Chapter 4

"What do you like about me?"

I gave a self-deprecating smile. "Is there anything you can't have? Don't tell me you find my poverty novel."

Julian shook his head.

"Perhaps it's your determination to keep moving forward."

Our relationship gradually improved.

But we remained nothing more than friends.

I was too busy. Simply staying alive consumed most of my energy.

Julian appeared after every one of my part-time jobs.

I only learned the truth on the day he had a breakdown.

He suffered from a serious mental illness.

His mother died when he was young. His father remarried and gave him plenty of money, but no love.

He despised himself and hated the world.

He used money to buy so-called friends and love.

"But you didn't come to me for my money, and you wouldn't leave me because of it. You live only for yourself. I want your genuine feelings."

Julian formally asked if I was willing to become his girlfriend.

He rescued stray animals, helped children in impoverished rural communities, and donated to vulnerable groups.

"Ash, I'm willing to change for you."

Our relationship gradually grew closer.

Then my mother fell ill, and I couldn't raise enough money to pay for her treatment.

Julian helped me.

My mother eventually passed away. When I was consumed by grief, Julian stayed by my side until I slowly recovered.

He confessed his feelings again.

I accepted.

I thought he had changed.

I never expected it to be nothing more than a temporary facade.

My life remained unchanged. I continued working my part-time jobs on schedule.

But Julian was dissatisfied.

Because he had been starved of love since childhood, he clung tightly to every scrap of affection he received.

"I can pay you ten times what you make. Why do you still need to sing at bars? Why can't you stay by my side?"

His words made him feel like a stranger.

"If I'm with you for your money, how am I any different from the other people around you? I have my own life. I'm not something you bought."

He paid the bar a large sum of money to have me fired.

He disrupted my life.

He was using money to buy control over my life.

I could no longer tolerate it, so I broke up with him. Yet he still believed I was only throwing a tantrum.

When I came downstairs, Julian's expression had softened.

"Stop being childish, Ash. I had these roses flown in especially for you. Take them, and let's go get something to eat. I also prepared a gift for you—a set of antique jewelry I just bought at an auction. You'll love it."

Through the swirling smoke, his expression was unbearably arrogant.

I didn't move.

"Let's break up, Julian. I'm not joking."

Julian paused with the cigarette between his fingers.

"Ashley Scott, don't take this too far."

The warning in his voice only strengthened my resolve.

"I said we're breaking up. Which part didn't you understand?"

The crowd that had gathered to watch fell silent.

Julian dropped his cigarette.

"Ashley Scott, are you sure?"

I didn't answer.

I took a step back, making it clear that I wanted nothing more to do with him.

Julian laughed.

"Just because I don't want you meeting those men? You're my girlfriend. I don't want you associating with other men, and somehow that makes me the one at fault?"

Before I could respond, Marigold came downstairs and shoved me hard.

"Ashley Scott, you've gone too far."

I fell to the ground, scraping my palm until it bled.

Julian didn't move. He only looked down at me with cold superiority.