Chapter 8

After staying in the hospital for two days, Julian Lancaster did not appear again. Through Serena Sullivan’s social media, I learned that the two of them were together. He accompanied her to Valoria to watch a fashion show, kissed her passionately on the Lyre River, spent a fortune on a haute couture dress for her, and even cooked French cuisine for her himself... In every photo, Julian Lancaster smiles tenderly, his eyes and brows filled with happiness. Looking at these photos, a ripple finally surfaced in my numbed heart. In his previous life, during what we called "post-marriage," he also treated Serena Sullivan well in this manner. To accommodate Serena Sullivan’s feelings, he wouldn’t even taste the meals I cooked. While I was sick and feverish, I called him late at night, but he hung up immediately because Serena Sullivan said, "I don’t like it." The birthday surprise I prepared for him was smashed to pieces because of Serena Sullivan’s word, "tacky." Those years when I was his nominal fiancée made me deeply understand how painful a relationship without love and respect can be. So in this life, I no longer linger but choose to withdraw. From now on, Julian Lancaster and everything about him have nothing to do with me. After being discharged, preparing for a long journey, I arranged a small gathering with a few close friends. A few girls went shopping and dining together, chatted in a café until dark, before saying goodbye. After settling the bill and returning to fetch my bag, I heard my name while passing by the adjacent room. "So what if Clara Everard is the eldest daughter of the Everard Family? She’s like a dog following behind Julian Lancaster all these years, and in the end, she wasn’t defeated by our Serena." "Yes, on that day when she watched Julian Lancaster celebrate Serena, didn’t she just envy so much that her eyes turned red? Yet she had to maintain a smile for the photos; truly ridiculous and pathetic." Serena Sullivan sat in the center, her face proud, arching her brows with satisfaction. "Don’t compare me to Clara Everard. Does she even deserve it?" I listened quietly through the ajar door, felt moved, and took out my phone. Unaware of my presence outside, Serena Sullivan’s friends continued their praises. "The Everard Family may have some foundation, but compared to Mr. Lancaster, it’s just a spent arrow! She should look at herself in the mirror before attempting to curry favor; luckily, Mr. Lancaster only has Serena in his eyes and doesn’t care for her at all." "But Serena, I heard that the perfume ’First Love’, which you won an award for last time, was based on Clara Everard’s formulation? Doesn’t she hate you immensely? Why did she agree?" Serena Sullivan took a sip of coffee, lazily replied. "It was Julian who made the request, probably using the marriage agreement as bait. I am not sure of the specifics. Anyway, Julian already promised me that if I ever lack inspiration, I’ll have her prepare it for me. If she dares to fight me for Julian without knowing what’s good for her, I’ll claim to lack inspiration now and then, until her talent is drained, turning her into a useless wreck. Let’s see how she’ll compete with me then!" "Ingenious, Serena! As long as you act coyly, Mr. Lancaster listens to everything. Having Clara Everard as a bank of inspiration is quite convenient, and teaching her a lesson is simply effortless!" Only now did I realize, in the previous life, my depletion of inspiration and loss of smell were all part of their design!