Chapter 1

Passing by the café downstairs after work, I caught Victoria chatting and laughing with a young man.

He fussed over her collar one moment and gently smoothed her hair the next.

I stood outside the glass window for hours. The man’s hands never stayed still.

Until he confessed his feelings to my wife.

Victoria didn't push him away. Instead, she smirked. "Don't you know I'm married?"

The guy didn’t care at all.

"A woman as captivating as Ms. Sterling deserves admiration. I'm sure Mr. Vance can understand."

I let out a bitter smile. None of Victoria’s friends or inner circle had ever respected me.

After all, I had zero say in the Sterling family.

Seeing that Victoria didn't refute him, a chill settled deep in my chest.

Time and time again, they dragged my pride through the dirt.

I guess this marriage has finally run its course.

Before the guy could say another word, I strode inside, grabbed the iced coffee from their table, and poured it straight over his head.

His eyes went wide in shock, and he sputtered in fury,

"You piece of trash! Do you have any idea who I am? How dare you throw coffee on me?!"

Since the café was right below our office building, plenty of colleagues and regulars were hanging around.

The commotion immediately drew everyone’s eyes.

"Isn't that Julian Vance? Losing his temper in front of Victoria Sterling? Does he have a death wish?"

Victoria watched my outburst, completely unbothered. If anything, she found it amusing.

The boy shrank behind her, shooting me looks of pure contempt.

Then, putting on a wounded act, he whined, "Victoria, you have to defend me!"

Tears welled up in his eyes. That innocent, fragile look mirrored someone all too familiar.

Dominic—Victoria's dead first love. The man whose place in her heart I couldn't even scratch after five long years.

Victoria stirred her coffee with a spoon, glancing up with utter indifference.

"What's the drama for? Is this really worth making a scene?"

"If you don't like him, I can make sure he stays out of your sight."

"I promised Professor Campbell that no one would ever take your place, no matter what."

At the mention of our mentor, I clenched my fists. I unclasped the watch from my wrist and held it out to her.

"The professor gave this to me, but at the end of the day, it belongs to the Sterling family. Returning it to its rightful owner."

Victoria cast a careless glance at it, flicked her wrist, and tossed it into the boy's lap.

"Keep it. A million-dollar watch doesn't suit a nobody like Julian."

It wasn't that the watch didn't suit me; it was that she believed I didn't deserve it.

In Victoria's eyes, I was just a stray from the middle of nowhere, completely unfit for high society.

With that, she waved her hand dismissively and picked up a napkin to wipe her fingers.

As if touching the watch had tainted her.

Seeing the disgust plastered across her face, my chest tightened painfully, like a fist was crushing my heart.

"Mr. Vance, I never wanted to replace you," the boy chimed in, clearly catching on to Victoria's tone.”

“He knew he couldn't claim the main spot, but he was smart enough to settle for second best. "I just want to stay by Victoria's side and take care of her."

"Hear that?" Victoria arched an eyebrow at him. "Go wait in the car. I'll be out in a second."

The boy gave an obedient nod.

Victoria followed him out, pausing just long enough to drop a final warning:

"Julian, drop a watch if you want, but don't lose yourself."

"I'll let this little tantrum slide because it's a novelty, but you need to remember your place!"