Chapter 3

I didn't return home after the concert ended, choosing to take a stroll down the beach instead. The sky lit up in a display of fireworks, yet I remained completely unmoved.

My phone buzzed nonstop, but not a single one of them was a text message from Julian. All the notifications I received were news of the fireworks he'd set off to celebrate Natalie's birthday.

By the time I reached home, it was already midnight. The living room's light was still on, casting a glow on Julian, who had fallen fast asleep on the couch.

Had he been waiting for me?

In the five years we'd been together, he would always drink until he got wasted outside. Fearing that he might get into trouble while inebriated, I would call him over and over again without end.

Worried that he would drink too much and get an upset stomach, I would even prepare some chamomile tea beforehand. Julian told me countless times that he hated it whenever I did all that for him, claiming that it made him feel old.

Lost in thought, I didn't notice when Julian suddenly jolted awake. Perhaps he'd heard the door open, but he immediately rushed over and pulled me into a tight embrace the moment he saw me.

"Where have you been? Why didn't you answer my calls? I was so worried that I even called the police!" he exclaimed.

Taken aback, I broke free from his embrace and took out my phone. Only then did I realize that my phone had already died.

"My phone runs out of battery quickly ever since it got damaged by the cold. I didn't receive your call," I explained.

The mention of the weather seemed to jog Julian's memories. For once, a faint flicker of guilt crossed his face when he remembered what had happened that day.

Pursing his lips, he pulled out a box and handed it to me awkwardly.

I instinctively opened it, only to freeze on the spot at the sight of the diamond ring inside. I'd lost count of the times I'd looked forward to this.

Once upon a time, I'd dreamed that Julian would appear in front of the city hall and slip a ring onto my finger.

But that was all in the past.

Now, I didn't even feel a thing.

I closed the box calmly before tossing it on the table. "Thanks."

Julian stared at me as he furrowed his brows. He couldn't understand why I was acting all courteous suddenly.

"What's with you…" He faltered.

I shot him an odd look before it dawned on me. He must've expected me to gasp aloud and burst into tears of joy the moment I saw the ring. Perhaps he'd even imagined that I would cast aside all the grievances and frustrations I'd endured at the sight of it.

At the thought of that, I forced out a smile. "Oh, I'm so happy!" I exclaimed fakely. My voice turned flat the very next instant. "Are you satisfied now?"

I thought that would be enough for him to drop it. But it seemed my reaction had angered him instead. "I've just brought Natalie for a visit to the company. What's the big deal? I already agreed to your proposal. How long are you planning to keep this up?" he snapped.

I wasn't the least bit intimidated by the stormy look on his face. Instead, I just went about my way as I charged my phone.

"You've misunderstood. I'm just a little tired," I responded.

Julian's face creased into a frown. For the first time, he could sense an obvious indifference in my attitude. Biting his lower lip, he tried to grab my hand when a shrill ringtone cut him short.

As usual, it was a call from Natalie.

Julian met my gaze as he parted his lips to explain.

"There's no need to explain. I know you're busy with work," I cut him off before he could speak.

However, my thoughtfulness seemed to have unsettled him even more. Desperate to figure out what came over me, his grip on my hand tightened.

His ringtone grew even more insistent.

Julian finally loosened his hold on me under my steady gaze. "I'll show up on our 100th proposal," he promised before hurrying away.

I went back to my room as though nothing had happened. That night, I got the best sleep I had had in the past five years.

By the time I handed all my work over, Julian would never see me again.