condemnation at me.

Julian lost his temper completely and roared, "Kneel down and apologize!"

Biting my lip to keep from crying, I held up my arm, which was covered in bloody scratch marks.

"I didn't do it on purpose. She clawed me first. I was in pain..."

Before I can finish, Julian grabbed my arm and violently shoved me aside.

A sickening crack echoed through the room. My arm was broken.

As Julian carried Chloe away, he threw a cold, ruthless glare over his shoulder. "That's the price you pay for hurting her!"

Sylvia rushed over, horrified, and immediately called a doctor to bind my arm.

I sat there numbly, my heart completely dead.

Six years of love meant absolutely nothing in the face of Chloe's cheap lies.

To be unloved is truly a miserable thing.

But I would never let myself be miserable again.

Once on the plane to Los Angeles, I blocked and deleted every single one of his contact details on Snapchat, leaving New York with no regrets.

Three days later, Julian sat in his wedding car, wearing a tailored tuxedo, but his eyes were completely vacant.

His best man, who was driving, asked, "Why the long face? Still thinking about your little assistant?"

Julian smiled wearily. "I'm thinking about what gift to buy to make it up to her. Otherwise, she'll throw another fit when she finds out I got married today."

The best man looked back in shock. "Dude, you don't know? She's getting engaged to CEO Ethan Cole in L.A. today..."