Chapter 3
The cold tea churned in my stomach.
I kept walking, but my mind flashed back to the past.
Julian never told me anything about his family.
A month into dating him, I realized he was extremely wealthy.
I’d been screwed over at work–my month–long project stolen. I complained offhand, and the next day my credit and bonus were back in place.
My coworkers apologized.
I stood stunned in the office as my boss smiled and told me I could come straight to him for issues
like this.
No need to bother “people higher up.
Higher up.
I didn’t know what rank that meant, but I knew it was Julian.
Julian just laughed when I told him.
I stared into his eyes and thought his family must be filthy rich.
Slowly, I noticed he never acknowledged our relationship in public.
Never introduced me to his friends.
He’d take me out to eat sometimes, but once mid–meal he took a call, sent me home in a car, and
had my food packed.
I ate alone.
Later I found out the call was from his friends–they’d been nearby and wanted to meet him.
I asked Julian, “Am I too embarrassing to be seen with?”
His fingertips were cold. He wiped a tear from my eye and said no.
That night, he took me to meet his friends for the first time.
That was when I learned about his childhood sweetheart, the wealthy socialite.
Dinner was quiet.
Chanter ?
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When it ended, I accidentally glanced at her phone screen.
“Tough you had to book such a hidden place.”
“Let’s not do this again.”
Spilled tea burned my fingers. I jerked my hand back.
Julian said he was being watched closely.
But after that night, he hardly went out with me.
A few days before my birthday, Julian wore a tie I’d never seen–bright, noticeable colors.
He didn’t come home on my birthday.
I curled up on the couch watching a movie, waiting for his message that never came.
Instead, I got an invitation from that socialite.
When I arrived, I noticed her scarf. It matched Julian’s tie perfectly.
I froze for a second.
I barely knew Chloe Voss, but she’d somehow found out my birthday and brought a gift.
“We met briefly last time. I didn’t have anything for you then.”
“Happy birthday.”
The gift was too expensive. I refused it.
Chloe didn’t push it. She asked, “Julian didn’t spend the day with you?”
I shook my head and said he was busy.
Chloe smiled, but said nothing.
When I left, it was snowing.
I checked my phone: two red dots–steps and news. No new messages.
The snow got heavier. Few cars were on the road. locked my phone and looked up to see Chloe
get into a black Bentley across the street.
It sped past me in the snow.
I’d seen that car in Julian’s garage.
Chapter 3
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He never let anyone ride in it. Not even me.
