Chapter 3His Stand-In Ex-Girlfriend Is Done Playing Nice

Maybe it was because the love had died.

I slipped back into my quiet, gentle demeanor, becoming even more docile than before.

Julian was deeply satisfied with this display of "knowing my place." Instead of icing me out like he usually did, he started dragging me to every business dinner, as if trying to prove a point.

During one dinner, a corporate partner named Mr. Davis kept letting his greasy gaze linger all over me.

Julian clearly noticed.

Instead of shutting it down, he pinned my hand under the table when I tried to stand up. When Mr. Davis cast another lewd look my way, Julian leaned in and whispered into my ear:

"Mr. Davis is crucial for my next merger. Go pour him a drink."

My eyes widened in pure disbelief.

"What are you saying?"

Julian smiled, clearly pleased by the resistance in my eyes.

"I'm saying, be good."

"Consider it a little punishment for bringing up that breakup."

I stared at Julian's handsome face.

For the first time, I realized he looked no different from the bullies who had spread filthy rumors about me back in high school. After all these years together, I realized his insides were just as foul.

My supposed "savior" had only stepped in because he thought they were "too damn loud."

Elena Vance, you were never truly saved.

A heavy, suffocating wave of exhaustion washed over me.

"Mr. Sterling, I heard Victoria is coming back soon."

"Isn't my breakup request just giving you two what you want? Why get so angry and go out of your way to humiliate me?"

"After all, every time you got drunk, you'd hold me and call out Victoria's name. Wouldn't it be much better to pour your heart out to the real thing when she lands?"

The mention of Victoria made Julian's expression turn instantly ugly.

He glared at me impatiently:

"Is that what this is? You're throwing petty tantrums because you're jealous?"

I scoffed, finding the whole thing ridiculous.

"You're overthinking it, Mr. Sterling. I know damn well I'm not fit to be compared to Victoria Ross."

"'Her? She’s not even fit to be in Victoria’s shadow. I just thought you guys were too damn loud.”

“Whether she's sleeping around or not, what the hell does that have to do with me?' I remember every single word you told your buddies back then."

Julian froze.

He never imagined I knew about that.

I turned to the waiter beside us, gesturing for him to top off my wine glass.

Self-deprecation laced my tone:

"Julian, back then, you were the only person who ever stood up for me. That's why I fell so hard for you.”

“I didn't care about throwing myself at you, and I didn't care about being treated like her stand-in. As long as I could stay by your side, nothing else mattered."

"Now, though... it seems you really do see me as a cheap girl who sells herself."

Julian looked into my hollow, lifeless eyes.

His heart seized violently, and a sharp, unfamiliar wave of panic and regret washed over him.

"I..."

Julian instinctively tried to explain.

I gave him no chance.

Picking up the overflowing glass, I turned to walk toward Mr. Davis, who was grinning greedily at me.

The second I stood up—

Julian grabbed my wrist in an iron grip. With his other hand, he knocked the wine glass from my fingers, sending it crashing to the floor.

"Excuse us. Something came up," he snapped.

Julian dragged me out of the private room without looking back.