After the Breakup: The Heir's Regret3 / 3

Chapter 3

I moved out of Julian's house and used my savings to rent a small apartment.

Julian hasn't called me once, yet his scandals with Emilee frequently make the headlines.

After living here for nearly two weeks, my mom unexpectedly called me.

"Have you lost your mind? Julian just got caught up in some gossip, and you think you have the right to throw a tantrum? You need to return to the Reynolds Family right away!"

I gripped my phone tightly, my knuckles turning white.

Ever since I got together with Julian, I rarely kept in touch with my family.

I hadn't mentioned the breakup to anyone, so how did she know?

"Did Julian call you?" I asked calmly. "Is that it?"

My mom's expression froze, but she quickly regained her composure and said, "So what if he did? Julian is such a good man. You're lucky he even noticed you. What are you throwing a fit about?"

"Don't be shameless. Appreciate what's given to you. You should know when to stop!"

To everyone, it seemed like someone as ordinary as me being able to latch onto Julian was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Even Julian himself thought so.

That's why he didn't think I was worth a simple phone call, which wouldn't have taken much of his time.

Instead, he used my mom to give me a warning.

But I'm the youngest associate chief physician, a senior medical position, I've saved many lives, and my office walls are lined with commendations.

I'm not lacking.

Suppressing the bitterness in my heart, I spoke with sarcasm, "I'm serious about the breakup."

Taking advantage of my mom's momentary shock, I hung up the phone.

Perhaps her message was swift, as it wasn't long before Julian called for the first time.

His familiar tone greeted me, "Alright, Yvonne, you've been upset long enough. Isn't it time to calm down?"

"Come back, and let's not talk about breaking up anymore. Let's get married, okay?"

I was puzzled.

After dating for so long, I found myself understanding him less and less.

He didn't love me, so why was he thinking of using marriage to tie me down?

Besides, the main person was already back.

Was a mere substitute like me worth all this trouble?

I lowered my eyes and spoke softly, "I can come back, but Julian—"

"Either clear up all the rumors with Emilee and tell everyone she's the third party, or we break up and never see each other again."

"You can only choose one between Emilee and me."

Julian, being a successful businessman, knew best how to maximize his benefits.

So he quietly used his connections to delete many rumors, but he didn't clarify anything, leaving his stance ambiguous.

The fans of the couple were even more excited: "This is true love! He's avoiding suspicion to protect her career."

"This is such a beautiful love story!"

With this maneuver, Emilee's fan base didn't increase but decreased.

The next day at noon, when I went downstairs to buy groceries, Julian blocked me at the entrance of the community.

He sat in the driver's seat, the window half-open, revealing his lazy eyes and a cigarette between his fingers.

"Let's talk."

He opened the car door and stood in front of me, looking unusually tired. "Leaving without a word, Yvonne, you're something else."

The smell of tobacco from him rushed into my nose.

I stepped back half a step, frowning, "I sent you a Whatsapp message saying we broke up."

He chuckled, "Break up?"

"Yes."

Before he could say more, the passenger door was gently opened, revealing a pair of fair legs.

Then came a woman's soft and sweet voice, "Julian, have you explained things to Yvonne? I don't want her to misunderstand you because of me. I'd feel so bad."

Emilee calmly walked up to me, leaning affectionately on Julian's shoulder, and greeted me.

"Hello, Yvonne, I'm Emilee." She smiled and said, "Julian and I are old friends. He just helped me because my career in the country was rocky. Don't overthink it."

"We've known each other for so long. If we wanted to be together, we would have been by now."

Julian truly loved her, so much so that he brought her along even when negotiating with me.

Looking at her face, half proud and half provocative, the second half of the sentence instinctively floated in my mind—

What does it have to do with you?

When my gaze turned cold, she was already curiously sizing me up, laughing heartily, "Julian, Yvonne and I are really connected. Look at us, like we were cut from the same mold."

Julian looked at her helplessly, his tone indulgent, "You, you, don't talk so recklessly."

Emilee pouted.

I couldn't help but laugh, mocking, "Miss Reed, please get it straight. Before Julian and I broke up, you were the third party."

"Is it necessary to be so arrogant about being the other woman?"

Emilee's eyes filled with anger at being exposed, but when she lowered her head, tears welled up, ready to fall.

Her pitiful appearance made Julian frown.

"Yvonne, you've misunderstood our relationship. Don't be unreasonable."

Emilee nodded in agreement, "Yes, Yvonne, Julian and I are just friends."

She leaned close to my ear, looking as if she was trying to make peace, but whispered, "Yvonne, the one not loved is the third party. Being my substitute for so many years, it must have been hard for you, right?"

I decisively and rationally slapped her.

"You came here asking for a slap, didn't you?"

Before I could finish my sentence, my right cheek started to burn with pain.

Julian glared at me, his hand still trembling slightly from the force he used.

Emilee was shielded behind him, tears rolling down her face as she pitifully covered her cheek, "Julian, it hurts... Am I going to be disfigured?"

Julian immediately turned back to her, comforting her with a gentle voice, unable to hide his guilt and heartache.

"Yvonne, you've gone too far." Without turning his head, he coldly said, "Apologize to Emilee."

Suddenly, I found it all quite meaningless.

After seven years together, he hit me for the first time, without hesitation, for Emilee.

That kind of protection and affection had never been shown to me.

I always thought he was a cold person, inherently calm and composed.

But now, I finally understood that when he truly loved someone, he was willing to fight for the woman he loves.