Chapter 4

I picked up my suitcase and headed straight for the foyer.

Julian lunged forward and snatched the handle from my grip.

"Stop throwing a tantrum!"

"Go take a nap in the bedroom. I'll cook dinner for you."

He pushed me gently toward the hallway while setting my luggage aside.

"You're in a bad mood today, I get it."

"But you can't just throw around the word 'breakup' whenever you feel like it."

He rolled up his sleeves and headed toward the kitchen.

"Do you want garlic butter salmon or braised short ribs?"

I stood frozen in the living room, staring at his retreating back.

Over the past three years, he had cooked for me countless times.

Whenever we had a fight, he would whip up a gourmet feast.

And every single time, I would sit at that dining table, eat his food, and let my resolve melt away.

Not this time.

Suddenly, Natalie stepped out of the bedroom and softly pulled the door shut behind her.

She leaned against the doorframe, holding a glass of water.

"You two look quite nice together."

She pointed with her chin toward the framed portrait on the nightstand.

It was our formal photoshoot from last year—me in an ivory designer gown, Julian in a crisp tuxedo, smiling brightly.

She picked up the frame, tilting her head as she studied it.

"Do you know who Julian originally wanted to take these photos with?"

My fingers curled into fists.

"With me."

Natalie set the frame down, her voice as breezy as someone discussing the weather.

"I turned him down, of course. I thought it was inappropriate."

She turned around to face me, a faint, condescending smirk playing on her lips.

"Do you know why Julian chose to be with you?"

I said nothing.

"Because you're obedient."

She strolled over and sat on the edge of the mattress next to me.

"You're easy to manage. You don't burn through his cash, and you don't stir up trouble."

"He needs someone to manage his household and give him a stable base."

"You checked all the boxes."

She tilted her head, watching me like a scientist studying a lab rat.

"But he could never bring himself to cut ties with me."

"Men will be men, Chloe."

"A powerful man is never going to tie himself to a single tree."

My nails bit into my palms.

"Are you done?"

Natalie batted her eyelashes innocently.

"I'm just giving you a reality check."

"You shouldn't be kept in the dark."

Her voice turned sugary sweet, pretending to have my best interests at heart.

"Julian actually treats you pretty well. He never starves you of material luxury."

"Why be so stubborn?"

I stood up and stared down at her.

"Natalie Cross."

"A woman who has to sneak on another woman's engagement ring."

"A woman who relies entirely on acting like a fragile damsel in distress to beg for pity."

"Who gives you the right to lecture me?"

Natalie's smug expression instantly vanished.

"You're nothing more than another bird he keeps locked in a cage."

I gripped my suitcase handle and walked out without looking back.

Natalie called after me from the bedroom:

"Do you really think he'll chase after you once you walk out that door?"

"He never chases anyone."

I didn't slow my pace.

As I reached the living room, Julian emerged from the kitchen wearing an apron, his hands dusted with flour.

"Why are you still holding that bag?"

Seeing the suitcase in my hand, his brow furrowed deeply.

"I already told you, whatever I did wrong, I'll fix it."

"It's dark outside. I worry about you being out there alone."

He reached out and grabbed my wrist with considerable force.

"Be good. Put the bag away."

"We'll sit down and talk after dinner."

I violently ripped my wrist from his grasp.

"In this lifetime, I will never have anything to do with you ever again."

"Drop the pathetic act."

Julian's face darkened completely.

"Chloe, how far are you planning to push this?"

"You humiliated me by rejecting my proposal in front of hundreds of people, and now you're running away with your bags."

"Do you really think playing these mind games is fun?"

Staring at him, I suddenly found the man standing before me utterly repulsive.

"Go check the security camera in the bedroom."

Julian paused. "What do you mean?"

"Go look for yourself."

I had installed a hidden pet monitor in the bedroom a few months ago.

Standing in the hallway, Natalie's face instantly turned paper-white.

Every single word she had whispered to me moments ago had been captured in crystal-clear audio and video.

Julian strode into the bedroom, grabbed the monitor, and hit playback.

Natalie's smug voice rang out through the speakers:

"Do you know why Julian chose to be with you? Because you're obedient, easy to manage, and don't burn through his cash..."

"He could never bring himself to cut ties with me..."

"Men will be men, Chloe. A powerful man is never going to tie himself to a single tree."