Chapter 2

Nostalgic memories overwhelmed me, and before I knew it, I had instinctively returned home.

Julian was sitting on the sofa, massaging his temples with a weary expression.

On his shirt was a faint lipstick mark, suggestive and out of place.

When he saw me enter, his gaze shifted, and he opened his mouth to speak, "Where have you been? Why are you back so late?"

"I've been hungry all day. Why didn't you cook? Did something happen?"

His gentle question had an edge of criticism.

I stared at the lipstick mark on his collar with a blank face. "Work at the hospital was hectic today. If you're hungry, you can cook for yourself or order takeout."

Julian paused for a moment, then stood up and embraced me.

His actions were intimate, yet his tone remained as distant as ever.

"Did you see the news? I just had too much to drink last night. There's nothing between us."

"Don't overthink it, okay?"

I usually bought into this, and my heart softened considerably.

Yet, I failed to realize he was referring to the intimate "us," not the distant "her and me."

He led me to sit down, resting his chin on my shoulder, his voice soft and lingering.

"Jia Jia, I know you've wanted to get married for a long time.

But marriage is a major life event, and I don't want any imperfections. So, please wait a little longer for me. I won't let you down."

I turned my head, gazing into his amber eyes.

They reflected my pale face and puzzled eyes.

For a moment, I couldn't discern who he was truly looking at through those eyes.

But after seven years of relationship, I couldn't believe it was all insincere.

I still wanted to trust him one more time.

Just this once, the last time.

Unfortunately, he broke his promise once again.

Perhaps it was because I had been browsing too much recently, and the algorithm picked up on my interest in Emilee.

Or maybe the gossip about Emilee and Julian was too sensational, too popular.

Either way, I saw a fan-recorded video of her.

It was an airport video from three days ago.

"Emilee, is it true about you and Mr. Reynolds?"

Emilee smiled politely, "We're just friends for now. As for what you're guessing, I can't comment on that."

After speaking, she casually tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

On her slender, fair hand was a strikingly beautiful ring.

Fans screamed, and someone loudly asked, "Did Mr. Reynolds give you that ring? Are you two getting married soon?"

"This ring is a couple's design from LuminaLux Rings. I saw Mr. Reynolds wearing the men's version in the news yesterday!"

Emilee's eyes twinkled, her cheeks flushed, and her gaze evasive, with a hint of girlish shyness. "Don't jump to conclusions, we're really just friends, just friends."

A fan teased, "The kind of friends who kiss on the car?"

The video abruptly ended.

The phone screen went dark, reflecting my dazed eyes.

Those couple rings were the wedding rings I had meticulously chosen after much deliberation.

At the time, I even played a little trick, leaving the webpage open on Julian's study computer, pretending to forget to close it.

He merely glanced at it and closed it indifferently.

A few days ago, I noticed the men's version of that ring on Julian's hand.

I even happily thought Julian had noticed the couple rings— the women's version was meant to be a surprise for me during the proposal.

But now, the couple rings, sold as a pair, were worn by Julian and Emilee.

Fans and media affectionately referred to Emilee as the future Mrs. Reynolds, Mr. Reynolds' girlfriend.

With this newfound identity, she announced three movies and a TV series in just two days.

In Julian's financial interview, a curious reporter, holding the previous video, playfully asked Julian, "What is your relationship with Miss Emilee? Are you two getting married soon?"

Julian didn't answer, merely smiling faintly and skillfully changing the topic.

He neither confirmed nor denied it.

With the Reynolds Family's resources and influence, dispelling these baseless rumors would be a simple matter.

But Julian didn't; he allowed the rumors to grow unchecked, using the identity of the future Mrs. Reynolds to bolster Emilee's career.

Meanwhile, no one knew of my existence, neither in public nor in private.

This differential treatment made me, the legitimate girlfriend, seem like a joke.

He knew very well how much I longed for marriage, for a home of my own, to slowly heal the wounds of my original family.

I gave a wry smile and sent that news article to Julian on Whatsapp.

Our chat history was a long string of messages.

Julian rarely replied; it was mostly me talking to myself.

He was probably tired of it long ago.

After some thought, I sent him one last message: "Julian, let's break up."