Chapter 2

Julian didn't press further, only saying, "If work gets too tiring, just come back. Seeing you exhaust yourself like this pains me, Elara. You know I can provide for you."

I shook my head, enunciating each word. "I am no one's accessory."

Julian looked stunned. "How could you be an accessory...?"

I didn't want to hear it anymore, cutting him off. "Why are you home so early today? Not at the office?"

"I've been so busy with work lately, no time to spend with you. So today, I thought I'd make some time." His brow smoothed, and he was back to being my compliant boyfriend. "What do you want to do? Italian or a movie? Whatever you want today, I'll go with you."

The old me would have been incredibly touched by those words.

After all, he was the heir to the Vance Group, with countless responsibilities. The fact that he was willing to carve out time for me showed I held a significant place in his heart.

But now, looking at him, I couldn't help but wonder: Was he truly busy with work, or was he busy planning a wedding?

How could he possibly be planning a wedding with another woman while simultaneously sweet-talking me, claiming I was the only one he loved?

In the end, I didn't expose his lies.

There were only a few days left anyway. Soon, I would disappear from his life completely.

I shook my head, rejecting his suggestions. After a moment, I said, "How about you help me with a big clean-out? A lot of things in the villa are old and useless."

Julian agreed, helping me sort through things.

But as we cleaned, everything I pulled out was a matching couple's item that we'd bought together.

From water bottles to accessories, from clothes to slippers—I tossed them all into the trash without a second thought.

His smile stiffened with each couple's item I discarded. By the time the last one hit the bin, his panic was undeniable. "Elara, did you… find out something?"

"Find out what? Are you hiding something from me?" I raised an eyebrow, looking at Julian, deflecting his question with one of my own.

He averted his gaze, as if afraid to meet my eyes, and remained silent for a moment. In the end, he didn't answer directly, just clasped my hand. "Elara, no matter what happens, just remember, you are the one I love."

I curled my lip, saying nothing more.

After the big clean-out, Julian still insisted on taking me out on a date. Fearing he might sense something was wrong, I didn't refuse again.

We had dinner, watched a movie, and finally, the car pulled up to an auction house.

Just as we were about to enter, I saw a woman in a Chanel suit, with immaculate makeup, slowly approaching us.

Julian's expression flickered with a hint of discomfort.

"What's wrong? Someone you know?"

As I spoke, the woman stopped in front of us, a warm smile on her face as she greeted us. Julian introduced her, "She's the daughter of my parents' friends, Seraphina Beaumont."

He paused, then introduced me, "This is my girlfriend, Elara."

Anyone not deaf could hear the difference in his introductions. Seraphina's smile immediately faltered, but after a moment, she forced it back and extended her hand to me.

"I've heard Julian's girlfriend is beautiful. It's certainly true."

Just then, the group of friends who had openly mocked me in French the day before approached, winking at Julian, thinking they were being subtle.

I immediately understood: this encounter wasn't accidental. They had deliberately brought Seraphina here.

At the auction, Seraphina sat right beside Julian.

Unlike her provocative SnapChat messages, in person she was gentle, refined, and knowledgeable. Upon learning of Julian's interest in antiques, she conversed eloquently about the subject, and Julian, initially distant, gradually leaned closer to her.

It wasn't until I cleared my throat that Julian seemed to snap back to reality, realizing he’d been ignoring his actual girlfriend for too long.

He quickly took off his jacket and draped it over me, his voice gentle. "Are you cold? Is that better? Elara, I know you're not interested in these things, but if anything catches your eye, just bid on it."

I hadn't even spoken when whispers from his friends behind us drifted over. Though they deliberately lowered their voices, we were only one row apart, and I heard every word.

"Julian really knows how to play the hero for her. Even if she *were* interested, what would she know? She probably doesn't even know how to raise a paddle, ha ha ha ha."

"Exactly. A high-society auction? She's definitely a newbie."

I knew they were saying it for me to hear.

I didn't bother reacting. Soon enough, when we met again, they'd have to stand before me, respectful and calling me Miss Sterling.

At that moment, the previous item was sold, and the next one was brought up.

It was an 'Imperial Swan' Fabergé egg, crafted from the finest gold and encrusted with diamonds. What truly made it exceptional was the auctioneer's announcement: it was a lost masterpiece by the legendary artisan, Master Dubois.

As soon as I heard Master Dubois's name, I instinctively looked at the piece on the stage. After just a glance, I retracted my gaze, my voice flat. "That one's fake."

Seraphina's smile almost fell off her face. "How can Miss Sterling tell?"

"Because the real one was given by the world's richest man's daughter, Miss Sterling, to her grandmother."

There was only one in the world. The real one was at my house. The one on stage had to be fake.

I was trying to be helpful, but my words made Seraphina burst into laughter. Even Julian's friends behind us began to openly mock me.

"Elara, if you don't know, just don't pretend to. It's embarrassing."

"Yeah, and 'given by the richest man's daughter'? Did you see it with your own eyes from under her bed? Just because your last name is Sterling, you think you're related to Miss Sterling?"

The laughter grew louder until Julian, his face cold, finally silenced their taunts.

He looked at me, taking my hand. "Elara, I know you've been reading some art appreciation books lately, but you can't improve your appreciation skills just from books. Seraphina has been attending auctions since she was a child and is quite knowledgeable about such art. She naturally understands more than you."

He didn't say anything overly harsh, but his meaning was clear: he thought I was talking nonsense.

I let out a soft laugh, saying nothing.

In the end, Seraphina paid a staggering twenty million dollars for that Fabergé egg.

Watching her swipe her card, I smiled.

I wondered what Mrs. Vance would think when she learned Seraphina had bought her a fake for $20 million.

I didn't stop her, nor did I care. I stood up and went to the restroom. Just as I finished washing my hands, a familiar voice came from behind me.

"I thought I'd made myself clear enough. How can you still shamelessly hang around? Do you really want to be a homewrecker?"

Her voice was sharp and grating, completely unlike the gentle, refined socialite she'd been moments ago.

I calmly raised my eyes, turning to face her. "Miss Beaumont, I hope you understand that I've been with him for five years. The term 'homewrecker' certainly doesn't apply to me, does it?"

With that, I prepared to walk past her, but she wouldn't let me go, sneering, "Yes, five years together, and he still won't marry you. Haven't you ever wondered why? I'm Miss Beaumont, and he's the heir to the Vance Group. Our families are perfectly matched. But you?"

"With a gambling father and a sick mother, such a pathetic background, nothing to your name. How could you possibly deserve him?"

My steps faltered. This background was a complete fabrication, but I never imagined Julian would tell Seraphina even that.

I couldn't help but laugh at myself. If I truly came from such a background, would my so-called boyfriend, the one who said I was the only one he loved, have handed another woman a second knife to hurt me with?

"You're right, I don't deserve him." A pang of pain shot through my heart. I glanced back at Seraphina, and the pent-up frustration I'd held inside suddenly dissipated. "You two are a perfect match. I wish you both a successful marriage."

With that, I turned and walked away.

I hadn't gone far when my phone rang. It was my mother.

"Elara, hurry home. Everyone's waiting for you, and we've prepared tons of gifts."

"Your father and I bought you a castle overseas, your aunt bought you a diamond crown—they say it was once worn by the Queen of England—and your uncle, he's got a garage full of luxury cars waiting for you..."

Listening to my mother's endless stream of gifts my family had prepared for my return, I couldn't help but sigh. "Mom, I'm coming home to inherit the family fortune, not to squander it."

The moment my words fell, a familiar voice came from behind me.

"Inherit the family fortune? What are you talking about?"