Chapter 2
1105words
He yanked out the fragment and flicked it away like an annoying splinter.
His eyes gleamed with contempt, as if my resistance amounted to nothing more than a child's tantrum.
"Eleanor, you're becoming increasingly irrational." His tone was glacial, edged with impatience. "Stop this pathetic display. Do you think this changes anything? You belong to me."
Seraphina stepped forward, eyes brimming with perfectly timed tears, and clutched Julian's sleeve. "Julian, please don't be angry. Poor Eleanor… she's just upset because of her injury. The doctor said she needs rest."
As she spoke, she produced a small glass vial from her pocket containing a faintly luminescent liquid.
"Eleanor, this is the 'Source of Life' healing essence I prepared specially for you. They say it works miracles on wounds. Please don't be angry anymore—just focus on getting better, okay?" Seraphina's voice was delicate as spun glass, but her eyes glinted with barely concealed triumph. She was clearly suggesting my anger stemmed merely from pain and weakness.
Julian snatched the vial, glanced at it, then thrust it into my hand. His tone brooked no argument: "Take it, Eleanor. Seraphina's being kind—don't be ungrateful. Besides us, who else gives a damn about you?"
I stared at the so-called "healing essence," finding the gesture laughably ironic.
Did they honestly believe they could quench my rage with this pathetic gesture? Did they think without them, I was nothing—that no one else would ever care for me?
"I don't need it." I hurled the vial back at Julian's chest.
Julian's face darkened with fury, but before he could explode, Seraphina suddenly swooned dramatically into his arms.
"Julian… I… my chest…" Seraphina's voice was barely a whisper, her face instantly drained of color.
Julian's expression transformed to one of frantic concern. He swept Seraphina into his arms, his eyes swimming with worry and tenderness.
Without sparing me another glance, he rushed from the room with Seraphina cradled against him, shouting: "Doctor! We need a doctor here, now!"
The room fell silent once more, leaving me alone on the cold hospital bed.
I stared at the closed door, listening to their retreating footsteps, a crushing wave of loneliness washing over me.
Julian had once been my entire world.
He'd been gentle and attentive, charming and funny, always the first to appear whenever I needed someone.
I'd believed our bond was unbreakable, that nothing could ever come between us.
But Seraphina's arrival had created a fracture that shattered everything beautiful between us.
She'd used her so-called "life-saving favor" to transform Julian completely.
I'd thought it was merely guilt and obligation driving him, never imagining it would lead to murderous intent against me.
I closed my eyes, memories flooding back—Julian's sweet words, thoughtful surprises, the tender light in his eyes when he looked at me.
Those once-cherished memories now felt like knives twisting in my heart.
Enough. God, enough already.
I forced myself out of bed, dragging my weakened body back to my penthouse at Vance Tower. The place was haunted by memories of Julian and me. His gifts were everywhere—the dress in my closet, the perfume on my vanity, love letters filling my bookshelf. His presence lingered in every corner.
I stumbled to my desk, yanked open the drawer, and grabbed a lighter.
Then I began hunting down every reminder of Julian, one by one.
First, the love letters. He'd once crafted elaborate promises about our future, each line dripping with declarations of love.
Now those words rang hollow and false. I ripped them apart, page by page, and set them ablaze.
The flames hungrily consumed the paper, reducing his empty promises to ash.
Next came the photographs. Us laughing at the beach, embracing on snowy mountaintops, kissing beneath the Eiffel Tower.
In each image, our smiles looked so genuine, so sweet. A stab of pain pierced my heart, quickly replaced by cold fury. I fed them one by one into the flames, watching them curl and blacken until nothing remained.
Then came the gifts and mementos I'd once treasured. I threw them all into the fire, watching them melt and burn with satisfying crackles and pops.
The flames leaped higher, casting harsh light across my hardened features.
As I watched our history turn to smoke and ash, an unexpected lightness spread through my chest.
The fire seemed to consume not just objects but my feelings for Julian—the love, the hate, the bitterness and resentment.
I could finally release him completely. From this moment on, Julian Thorne would be nothing to me.
The next morning, I requested leave from my father, Richard Vance. I told him I needed time to clear my head and wanted to get away for a while.
Father studied my pale face and exhausted eyes. Though visibly concerned, he ultimately agreed.
He had no idea my true purpose wasn't just to buy necessities for my new life, but primarily to repair my mother's damaged Iris Brooch.
It was my only keepsake of her. I couldn't bear to leave it broken.
I changed into simple clothes and slipped on dark sunglasses to hide the exhaustion and bruising around my eyes.
I headed to the bustling downtown shopping district, purchasing several new outfits and basic necessities.
I promised myself that today marked the beginning of my new life—one without Julian Thorne.
Just as I was leaving the mall, I spotted Julian and Seraphina in front of an upscale jewelry store.
They stood hand in hand, intimately browsing the displays. Seraphina's face glowed with happiness while Julian gazed at her adoringly.
They noticed me too. Seraphina's smile faltered momentarily before she quickly resumed her fragile, innocent expression.
Julian's eyes gleamed with cruel amusement as he released Seraphina's hand and strode toward me.
"Eleanor? What a coincidence." His tone dripped with mockery. "Shopping alone? Having regrets already? Wishing you could take back those harsh words?"
He actually thought I was here pining for him, hoping he'd change his mind. His arrogance was truly breathtaking.
I removed my sunglasses and met his gaze directly, my eyes completely devoid of emotion. "Julian Thorne, I never regret my decisions. Unlike you, I don't live in the past."
His smile froze, a flash of irritation crossing his features.
I turned and walked away without another word. This was the last second I would ever waste on him. From now on, Julian Thorne would cease to exist in my world.
I would forge my new life, my new future.
And that future would be intertwined with a man named Ethan Kale.
