Chapter 2

When I arrived, I had told my Uber driver to wait at the intersection.

Without looking back, I led my parents into the car. As the window rolled up, I heard Maya’s indignant shriek:

"What the hell? How long have we known each other? Who does she think she is? I need her permission to hang out with you now?"

She was his childhood friend.

From the day I met him, people had warned me:

"In Julian's world, his parents come first, Maya comes second, and everyone else is just an extra."

I thought it was just banter back then.

They were just close friends, I told myself. Once he fell in love and got married, those priorities would shift.

When we started dating, he rarely brought her up, which only reinforced my belief.

Until the day Maya returned. It was the first time I had ever seen him obsess over his appearance.

He stood in front of the mirror, changing outfits for an entire afternoon.

On the drive to the airport, I couldn’t help asking:

"Who is she? Is she really that important to you?"

I knew the answer, but I never expected him to answer so bluntly:

"Very important. I hope you treat her as well as you treat me."

Remembering that moment felt like a hand tightening around my heart.

I checked my parents into a hotel instead of bringing them back to our place.

Julian had offered earlier:

"The house is huge. I'll have the guest room cleaned so your parents can stay with us."

When Maya wasn't around, he was attentive, thoughtful, and sweet.

Right now, I refused to bring them anywhere near him.

Just as Maya had asked—who was I to him?

Not just in this relationship, but in his heart.

It was the worst birthday of my life.

After tucking my parents into bed, I cried myself to sleep under the covers, planning to take them sightseeing the next morning.

At dawn, Julian was knocking on my hotel door:

"You didn't come home and you didn't pick up my calls. I was worried sick!"

His frantic face looked completely genuine.

While I was still frozen in the doorway, he acted as if nothing had happened, gently nudging me toward the closet:

"My parents heard your mom and dad are in town. They insisted I bring everyone over to the family estate for lunch."

My resolve wavered.

Throughout our relationship, his parents had been incredibly kind to me.

His mother had even cried in front of me once:

"I just don't understand how Julian ended up with depression. Thank God you're by his side. I see how hard you try, Chloe, and I appreciate everything you do."

She visited often, showering me with thoughtful gifts and holiday cards with generous checks.

No matter how furious I was with Julian, I couldn't turn down an invitation from his parents.

On the drive over, my parents were thrilled:

"Didn't Julian mention marrying you yesterday? Does this mean we're meeting our future in-laws?"

They had even bought expensive gift baskets.

Despite shivering on a freezing hillside just hours ago, and despite their hoarse voices, they swallowed their doubts and grievances for the sake of my future happiness.

Seeing their broad smiles softened the anger coiled in my chest.

I thought to myself: after lunch, I’ll sit down and have a real talk with Julian.

Maybe this relationship still had a chance.

When we walked into the grand estate, his mother looked at us with sheer bewilderment:

"What are you all doing here?"