Chapter 3

Scarlett POV

When exactly did Julian start falling for Briar?

I vaguely recalled that when Briar first appeared, she was almost identical to how I had been back then.

Also a fledgling actress, just starting in the entertainment industry, with no real name for herself.

She was young, with the same innocent, clear eyes I'd once had.

To thank her for agreeing to donate her kidney, Julian established a dedicated studio team for her, arranged for her to live in a luxurious house, and personally accompanied her for medical check-ups and health consultations.

Later, he even started taking her to private dinners.

He would interrupt important meetings because of a single message from her.

He would meticulously pay attention to her diet, her sleep schedule, and her emotional state.

I wasn't oblivious; I had asked him.

"Don't you think you're paying too much attention to Briar?"

"Are you... falling for her?"

That time, he was visibly displeased.

"What are you talking about?" he said. "I'm only taking care of her so she can rest and recover, to donate her kidney. Don't overthink things."

For the sake of my mother's condition, I didn't press the issue.

I could only choose silence, enduring his care for Briar, which had long crossed the line of normalcy.

I thought that if I just endured it, my mother's kidney source would be secured.

But in the end, this was the outcome I got.

Over the next few days, Julian never showed up.

He did send me a message:

"Briar got into a car accident, and her emotions are a bit unstable. Let's put the kidney donation on hold for now. I'll take her out to clear her head for a while. Take care of yourself and your mother."

I looked at that message, then down at the urn in my arms, a cynical laugh escaping me.

He still didn't know that my mother was gone.

And no longer needed anyone's kidney.

But then again, why would he? He clearly didn't plan on letting Briar donate anymore anyway.

I didn't reply to him.

Instead, I privately contacted the relevant personnel and chose a quiet, suitable burial place for my mother.

From the final arrangements to the burial, I didn't inform anyone.

Five days passed by the time everything was done.

That day, I opened my social media.

The first post on my feed was from Briar.

It was a photo of her and Julian at a ski resort.

In the picture, her head rested naturally on his shoulder, and the expression on his face was one of gentle softness I hadn't seen in a long time.

The caption read:

"Mr. Sterling brought me out to relax. The trauma from the car accident has faded so much. So happy!"

I stared at that photo, feeling my heart being pierced by countless tiny needles, making it almost impossible to breathe.

I exited the page and dialed another number.

The call connected, and the voice on the other end was cold.

"Scarlett? Why are you calling me?"

"Mrs. Sterling," I said calmly, "haven't you always thought I wasn't good enough for Julian? Well, now, I agree to leave him, to divorce him."

There was silence on the other end for a few seconds.

"What made you suddenly see sense?"

They had always despised my humble background.

In their eyes, being an actress, a celebrity, was nothing more than an undignified profession.

Even if I had won the highest honors, and later completely left the industry for Julian, learning the lifestyle they approved of, the Sterling family had never truly accepted me.

If Julian hadn't insisted on marrying me back then, I would never have set foot in that house.

"Mrs. Sterling," I didn't explain why, but continued, "you must have a way for Julian and me to end this marriage quietly, right?"

She seemed to understand something, her tone immediately lightening.

"This is your decision to divorce, so don't say I forced you later."

I replied, "Don't worry, it's my choice."

"Good," she said, "I'll have someone send you the divorce papers tomorrow. Sign them, and once the process is complete, your marriage will be over."

"Understood."

She added, "Remember, once the paperwork is done, never appear before Julian again."

I gripped my phone, silently answering in my heart.

I wouldn't.

More than anyone, I hoped to have no further ties with Julian Sterling in this lifetime.