Chapter 2His Stand-In Ex-Girlfriend Is Done Playing Nice

He expected me to stay by his side just like before, acting as a quiet piece of arm candy.

But tonight, when a prominent investor was holding court about a new project, I quietly chimed in:

"Mr. Miller, when calculating your WACC, did you factor in the skyrocketing cost of debt under the current interest rate hike cycle?"

The table fell dead silent. Several guests turned to stare at me in surprise. Even Julian's hand holding the wine glass froze, shooting me a sharp, questioning glare.

Mr. Miller looked as if lightning had struck him. He pondered for a second before his face lit up.

"Exactly! Miss Vance, you're remarkably sharp."

He then enthusiastically struck up a conversation with me.

Julian's jaw tightened. In the end, he said nothing, tacitly allowing our conversation to continue.

The air around him, however, grew suffocatingly cold.

On the drive back, Julian sat with a stormy face and finally snapped:

"Elena, I made it clear the day I let you stay by my side."

"I want an obedient girlfriend, not a nuisance who oversteps her bounds and shows off."

Disappointment dripped from his cold tone:

"If you can't even handle your basic role..."

"I think I need to reconsider our relationship."

I sneered silently in my heart. Here it was again.

Over the past three years, whenever my actions deviated slightly from what he wanted, he would threaten to "reconsider our relationship."

He counted on my love for him. He counted on the fact that I couldn't bear to leave him.

It was simple, efficient, and never failed.

This time, though, I lifted my chin and cut right to the chase:

"No need to reconsider."

"Julian, let's break up."

Julian whipped his head around, genuine shock catching him off guard for the first time.

Quickly, rage replaced the shock.

"Break up?"

"Elena, who do you think you are? What gives you the right to say those words to me?"

Julian let out a cold, mocking laugh, dripping with disbelief.

"What, you're not desperate for me anymore? You're not chasing me across the globe? You actually think you can walk away from me?"

"You think putting on a black dress and talking back changes anything? Cut the pathetic act before you burn through the last shred of my patience."

"Everything you have, I gave you, and I can take it all back whenever I want. Including... whether your mother's private care facility gets next month's wire transfer. That all depends on my mood."

I dug my fingernails deep into my palms.

Money. It was always about money.

All my life, I had endured endless humiliation just for money.

The money Victoria gave me was more than enough to cover my mother's medical bills on my own.

Except I couldn't use it openly right now.

I couldn't explain where it came from.

I had promised her absolute secrecy. If I breached our deal, she could demand the money back.

Seeing me lower my head in silence, Julian assumed I had backed down.

He leaned back against the seat, wearing that familiar, condescending arrogance:

"Good to see you've come to your senses. Don't pull such embarrassing stunts ever again."

"I won't give you a second chance."