Chapter 2

2.

In the Tribeca penthouse, the lights stayed on all night.

I didn't break down in a fit of cinematic grief. I just knelt on the floor, packing my things into cardboard boxes, one by one.

I didn't need to be so meticulous; most of it was just junk.

I just needed something to do, anything to stop the suffocating pain in my chest.

The walk-in closet was filled with clothes and shoes Julian had bought for me.

None of them were the simple, minimalist style I loved.

I used to wear them because he liked them. Now I understood why. It was because they made me look more like Selena.

Julian and I first met at a charity gala.

He had grabbed my hand excitedly in the crowd, but the moment I turned to face him, the light in his eyes died.

"Sorry, I thought you were someone else."

He turned and walked away so abruptly. I didn't think much of it at the time.

Later, I was invited on stage to play the piano.

As I was leaving the stage, I caught that same excited look in Julian's eyes again.

The spotlight glinted off his tuxedo as he gave me a charming smile.

In that moment, the love in his eyes was so intense it could make anyone swoon.

I heard my own heart pound in my chest.

He said, "Ms. Evans?"

"I'm Julian. May I have the first dance?"

I think I fell in love with him right then.

But what about Julian?

In that split second, did he fall in love with me, or did he just see Selena's ghost in my place?

A tear splashed onto the back of my hand, hot enough to sting.

My phone buzzed, pulling me from the painful memory. It was the electronic contract from Professor Laurent.

With a trembling finger, I signed my name on the screen.

In that instant, I belatedly realized that there was no going back for Julian and me.

I slumped onto the carpet, defeated, and finally let myself sob.

Three and a half hours after sunrise, I had already arranged for a moving company to pack and ship everything.

My plan was to wait for him to come back and calmly discuss canceling the engagement.

The sound of the fingerprint lock disengaging echoed from the door.

The first thing I saw wasn't Julian's face, but a massive bouquet of vibrant red roses.

He peeked out from behind the flowers, wearing that familiar, charmingly apologetic smile.

I froze for a second, then forced a polite smile of my own.

"You're back. I just made coffee, want some?"

"Perfect timing. There's something I need to talk to you about."

Seeing me so calm, a flash of panic crossed Julian's face.

On his way here, he had imagined a thousand different scenarios―me screaming, cursing, maybe even throwing a vase at his head.

He had prepared excuses for all of them.

But he never imagined I would act like nothing happened and offer him coffee.

Julian rushed into the kitchen, dropping the flowers on the counter. "Baby, are you mad at me?" he asked anxiously.

"Let me explain. Selena and I were childhood neighbors, we were really close. Then her family moved to London, and I haven't seen her in years. Last night, I was drunk. I thought I was dreaming, that's why I said all that crazy stuff."

"You know I only love you, Chloe!"

I nodded, too exhausted to poke holes in his clumsy lies.

My continued lack of reaction only made Julian more frantic.

"Don't be like this. Are you still angry?"

"Don't worry about that drunken nonsense, that's all in the past. We're getting engaged this Saturday!"

"Hey, I cleared my schedule for today. Let's go pick out your wedding dress. I already picked one out for you myself. You're going to look beautiful in it!"

I looked at Julian's smiling face.

For the first time, the sight of it filled me with a deep sense of disgust. I stared at him coolly and asked softly.

"Julian, this wedding dress you personally picked out... is it for me, or for Selena?"

The color drained from Julian's face. He knew. He knew I had heard everything.

He was about to rush over and try to explain again when his phone rang, the sound piercing the air.

He meant to ignore it, but the moment he saw the caller ID, his expression changed.

The name "Selena" flashed on the screen.

I gave a scornful smile. I reached over, swiped to answer, and pressed the speakerphone button.

A sweet, feminine voice instantly filled the room.

"Julian, it's me, Selena."

"I just flew back to New York. But I'm feeling really sick... I don't know anyone else here. Can you come pick me up?"