Chapter 8

I turned toward the sound and saw Julian walking into the bedroom with a dark expression.

"I thought I just heard someone talking to you about a visa and a flight? What's going on?"

Frowning deeply, he asked, "Where are you going?"

Not wanting any complications with the photography expedition, I replied impassively, "You misheard. It wasn't about me."

"Not you?"

I brushed it off casually, "A friend of mine was just asking me about the visa application process."

Julian hadn't caught the details of the call. Seeing my composed demeanor, he remained dubious for a few seconds before letting the matter drop.

He stepped over to me, his handsome face still clouded. "Why didn't you tell me you were being discharged early?"

"Does it matter whether I tell you or not?"

"Doesn't it?"

I found his question rather laughable.

Bypassing him, I walked out of the bedroom. "You're too busy. I didn't want to waste your time and energy on such a minor thing."

Julian knitted his brows, followed me into the living room, sat down on the sofa beside me, and took my hand.

All I felt was something ice-cold sliding onto my ring finger.

I looked down and froze in disbelief.

"Wendy, I've thought a lot lately. I know I neglected you and made you feel insecure." Julian held my hand firmly. "In that case, let's just get married. We can go pick out a wedding dress tomorrow."

Marriage.

As those two words hit my ears, a sharp pain suddenly pierced my dormant heart.

I moved my gaze away from the diamond ring on my ring finger and slowly met his eyes. "Then what about Chloe Quinn? Are you just going to leave her alone?"

Julian's eyes froze, completely taken aback.

There was no need to probe any further into those few seconds of stunned silence.

Because that was the answer.

Mocking him in my heart, I said without showing a trace of emotion, "I'm tired. I want to sleep early tonight, so I'm heading to bed."

I thought the matter would end there, but the next day, Julian still insisted on taking me to pick out a wedding dress.

Halfway through the drive, that specially designated ringtone abruptly sounded.

Julian drove, his brows slightly furrowing.

Seeing that he made no move to pick up the phone, I asked from the passenger seat, "Aren't you going to answer it?"

He pressed his lips together. "Today, I'm only here for you. Nobody else matters."

Yet the ringtone went off again and again.

Noticing how his brow furrowed deeper and deeper, I lowered my lashes slightly. "Answer it. Maybe she has something urgent."

In the end, Julian couldn't hold back. He picked up the phone and answered, "What is it?"

"Julian, there's a fire here... What do I do? I'm so scared," Chloe Quinn cried over the line. "Am I going to die here? Will I... will I never see you again?"

The car slammed to a sudden halt.

At that moment, I saw clearly as something shattered in his eyes.

It was a panic I had never seen on him before.

Our car sped at top speed, overtaking vehicle after vehicle until we arrived at the burning clubhouse.

Thick smoke billowed outside the clubhouse while emergency lights flashed and firefighters set up a perimeter cordon.

Before the car had even come to a full stop, Julian rushed out and charged toward the building, only to be held back firmly. "Sir, you can't go in! The fire isn't under control yet!"

"Someone is still inside! She hasn't made it out!"

His eyes bloodshot and possessed by frightening strength, he shoved past the people holding him back and threw himself recklessly into the smoke-choked entrance of the clubhouse.

Time suddenly slowed to a crawl.

Until gasps erupted from the crowd, and Julian emerged from the raging smoke and flames carrying a figure wrapped in a damp blanket.

Chloe Quinn was trembling violently in his arms, her face streaked with tears, but she seemed largely unharmed.

Julian, on the other hand, was badly injured.

His face was smeared with ash, and large patches of his arms and back were severely burned. It wasn't hard to see that he had truly risked his life to protect Chloe.

After handing Chloe over to the paramedics who rushed up, Julian swayed and collapsed directly to the ground from exhaustion and burns.

Even though the paramedics caught him in time, he slipped into deep unconsciousness.

Standing by the car door, I looked down at the sparkling diamond ring on my hand, suddenly finding it utterly cheap and ridiculous.

When he loved Chloe Quinn so much that he didn't even care about his own life, why bother marrying me?

I reached up, twisted the ring, and pulled it off.

I didn't follow the paramedics to accompany Julian to the hospital. Instead, I returned to the apartment we shared and grabbed my suitcase.

The airport. International Departures Terminal.

I checked in for my flight and went through security.

In the boarding lounge, I took out the photo album that had been with me for years.

On the very first page was a photo of Julian and me. We had just gotten together back then, and I had been smiling so brightly.

I gently tore the photo out and tossed it into the trash can.

The boarding announcement rang over the intercom. I closed the photo album, stood up, and walked toward the gate.

As the plane soared into the clouds, I took one last look at this familiar city.

Goodbye, Julian Sterling.

Goodbye to the man I loved for four years.

In the future, a Wendy Brooks without Julian Sterling will shine brighter than ever.

---------- Cutoff Point ----------