Chapter 3The Dice Game I Could Never Win

Chloe quickly waved her hands. "Forget it, Julian. Let her go instead."

"Enough," Julian cut her off, his voice firm. "We aren't changing the rules every time. She can't just throw a tantrum whenever she doesn't get her way."

A few nearby guests turned to glance in our direction.

"When have I ever thrown a tantrum?" I asked.

"Please, don't cause a scene here."

"You know how important this meeting was to me."

"There will be other opportunities."

Austin checked his watch. "Mr. Wade, we really need to go."

Without asking me another word, Julian turned and led Chloe through the doors.

I stood completely still, watching the doors close right in front of me.

* * *

Fifteen minutes later, Chloe walked out alone. Mr. Vance had already left through a side exit.

Julian retrieved a glass of warm milk from the bar and handed it to me.

"Your stomach has been acting up. Drink a little. Don't drink on an empty stomach."

I took the glass. He remembered my weak stomach, yet he had forgotten why I was here in the first place.

"You still care about me, don't you?" I asked.

Julian blinked, caught off guard. "Of course I care about you."

"Then why did you give my chance to her?"

"It was just one meeting. You already have plenty of industry contacts. Chloe doesn't even have a job right now."

"Because she needs it, I'm supposed to just step aside?"

"You're in a much better position than she is. What's wrong with giving her a break?"

I set the glass down on a nearby table.

"Julian, you said earlier that this was about fairness."

"It was."

"Is it really fair if the outcome was rigged from the start?"

His face instantly drained of color. "What are you talking about?"

"Nothing."

I didn't expose him on the spot.

I knew that even if I pulled out the screenshot of his texts, he would only claim he did it for everyone's good.

I unlocked my phone and chatted with the transfer coordinator from my company.

His last message was still waiting.

[There's an open slot at our Colorado branch. You can report right after the holidays. If you're interested, I can reserve it for you.]

I typed back a single word.

[Yes.]

After hitting send, I went into my emergency contacts and deleted Julian's name.

* * *

Two days before the holiday, Julian started packing his bags.

He neatly arranged sunscreen, motion sickness pills, light jackets, and bug spray inside his suitcase.

"Miami gets pretty hot, and Chloe’s skin breaks out easily," he noted. "I packed all the essentials for her. Don't forget to remind her to apply her soothing cream at night."

I was organizing my documents. Hearing his words, my hand froze mid-air.

"You remember her medication better than she does."

Julian buckled his suitcase shut without looking up.

"She hasn't been doing well lately, and it's her first time visiting Miami. I just prepped it while I was at it."

"Didn't she book her own hotel room?"

"She said she was scared to stay alone. I canceled our original reservation and upgraded us to a two-bedroom suite. It's more convenient if we all stay together."

I raised my head to look at him.

"Wasn't this supposed to be a trip for just the two of us?"

His hands paused. "It's just one extra person. The more, the merrier."

He opened the pantry cabinet and pulled out my favorite snacks.

"I bought those treats you like. I'll keep them in the car for the drive."

I glanced at the open suitcase by his feet.

There were no sugar-free drinks or wrist braces packed for me, only two bags of fruit gummies that Chloe loved.

* * *

That evening at dinner, Julian suddenly spoke up. "Once we get back from Miami, let me propose properly and set a wedding date."

"What about Aspen?" I asked.

"We can go next time."

"When does what I want ever actually count?"

The gentle expression on his face slowly dissolved. "Do you really have to start this while we're eating?"

"You brought up the wedding first."

"I just said we would discuss it after we get back. I never said we weren't getting married."

"But you won't even respect where I want to go for a simple holiday."

"It's just a trip. Getting married is what actually matters." He pushed a bowl of soup toward me. "Stop overthinking and eat."

Steam rose from the soup, but I couldn't taste anything.

* * *

After dinner, Julian got a work call and had to run back to his office to retrieve a file.

Before leaving, he glanced at the luggage by the doorway.

"Don't stress yourself out anymore. Get some sleep. I'll be back as soon as I grab the file."

After the door had clicked shut, I opened the closet.

I packed my passport, bankbooks, and a few changes of clothes into an old duffel bag.

My movements were slow and deliberate.

Part of me feared he would suddenly walk back through the door, but another part knew he wouldn't even notice I was packing.

On the nightstand sat a framed photo of us at the beach. He had his arm around my shoulder, smiling effortlessly.

I turned the frame face-down on the nightstand.

My phone buzzed. A text from Julian popped up.

[Don't forget to buy motion sickness pills for Chloe tomorrow. She said she ran out at home.]

I stared at the screen for a long moment before typing back.

[Buy them yourself.]