Chapter 3

Julian’s commanding tone yanked me back to reality. "Downstairs. Go eat, now!"

His voice still held the displeasure from yesterday’s intimate encounter with Leo.

Before, I would have even personally handed him love letters sent to me by others,

telling him that my heart only belonged to him, and I would never date prematurely.

But now, it was different. I had accidentally stumbled upon his true thoughts about me.

His words were like countless needles, pricking my heart day and night, making tears stream down my face.

I still obediently went downstairs to eat, just as always.

But at the dinner table, I was as silent as a mute.

Julian sensed my unusual mood, and his tone softened slightly. "Didn't sleep well last night?"

I just nodded silently.

Ever since I learned that I was merely a 'stray' he’d raised, I hadn't had a single good night's sleep.

I’d always wake up crying, until I stayed in the wardrobe until dawn.

"Should I call a doctor to check on you?"

I shook my head again, then put down my forks, got up, and left for school.

This was the first time in years I had acted this way towards Julian.

Before, I would always finish every meal he personally prepared,

and always say goodbye obediently before leaving for school.

Now, Julian looked at the untouched food on the table,

even the soy milk in my bowl was left unfinished.

It felt as if something was lodged in Julian's throat.

I walked to class distracted,

when I bumped into Leo Miller, the broke college guy from the bar that night.

I thought he was coming to ask me for his grandma's surgery fees,

so before he could speak, I got his SnapChat ID and immediately transferred him 200,000.

But he just pointed at my eyes. "Were you crying last night? Your eyes are so swollen!"

I instinctively grabbed my phone to check, and sure enough, they were as swollen as if I'd been stung by a bee.

I gave a numb smile. Julian and I had just eaten at the same table for so long, and he hadn't noticed a thing,

yet this person I'd just met saw it immediately.

I let out a long breath, feigning lightness. "Want to grab a drink?"

"Now?"

"Yeah."

"Okay, since I've taken your money, I’m at your service!"

And just like that, we skipped class and went straight to the bar, drinking all day.

Only when the alcohol numbed my senses could I feel a flicker of happiness, forgetting all the unpleasant things.

Meanwhile, Valerie Chen, my university advisor and Julian’s former classmate, found out I’d skipped all my classes for the day.

She promptly called Julian.

Julian and his security team frantically searched for me,

finally finding me passed out drunk at the bar.

Leo, who had just tried to cover me with his jacket,

was once again beaten black and blue by Julian.

Julian's strong, lean fingers gripped my waist, preparing to carry me home,

but I stubbornly resisted, wrapping my arms around his neck, my voice choked with tears. "Julian, why are you doing this to me! Why?!"

My traitorous tears streamed onto Julian's leather jacket.

"I’ve loved you for so many years, why don't you love me back! Why do you always reject me?!"

Julian, as always, remained rational. "Stella, look at me clearly. I’m your guardian!"

I struggled to open my blurry eyes, looking at Julian, who had raised me since childhood. "But we’re not blood relatives, so why not?!"

Julian frowned slightly, looking at me for a long time before speaking.

"Stella, you've always been well-behaved and sensible. Why are you so reckless lately, even drinking with other men? Don't you know how dangerous that is! I’m so disappointed in you!"

Honestly, I’d always been terrified of him being disappointed in me.

I was afraid that if he was disappointed, he would kick me out of the Harrington family, leaving me utterly alone.

So, I’d learned to pretend from a young age.

When taught piano, which I didn't like, I'd smile and say I loved it, then practice for two extra hours, even skipping meals.

When taught self-defense taekwondo, even covered in bruises, I never shed a single tear. Instead, I’d comfort a distressed Julian: "Julian, you're doing this for my own good. I’ll study hard!"

Even with food I didn't like, clothes I didn't prefer, or a major I wasn't passionate about,

I would never argue.

As long as Julian approved, I had no complaints.