Chapter 5

Chloe pov

I dragged my unsteady steps forward, snatched my phone back, and hung up. Julian looked at me in surprise, not understanding my intense reaction.

"What's wrong?"

I sighed, doing my best to make my voice sound calm. "Nothing. I just don't want you two fighting over me anymore."

Hearing this, Julian didn't suspect anything further and instead asked about my test results. "The doctor said there's nothing serious, I can be discharged."

The next few days at home, Julian canceled all his engagements and stayed with me. I preferred sitting by the bed, lost in thought, unwilling to engage with him. When Julian tried to hug me, I simply got up and retreated to the bedroom.

"I'm not feeling well, I want to lie down for a bit."

He thought I was still angry about the previous incident, so he had his assistant arrange a surprise. On my birthday, he hosted a grand charity gala in my name, under the guise of the Harrington Arts Foundation. Out of respect for Julian, all the city's elite were in attendance. They were polite enough to me in his presence. But the moment he turned his back, their disdainful whispers began, undisguised.

"If it weren't for Julian, I'd never show up to a chauffeur's daughter's birthday party. It's too humiliating!"

"I have no idea what Julian sees in her. She reaks of poverty; it's sickening!"

"Julian is too soft-hearted. If it were me, I'd just pay her off. Actually marrying her? Now that would be a joke!"

I sighed, unwilling to dwell on it.

At seven o'clock sharp, a stir rippled through the ballroom entrance. All the guests turned in unison, their expressions of disdain instantly morphing into fawning smiles. Everyone in elite circles knew Julian had fought for Seraphina. Seeing her now, they rushed to curry favor.

"Julian, you left earlier to personally pick up Seraphina? How sweet!"

"Of course! They're true childhood sweethearts. Only Seraphina's elegance can truly match Julian's stature."

Amidst the chorus of praise, I watched Seraphina enter, arm-in-arm with Julian, and frowned. She wore a magnificent custom-made gown, sparkling jewelry accentuating her noble grace. Her exquisite face radiated the proud confidence that money cultivates.

After Julian's leg healed, he once drew a sketch without facial features. When I asked him then, he said it was just practice, and I only thought the figure in the drawing was beautiful, not thinking much of it. But… the person in that drawing was clearly Seraphina! His heart, it turned out, had never truly made space for me.

I turned to leave, but Seraphina called out to me.

"Chloe, I hear it's your birthday today. I came uninvited; I hope you don't mind? I even brought you a very special gift!"

With that, she gestured for a waiter to present an antique music box. "It's called 'Oblivion.' A beautiful name, don't you think?"

I saw the oddly shaped music box and recoiled in shock. "Please take it away, I…"