01
thad just arrived at the hotel suite door when I heard Julian’s voice.
“Let’s bet on how long it’ll take Avery to get here.”
“Her company’s pretty far from here. It should take at least an hour.”
“Based on what I know about her, I’ll bet half an hour.”
“Mr. Flores, how do you know her so well? Hmm, I’m getting a little jealous.”
The unfamiliar female voice caught me off guard.
“Jealous already?” Julian’s tone carried a hint of playful teasing.
“Come on, don’t be mad. She’s just a loyal puppy who comes at my beck and call. She’s nothing compared to our Sarah.”
I glanced at my watch. Fifteen minutes. Julian had called me just fifteen minutes ago, and
here I was.
I couldn’t help but laugh, though it was more out of anger.
I opened the door. Julian was sitting right in the middle of the room.
A girl, fresh–faced and beautiful, was sitting on his lap.
The room went suddenly quiet.
“Sorry, everyone. Looks like you all guessed wrong. I got here in just fifteen minutes.”
An awkward silence filled the air.
Julian, unfazed, kept holding the girl in his arms.
“So quick? Were you nearby?”
His voice carried a hint of interrogation. I couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh.
“Julian, I’m done. I’m exhausted, and honestly, this relationship feels pointless.”
He froze.
I didn’t give him any time to respond, nor did I look at the girl who seemed flustered. Instead, I
silently removed the ring that had been on my finger for four years.
I placed it gently in front of him, then turned and walked away.
Everyone who was there knew him. If he grabbed me and shook my shoulders, demanding
an explanation, he’d just make a fool of himself. For the sake of his pride, he wouldn’t do
something like that.
That was exactly what I wanted. I didn’t want to say another word to him.
We had been in a relationship for four years.
He was no longer the naive Julian I had known at the start.
Now, he was the distinguished Mr. Flores.
And I… I was still just an ordinary employee.
There was a huge gap between our social statuses. This made it hard for him and his frie to believe that I was the one who initiated the breakup.
They all thought I was just throwing a tantrum.
As I was leaving the hotel suite, I overheard Julian betting with his friends about how many
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They all thought I was just throwing a tantrum.
As I was leaving the hotel suite, I overheard Julian betting with his friends about how many days it would take for me to ask him to get back together.
He bet on a week while his friends bet on a month.
I found it incredibly funny.
Julian rarely lost a bet, but this time, he was definitely going to lose because I was never getting back together with him.
I returned to the villa where we had lived together for four years, feeling a deep sense of
bittersweetness.
Not long ago, I was here planning our future.
Now, looking at it, it feels so ironic.
I didn’t have much stuff in the villa because I always focused on taking care of him.
He was always busy with work.
Most of his clothes and daily essentials were things I bought for him.
When he was starting his business, I would carefully iron his shirts every day.
He always had to kiss me before going to work.
We were so happy back then, but now it feels so ironic.
My luggage only filled two suitcases.
I left behind the unimportant stuff, not wanting to take it with me.
The sky was getting dark, and I decided to leave.
I took one last reluctant look at the villa we had shared for four years, my heart aching.
Dragging my luggage, I stepped out of the neighborhood.
Suddenly, it started drizzling.
I didn’t stop walking. I pulled my suitcase through the rain.
I thought the rain would stop soon, but it only got heavier.
I pulled out my phone to call a taxi. Just then, a scream suddenly echoed from ahead.
I looked up and saw a car swerving toward me.
Its headlights blinded me. I quickly stepped aside, but it was too late.
I tumbled to the ground, pain shooting through my body.
Squinting my eyes, I vaguely saw a figure that looked like Julian running toward me.
I felt an unexpected sense of relief…
But when I saw who it really was, I froze.
It wasn’t Julian at all, but Dylan, Julian’s arch–nemesis.
What was he doing here? I didn’t have time to think more; everything went black, and I
passed out.
