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Julian's brother, Brett, suddenly started speaking in French at the party. "So, Julian," he slurred, "when's the big day with Seraphina?" Julian, cool as a cucumber, replied in French, "Family's set the date. Two weeks from now." The whole private room erupted in laughter, their eyes twinkling with amusement as they glanced at me. "What about your little Cinderella girlfriend here?" someone else piped up in French. Julian wrapped an arm around me, his voice a lazy drawl, "Seraphina gets the title, Elara gets my love." My fingertips clutching the glass turned stark white. They had no idea. They saw me as some impoverished girl, but I was actually the only daughter of the world's richest man. I took a deep breath, then turned to call my billionaire parents. "I'm ready to come home and inherit the family fortune." After the party, I followed everyone out of the private room. I hadn't walked more than a few steps when a voice I didn't recognize called out, "Miss Sterling!" I turned. It was Mr. Davis, a business partner who'd been trying to collaborate with my father for ages. I didn't want to expose my identity, trying to figure out how to brush him off, when one of Julian's friends, trailing behind him, scanned me from head to toe. He snorted, " 'Miss' who? Is her entire outfit even worth five hundred dollars? A 'Miss'? That's a joke! A total laugh riot." That comment unleashed a fresh wave of mockery. They weren't speaking French now, so I heard every word of their taunts, though my face remained expressionless. Julian, on the other hand, bristled. He shot the guy a cold, warning look. The friend, clearly annoyed, toned it down, no longer openly mocking me. The others, receiving the same glare, gradually quieted. With the noise subdued and Mr. Davis not following, I walked behind Julian. We didn't exchange a single word all the way home. Once inside, he took off his jacket, hanging it on a nearby rack, before finally speaking. "Baby, I won't take you to these kinds of parties anymore." My expression was calm, but I asked, "Do you think I embarrass you?" He let out a short, incredulous laugh and reached out to ruffle my hair, but I dodged him. He sighed, "What are you thinking? I just don't want you to be upset." "But there's a difference in our social standing, and we'll always face situations like this. Haven't your family pushed you into an arranged marriage?" I watched him, trying to find a hint of guilt in his expression. But even hearing the words "arranged marriage," Julian's face only stiffened for a second before quickly returning to his usual composure. "Elara, all you need to know is that you're the one I love. As for everything else, I'll figure it out." If I hadn't been watching closely, I wouldn't have noticed anything amiss. After speaking, Julian headed to the bathroom to wash up. Watching him walk away, I said nothing, but a thought gnawed at me: His "solution" was to follow his family's wishes, marry one woman, and keep another on the side? A notification chime sounded from Julian's phone on the bedside table. He'd never hidden his password from me, so I easily unlocked it and clicked on the message. It was from Seraphina Beaumont. [Julian, we're meeting our parents tomorrow. If you don't stay here tonight, won't they realize our marriage is just for show? I know you love your girlfriend, but please, just for these few days, can you stay with me?] Though her words were humble, I saw her true intention. First, she'd use their parents as an excuse to make him stay. Then, she'd keep using that excuse, pushing further, little by little. But none of it mattered to me anymore. I was already planning my exit. I marked the message unread and put the phone back. Soon after, Julian emerged from the bathroom, grabbed his phone, glanced at it, and then looked at me apologetically. "Elara, something urgent came up at the office. I won't be back tonight. You get some good rest." He left in a hurry, too rushed to notice my reaction, or that I, who usually walked him to the door, whining and asking him to spend more time with me, didn't try to stop him this time. I just watched his silhouette disappear into the distance. *Ding-dong*. Julian had barely left when my phone chimed. [All it took was one word from me, and Julian came right back. We're meeting our families tomorrow. Once we're really married, what will you be? Just… a permanent secret mistress?] Seraphina's words were vicious, but what hurt more was that the knife used to wound me had been handed to her by the boyfriend I thought I could entrust my life to. Julian probably didn't know that even if he didn't discuss his engagement in French, his upcoming marriage to someone else wouldn't remain a secret from me for long. Seraphina had already added me on SnapChat, and these past few days, she'd been sending me all sorts of provocative pictures. Photos of Julian helping Seraphina try on wedding dresses, pictures of them picking out engagement rings, photos of them scouting wedding venues... Each picture, one after another, completely shattered any remaining love I had for Julian. That night, Julian didn't come home. I didn't care at all. The next morning, after a quick wash, I went straight to the company and resigned. My termination paperwork was processed that same day. Julian was home when I returned. I told him I'd quit, then continued carrying my boxes toward my room. His brows furrowed deeply. "You liked that job so much, why did you suddenly resign?" I paused, looking at him with a smile. "Because I have a job I want to do even more now."