Chapter 3

I walked home through the rain.

My phone buzzed. My special follow had posted an update.

It was Sophia.

I had traced her account months ago but never had the courage to ask anything. I'd been secretly following her for three months.

Her latest post showed just one image---

A small asteroid named Sophia.

Caption: Whose stars am I?

Julian's first comment: Mine.

I stared until my eyes stung.

The night he proposed successfully, Julian took me to a mountaintop to watch the stars for three hours.

How fortunate I thought I was---a CEO worth millions per minute willing to waste time with me.

Tears dripped onto the screen, making the little asteroid shine even brighter.

So he'd been reminiscing about her all along.

Julian, when you gazed at the stars, did you ever think about whose hand you were holding?

I hadn't eaten or drunk anything all day. My stomach suddenly cramped.

The pain made me break out in cold sweat. I stumbled up to find medicine.

After joining the company, I was determined to catch up to Julian. To close deals, I could drink through three to five business dinners for one contract.

That's how I ruined my stomach.

I picked up a box---empty. They were all empty.

My face pale, I curled up on the bed and gradually lost consciousness.

When I woke, my forehead was pressed against Julian's chest.

His breathing was steady, his arm around my chest, naturally holding me close.

My eyes stung a bit. I blinked to force the tears back.

I sat up.

Don't let me keep misunderstanding.

Misunderstanding that you, holding me so tightly, actually love me.

The movement woke Julian.

He rubbed his eyes and sat up.

"You're awake? You got caught in the rain today. Let me get you some hot water."

He brought the cup to feed me, but I turned my face away and choked out the words.

"We've already broken up."

"How long are you going to keep this up?!"

Julian's expression changed. He slammed the cup heavily on the table.

"I told you, she and I aren't what you think. The wedding dress---if you don't like it, we'll change it. Besides, you already ruined that one!"

I laughed coldly. "You convict people without evidence?"

"You don't need to deny it. Sophia doesn't plan to hold you responsible or even make you apologize."

Tears streamed down my face. "I don't want to hear anything about her. I said we're breaking up! I told you before---if you ever fell in love with someone else, I would hate you."

Julian reached out to wipe my tears and sighed.

"Vivian, you're wrong. I loved Sophia first. You're the one who came later. Are you going to hate yourself?"

"But none of that matters. I told you I'd marry you. Stop being childish, okay?"

"You love Sophia so much---go marry her! Sleep beside her every night!"

"Get out! We've broken up. This is my home. Get out!"

I knocked his hand away and pushed him toward the door.

He personally tore away the last shred of dignity, voiding all the promises he'd made.

True Sophia had arrived, and I, this cicada, should obediently die immediately.

Julian watched calmly as I lost control, then sneered.

"Your home? Vivian, everything you have now---which part didn't I give you? I even funded your college education."

"How is it that after all these years, you still haven't learned to use your pride in the right place? You always act like you don't need me!"

His eyes reddened as he spoke through gritted teeth.

"Since you don't need it, I'll take it all back."

Like being slapped across the face, tears rolled down in fat drops. I bit my lip hard to keep silent.

From the very beginning, I was just a poor student he kindly sponsored.

I couldn't refute that.

But standing shoulder to shoulder with him now was something I fought for through more than a thousand grueling days and nights.

The self-respect I desperately protected was trampled underfoot. His casual words knocked me back to my original wretched state.

Do people always need to bleed something from their bodies to dilute the pain?

My stomach churned. Tears mixed with vomit fell into the trash can. The sound of the door slamming made my heart go numb.

My phone vibrated repeatedly. Sophia had followed me back and sent a message asking to meet.

With shaking hands, I replied "okay," then listed both the house and car for sale.

Everything I'd saved from years of desperate work.

Julian, I'm giving it all back to you.