Chapter 3The Scandal at The Golden Globes

Julian called me once after that.

He didn't explain, didn't apologize, didn't even ask why.

He just confirmed with me: "Have you thought this through?"

I gave a soft "Mhm."

He was silent for a second, then hung up.

Originally, I thought he would be angry.

After all, growing up as the center of the universe, no one had ever defied him.

Yet I dumped him, and he wasn't even the first to know.

The hashtag #JulianSterlingDumped stayed at #1 for three days.

Julian didn't have it taken down.

My agency, afraid of offending the Sterlings, tried to remove it, but it would pop back up within a minute.

That wasn't Julian losing face; that was his warning to me.

Sure enough, after that, my career became rocky.

Until six years passed, until Julian's anger subsided, until he and Chloe were about to marry.

The past played before my eyes, making me zone out.

The host called my name twice before I snapped back to reality.

Everyone around me was happy for me. Amidst the thunderous applause, I glanced at the front row.

Chloe was sitting there.

The seat next to her was empty.

Although there was no name tag, everyone knew that was Julian's seat.

He hadn't arrived yet.

That was good; it saved a lot of awkwardness.

But when I stood on stage, looking up to give my acceptance speech, Julian was sitting there, straight and proper.

I hadn't seen him in years. His temperament was even more steady and cold.

The moment our eyes met, his gaze was like looking at a stranger, devoid of any emotion.

I steadied myself and began my speech gracefully.