Chapter 3

I took a deep breath, trying to force all those memories from my mind.

Then my phone rang with a special notification tone.

I had set it years ago so I would never miss an update from Claire.

Now the sound only grated on my nerves.

Sure enough, Claire’s newest post on Ins showed a photo of two hands clasped together.

The caption read:

“Celebrating our tenth year together.”

How ridiculous.

I had been part of those ten years for seven of them.

The comments were filled with fans offering congratulations and speculating about who had finally won the actress’s heart.

Before long, Ryan’s comment was pinned at the top.

“My heart has never changed. Neither have you.”

As the CEO of Carter Enterprises, Ryan naturally had plenty of admirers.

That kind of public acknowledgment was something I had never received after seven years of devotion.

I stared at the photos of Claire and Ryan openly showing off their relationship.

I had expected it to hurt.

But I felt nothing.

It seemed the heart that loved Claire had already died.

I composed myself and handed over all of Claire’s projects to the company.

When my assistant asked what should be done with the female lead’s understudy contract, I casually pointed to one of the company’s young actresses.

“Give it to Mia Brooks. Her acting is excellent. She can handle it.”

I had devoted myself to developing Claire all these years, but I had never ignored the company’s other performers.

Mia was a rising talent I had recently discovered. Her acting felt effortless, and there was even a slight resemblance between her features and Claire’s.

That was why I remembered her so clearly.

I brought all the paperwork concerning Claire’s contracts to her dressing room.

She still wore the same arrogant expression.

Years of praise and indulgence had made her lose herself.

The purity and resilience she once possessed were nowhere to be seen.

Claire glanced at the contracts in my hand, looking irritated.

“Ethan, are you really leaving me?”

She still seemed certain that I would never walk away from her at her current level of fame.

This time, she had guessed wrong.

I nodded firmly and threw the documents onto her desk.

“I’ve made up my mind. Sign them. Your future appearances will be arranged by another manager.”

My cold expression made Claire laugh angrily.

She signed her name on the contract with furious strokes.

Then, right in front of me, she removed the ring from her finger.

“This is the thing you gave me. I don’t want it anymore!”

I watched as Claire threw the ring into the burning fireplace.

A heavy ache settled in my chest.

That plain band had been a prize we won by chance while celebrating her first leading role.

It had little monetary value, but it meant everything to me.

I had thought Claire would at least feel some regret over our seven years together.

But looking at her stubborn, unrepentant expression, my heart finally went cold.

I nodded without changing expression.

“If it makes you happy, then fine. I’m leaving.”

I didn’t look back.

It felt as though my heart had been buried in the flames along with the ring.

The moment I stepped outside, my mother called.

“Ethan, you need to come to France right away! Your father… your father had a stroke. The doctor says he… he may not make it through the night…”

Her sobs left my mind completely blank.

My parents had lived in France for years, and the family business had gradually begun expanding overseas.

I had spoken to my father only last week. He had been perfectly healthy.

Now, everything had changed without warning.

“Okay, Mom. Wait for me. I’m coming right now!”