Chapter 2

Over the past ten years, I saved Julian Vance three times.

The first time, I gambled my relationship with my father to save his education.

At the start of tenth grade, Julian was so poor he was on the verge of dropping out. Yet his stubborn pride made him refuse every cent of my money. I knelt outside my father's study all night, begging him for help. My father refused, giving me a harsh ultimatum:

"It’s either me, your father, or that worthless stray!"

I pressed my forehead against the cold marble floor.

"I’m sorry, Dad."

Unable to break my stubbornness, my father set up the "Young Scholars Fund." Julian Vance’s name was the very first on the list.

That same night, I was kicked out of the family estate. I moved into a cramped, dingy rental, cut off from all financial support, grinding through high school alone for two long years.

On the day of high school graduation, Julian held his university acceptance letter, wrapped his arms around me, and sobbed:

"Chloe, I swear I will never let you down as long as I live!"

The second time, I gambled my grandmother's heirloom to save his dignity.

During our sophomore year of college, his mother fell critically ill. The surgery bills pushed him so close to the brink that he almost sold his blood. Once again, I went to beg my father, only to receive a stinging slap across the face:

"Are you going to ruin your entire life for that loser?"

My father locked me in the house.

I climbed out the second-story window, ran to a pawnshop, and pawned the jade bangle my grandmother had left me as a dowry.

The pawnshop owner warned me:

"Girl, you know how this works. Once you sign the final deed, it's non-redeemable."

Gritting my teeth, I pushed the bangle across the counter anyway.

When I shoved the stack of cash into Julian’s hands, he was sitting on a cold hospital corridor floor, chewing on stale bread. He dropped to his knees, clutching my waist like a weeping child. He slipped a soda can pull-tab onto my ring finger and proposed:

"Chloe, once I start making real money, I’m going to buy you the biggest diamond in the world!"

The third time, I gambled everything to save his future.

During our senior year, Julian hit a brick wall in his job hunt. Behind my father's back, I swallowed my pride and begged an old business partner of our family—a man my father had feuded with for years—just to secure Julian an internal referral at Horizon Bank.

My father was so furious that he formally disowned me.

When Julian got the offer letter from Horizon Bank, he spun me around in his arms, overjoyed:

"Chloe, the second I pass my probation, we're getting married!"

What came, however, was not a wedding. It was betrayal.

Just one month after Julian started at the bank, I went to his office to drop off a file he had forgotten at home.

Outside the corporate tower, I saw him gallantly opening the car door for Tiffany Miller. His face wore a fawning, subservient smile I had never seen before. Then, so naturally, he took her hand and gently kissed her knuckles.

I instinctively called out, my voice trembling:

"Julian!"

Julian turned around, panic flashing across his eyes.

Seeing this, Tiffany hooked her arm through his and asked with an irritated pout:

"Julian, who is that?"

Julian gripped Tiffany’s hand tighter.

There wasn't a trace of guilt in his eyes. Only sheer annoyance at being interrupted.

"No idea."

With that, he led Tiffany right past me, his eyes never lingering for a fraction of a second.

In that instant, I heard something shatter inside me.

The next day, Julian asked to meet. He pushed a debit card across the table without any expression.

"Chloe, you're great. But she can save me twenty years of grinding. I’m sick of people looking down on me."

"This covers the money you spent on my mom's medical bills, plus double the amount as compensation."

"Let's call off the engagement."

Looking at my devastated face, Julian let out a long sigh and added:

"I’ll remember your kindness for the rest of my life. But I hope... you won't contact me again."

With that, he walked away without looking back, his strides so hurried it was as if he were running for his life.

I picked up the card.

Staring at the empty seat across from me, I felt like a piece of garbage that had been discarded on a whim.

I broke into hysterical, tearful laughter, muttering to myself:

"Julian, you really are pathetic."

"And my taste was even more pathetic."

In that moment, my heart completely died.

Snapping out of the memory, my fingers subconsciously brushed against the cool jade bangle on my wrist.

This bangle couldn't be redeemed back then.

So later on, I simply bought the entire pawnshop and took it right out of the display case myself.

The owner's words—"once you sign the final deed, it's non-redeemable"—still echoed in my ears.

I smiled faintly.

Yes, rules said it couldn't be redeemed.

But now, I was the one who made the rules.

Just then, the internal intercom buzzed:

"Ms. Hayes, Tiffany Miller from Horizon Bank is here and wants to see you. Should I turn her away?"

My fingertips glided across the smooth jade.

"No need. Show her into Meeting Room 2."