Chapter 2

I lost all interest in my coffee, getting up to leave.

Behind me, Serena dropped the act, her tone laced with a hint of disdain.

"I'm back. You didn't actually think that little bit of affection you got, just because you look like me, would be enough to get you through the Sterling family's front door, did you?"

I turned and looked at her, countering, "And you think you can?"

She and Julian were from families of equal standing.

But she had abandoned everything to go abroad when Sterling Corp faced a crisis.

She married, then divorced.

And now she was back.

At least, from what I knew of Mrs. Sterling, it was almost impossible for Serena to get into the Sterling family home.

Unless, of course, Julian insisted.

That evening, I accompanied Julian as he worked in his study.

I sat in front of my computer.

But my eyes kept drifting to him.

Sterling City was teeming with talent.

A fresh graduate like me, with no background.

Without this face as my ticket in, I would never have had the chance to enter Sterling Corp.

No chance to earn wealth most people could only dream of in a lifetime.

And no chance to be by his side for so long.

Looking at it that way, if his true love returned, I should be happy for him.

Clinging on would only make me look clingy and ungrateful.

"Come here."

Julian's voice snapped me out of my thoughts. I obediently walked over to him.

Naturally, he pulled me onto his lap.

"What's wrong?" I asked him.

He looked at me, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

"Nothing. I just thought, this way you can see better."

Caught staring, my face flushed hot instantly, and I even held my breath for a moment.

When did he start getting so charming?

I hadn't explicitly told him about Serena's return.

But that didn't mean it could be kept secret for long.

She quickly appeared at a business banquet, champagne in hand, heading straight for Julian and me.

Her voice was still so soft it sounded like it could melt, "Julian, you're here."

Many people present knew about their past, and whispers began to spread.

I glanced at Julian.

Even with his first love, whom he hadn't seen in years, standing before him.

His face showed absolutely no reaction.

The murmurs around us grew louder.

"When did Serena Vance get back? Didn't she get married?"

"You're way behind on the news. She just divorced, probably rushed back before the ink on her divorce papers was even dry."

"Look at the woman by Mr. Sterling's side, doesn't she look a lot like Ms. Vance?"

"I've thought so for ages. Mr. Sterling found a stand-in for his first love, huh?"

"How devoted."

"Now that the real deal is back, shouldn't the stand-in step aside?"

Julian's sharp gaze swept to where the voices came from.

Those few people instantly clamped their mouths shut.

Others wisely dispersed to different areas.

I figured he was upset that his beloved was being criticized.