Chapter 2

After sending the message, I started packing my bags.

Tucked deep inside the bookshelf, I stumbled upon Nana’s probationary evaluation from three years ago.

Out of ten performance metrics, she had failed nine.

According to the rules Julian wrote himself, any employee failing more than three metrics was supposed to be terminated immediately.

I read through Nana's evaluation carefully.

She had misspelled the client's CEO's name on promotional posters.

She had booked only half the required venue seating for a major event.

Her pricing calculation errors had caused massive financial losses.

Julian was notoriously strict at work. Every single one of those mistakes crossed his absolute red lines.

Suddenly, I understood why Julian had missed our anniversary three years ago.

Nana had just joined the company back then, and Julian had abruptly become swamped.

He ran around venues and factories in person every day, delivering gifts to client warehouses under the scorching sun.

He was quietly cleaning up the messes Nana left behind.

Meanwhile, just last month, I made a typo on a single spreadsheet date.

He ripped into me in front of the entire team: "Chloe, if you can't even handle the simplest details, maybe you should just resign."

I was mortified back then, spending nights beating myself up over it.

Only now did I realize that the strict principles he enforced on me meant nothing when it came to Nana.

Click.

The front door opened. Julian was home.

Seeing my soaked hair, his immediate reflex was to grab a towel and dry it for me.

All I saw was the pink lip gloss smeared against his collar.

It was Nana's signature shade.

"Let's break up, Julian," I said quietly.

He didn't take it seriously, continuing to towel my hair dry.

"Is this about what happened at the dinner tonight?"

"That guy who harassed you, Mike? He won't be setting foot in the office tomorrow."

I stared at him, numb.

He acted as if our earlier fight had never happened, his eyes filled with apparent concern.

"Chloe, I've already pulled the security footage and retained top counsel to sue Mike."

"How could I ever let someone get away with hurting you?"

He gently applied soothing ointment to the raw skin on the back of my hand, his tone resolute.

"Chloe, if anyone makes you suffer even an ounce, I'll make them pay a thousand times over."

The burning intensity in his eyes caught me off guard.

Back when I helped him build the startup from scratch, he would project his desktop screen to clients.

Whenever they saw his wallpaper, he would proudly announce, "This is my future wife. She's the most important person in my life."

His eyes literally sparkled whenever he introduced me.

Later, as the business stabilized, we were finally ready to get our marriage license and go public with our relationship.

Then Nana confessed her feelings to him under the guise of a joke at the annual gala.

Julian let her down gently, blurting out an excuse that the company had a strict policy against office romances.

And so, to "avoid suspicion," our relationship was forced underground.

Getting married was never brought up again.

Remembering those days softened my heart for a second.

"Julian, maybe we should just go public..."

"Stop."

His brow furrowed instantly. "Why are you bringing this up again?"

"Chloe, I'm trying to protect your professional reputation. Can't you see I'm doing this for your own good?"

His phone buzzed repeatedly.

Julian glanced at the screen, stood up abruptly, and headed for the door.

"An urgent client issue came up. I have to head out."

Slam.

The door banged shut, shattering the last lingering shreds of hope inside me.

A moment later, my father's reply arrived.

[Sweetheart, the investment is nothing. Did someone hurt you?]

My eyes stung, not knowing how to explain.

Meanwhile, Nana was posting in the office group again.

[Girls, I told him I wasn't feeling well, and Julian rushed right back.]

[I asked him if he had a girlfriend, and he said no!]

[I only have one bed in my apartment, so I told him to come sleep beside me. Guess what he said?]

The group exploded with squeals of excitement.

Holding back a wave of nausea, my trembling fingers tapped the button to leave the chat.

Julian didn't come home that night.