Chapter 8

Chloe pov

After filling the pit, I turned to go home. But as I reached the door, I ran into Julian and Seraphina. Seeing me there, a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes.

"Chloe, what are you doing here?"

I didn't answer, instead asking, "What about you? What are you and Seraphina doing here?"

Before Julian could speak, Seraphina smiled and chimed in, "I haven't seen Julian paint in ages. He said his old art supplies were at the estate, so we came back to get them. Chloe, you know your way around here, could you show us?" With that, she pulled me inside.

The moment I pushed open the door to the art studio, I froze. The room's furnishings were exactly as they had been when we left. A ripple of excitement, then pain, went through me. Julian, too, seemed touched, turning to look at me.

"Chloe, do you remember when we…"

"I don't remember." My voice was so soft it was barely audible.

Julian paused, then pointed to an unfinished oil painting in the corner. "Didn't we keep this painting in the study? Why was it moved here?"

I didn't look. "You weren't well back then. Many of your memories are jumbled." Just like I thought he loved me. But in reality, it was just dependence born of desperation. Once he recovered, my kindness became irrelevant.

Julian's expression was troubled. He wanted to ask me what was wrong, but I didn't speak, walking over to the window. "The art supplies are on the top shelf of the cabinet. You can get them yourselves." Listening to the rummaging sounds behind me, I slowly closed my eyes.

Before long, it suddenly started to rain outside. I got up and returned to the living room, where I saw Julian had already set up his easel. Seraphina sat opposite him, striking a pose. Through the glass door, Julian picked up his paintbrush, his gaze focused and deeply affectionate. Even after five years apart, his familiarity with her was etched into his very bones.

It turned out Julian loved Seraphina so much that, even after being abandoned for five years, he never forgot her. Yes, they belonged to the same world. And I was just a chauffeur's daughter. Why should I fantasize about owning a sun that didn't belong to me?

When he finished painting, Seraphina rose and walked behind him, her hand resting on his shoulder, then sliding down. Through the glass, Seraphina leaned in and kissed his lips.

"Julian, I know you still love me…"

At that moment, I couldn't take it anymore. I turned and ran out into the pouring rain.