Chapter 4The Year I Stopped Loving You

As I turned to leave, a red bracelet was thrown from behind the desk, landing by my feet.

"Throw it away if you don't like it."

Julian's tone was dry, like charity mixed with a scolding.

I looked down. The red string was braided messily, with a small, stingy gold bead.

Hard to like.

I didn't want trouble, so I picked it up.

"Understood."

I'd throw it away outside.

Opening the door, I saw Chloe pretending to be busy but watching us.

Seeing me, she greeted sweetly.

"Joanna, did you fight with Julian because of me? Sorry, I just casually said I wanted that project. I didn't think he'd actually give it to me."

Her eyes caught the bracelet in my hand. Her smile froze for a second, then brightened:

"I wondered why Julian was so petty, taking the small gold bead from the ring set. So it was a peace offering for you."

"The salesgirl said this bead is part of our love too. It's fitting that Julian gave it to you."

"Chloe!"

Before I could speak, Julian's panicked voice came from inside.

Chloe played with her hair, revealing the matching gold ring. "Julian is calling me. Bye!"

Watching the door close, I threw the silver necklace from my neck and the red bracelet into the trash can.

Back at my department, a pungent spicy smell filled the air.

HR was distributing afternoon tea awkwardly. Everyone looked unhappy.

"What's wrong?"

Seeing me, my team swarmed over to complain.

"Joanna, look. Isn't she doing this on purpose?"

I looked at the table. Heavy spicy snacks and double-sugar milk tea. And Chloe's message in the group chat:

"Mr. Vance said the Top Biller chooses the celebration tea. So I ordered my favorites."

"Don't pretend to be healthy. Life needs spice and sugar to be fun."

No wonder they looked green. Sales teams work late; stomachs are sensitive. This would kill them.

"Throw it out. I'm buying. Whatever you want."

"Long live Joanna!"

I smiled at their cheers.

I would miss my colleagues more than Julian.

We worked together for years. I couldn't tell them I was leaving. This tea would be my goodbye.

Near the end of the day, Mom called.

She asked if I told Julian. I said no, and told her to say she didn't know if he asked.

Uncle Richard's apologetic voice came through.

"Joanna, Julian wronged you. I apologize for him. Don't hate him. He's hurting too."

Don't hate him? I couldn't.

Julian and I were classmates in high school. Mom was our homeroom teacher.

Back then, the Vance family wasn't rich yet. Uncle Richard was always away. Julian was a troubled kid with bad grades.

I remember after a parent-teacher meeting, Julian fought with his mom in the hallway.

"You only tell Dad to take care of his health, and tell me to study hard."

"What else can you do besides cooking and cleaning? Useless! Shut up if you can't help!"

Later, his mom died in a car crash on the way home.

Mom took him in, fearing for his mental health.

I understood his guilt and rejection of his mom.

But who cared about my pain this past year?

He mocked Uncle Richard and Mom, forcing them to move abroad.

When I proposed breaking up, he pointed at my nose: "What? Your mom replaced you to dig for gold, so you can retire? Dream on."

One year. My love was ground to dust.

Knock, knock, knock.

The car window rattled. I turned, startled.

Julian was knocking, his voice muffled:

"My car is in the shop. We're going home together for a few days."