I was Julian Thorne's canary for three years. But lately, he's been acting weird. At a high school reunion, people started teasing us: "I heard you guys live in the same gated community. Are you secretly dating?" I quickly explained, pulling out a photo of a random guy from Instagram as proof. "No way! I already have a boyfriend!" Across the table, Julian gritted his teeth, nearly crushing his wine glass. My phone buzzed with his texts. [Am I not your boyfriend?!] [Am I that embarrassing?] [What did you take me for these past three years?!] [A free gigolo?!] Me: "?" 1 "Snow! Over here—" As soon as I entered the private dining room, my best friend Chloe pulled me aside. She linked her arm with mine, muttering, "Why are you so late?" I pressed my palms together in apology. "It's raining, traffic was terrible." Looking around, our old high school classmates were all there. I secretly rubbed my sore waist and sat down next to Chloe. It had been seven years since graduation. I didn't want to come to this reunion, but Chloe begged me. People greeted me warmly. "Snow White, I didn't even recognize you!" "You've changed so much, you're gorgeous now." I smiled and made small talk, but they soon moved on to other topics. In high school, I was invisible. I wasn't close to them then, so there wasn't much to say now. The class president, holding the menu, asked, "Is everyone here? Should I tell the waiter to serve?" "We're missing Julian." "And Bella hasn't arrived yet. She just flew in from Tokyo." "What a coincidence!" someone teased. "I saw Julian posted from Tokyo just a few days ago." Everyone winked and laughed, the implication clear. Even after all these years, the rumors about those two hadn't faded. I sipped my tea, saying nothing. Just then, the door opened. A man walked in, raindrops clinging to his dark hair, making his eyes look even blacker. The room was warm, so he casually undid the top button of his dress shirt. My gaze traveled up his long, veiny hands to his pale wrists. For some reason, my waist started aching again. "What are you guys talking about?" Julian asked, glancing up. He was tall, broad-shouldered, with a sharp jawline. His eyes still held that arrogant laziness from our school days. "Prince Julian, what took you so long? We were waiting for you to start," Max joked. "We were guessing if you went to pick up Bella." "Bella?" Julian frowned, annoyed. "I was outside—" He paused, catching my eye. He cleared his throat awkwardly and looked away. "...smoking." He was the last to arrive. Only two seats were left: one in the girls' section, one in the boys'. Max pulled out the chair next to him. But Julian walked right past him and sat down next to me. Max: "Why are you sitting with the girls?" Julian didn't look at him, sipping his tea. "The ventilation is better here." In high school, his temper was legendary. No one dared to question him. I kept my head down, but under the tablecloth, a hand hooked my finger and slowly caressed it. His fingertips were cool, the touch teasing and careless. I continued chatting with Chloe while my left hand ruthlessly shook him off under the table. I hate the smell of smoke. Julian froze. A moment later, I heard him grind his teeth and let out a cold snort. Chloe didn't notice our silent war. She whispered, "Snow, how about that guy your aunt set you up with? Any updates?" I choked. I felt the hand under the table pinch my palm hard in punishment. On the surface, Julian looked bored. I quickly said, "I have a boyfriend now." Satisfied, Julian took another sip of tea. Outside, loud voices announced, "Bella is here—" 2 Everyone looked up. A woman walked in. Years had shed her high school awkwardness; she was poised and elegant. Bella was the school beauty back then. The line of boys bringing her boba tea could wrap around the hallway. Even the girls had to admit she was stunning. Bella smiled at me when our eyes met. But when she saw Julian next to me, she paused, feigning resignation. "Looks like I'm late to the party." Classmates urged Julian to move. "Julian, why are you crowding the girls?" "Come over here and drink!" Julian didn't move. I nudged him gently. He stood up with an impatient tsk and moved to the empty seat in the boys' section. As he passed Bella, she called out to him. "Julian, I haven't paid you back for that watch you bought for me in Tokyo." She held out her phone, smiling. "Add me back on WeChat/Venmo." "Add back." Those words carried weight. The room watched with interest. Everyone remembered how Julian gave up going abroad for college because Bella stayed in the country. They never officially dated, but everyone knew Julian liked her. Later, something happened, and they drifted apart. "No need," Julian said indifferently. "Too much trouble." Bella smiled brighter. "Fine, then consider it a birthday gift from you." The crowd cheered. "Whoa! Birthday gift!" They shoved drinks into their hands, insisting they toast to bury the hatchet. Reunions are breeding grounds for rekindled flames. Chloe whispered, "This feels like a 'get back together' scene." I smiled and said nothing. I could tell Julian was annoyed. He hadn't even taken the glass. But the others were too drunk on nostalgia to notice. Only I sensed the storm brewing. With his temper, he might flip the table and leave. I sighed internally and spoke up with a smile. "Let's eat first. The food is getting cold. Don't waste the class president's order." Everyone finally sat down. Bella sat next to me. Seeing me pick up food, she suddenly spoke. "Snow, you bought that watch too?" I followed her gaze to my wrist. I didn't usually wear jewelry, but Julian loved buying me random accessories and insisted I wear them. Today was no exception. Bella's comment made me realize my watch was the same model she had mentioned to Julian. "No," I smiled softly. "It was a gift." Bella looked enlightened. "Are you married, Snow?" Honestly, Bella and I weren't close in high school. I wasn't close to anyone except Chloe. I was the introvert, the wallflower. I didn't know why Bella was so interested in chatting with me today. "Not married," I replied politely. "Dating?" she pressed. As she asked, I felt a gaze burning into me. I didn't need to look up to know it was Julian. I opened my phone gallery. "Yes, I'm dating." I showed her a photo. "This is my boyfriend." The man in the photo had a bright, sunny smile. It was a random picture I found on Instagram to fend off nosy relatives. Clang— A glass smashed on the floor. Julian kept a straight face, smiling coldly. "Sorry. Slipped." 3 Dinner ended. People were calling Ubers and designated drivers. Those with cars offered rides. Chloe waved at me. "Snow, I got a ride! Since we live close, let's go together!" "I'm not going back to my mom's place tonight," I explained quickly. "Oh right," Chloe paused. "You said you moved. Where do you live now?" "Um... pretty far out." I couldn't exactly say I lived in Julian's villa in the suburbs. Just then, Max walked over, smiling. "Snow White, where do you live? I can drop you off if it's on the way." Max was Julian's best friend. But even he and Chloe didn't know about my relationship with Julian. I mumbled a vague area. "Oh, that's on Julian's way," Max said. "Yeah, what a coincidence." Julian walked over, glancing at me. "Let's go. I'll drop you." He turned to Bella lazily. "Sorry, not going your way. Catch a ride with Max." Bella pressed her lips together, glancing at me again. We walked to the parking lot. I stayed a meter away from Julian. At his car, I habitually went for the passenger side, then froze and reached for the back door handle. Julian stopped me. He pressed his hand over mine, smiling without warmth. "Sitting in the back? Treating me like a chauffeur?" Well, aren't you driving me home? I lowered my eyes, too tired to argue. But my silence looked like I was being bullied. "Julian, don't be so mean to Snow," Chloe chided. She knew Julian and I had zero interaction in high school and knew his temper. Julian pursed his lips, silent. Max took the opportunity to hand me his phone. "Snow, let's exchange contacts. We're old classmates, might need to network later." Julian looked down at me. I could feel his gaze darken. But I couldn't refuse an old classmate, so I added Max. Max added fuel to the fire. "Don't be scared. If he dumps you on the side of the road, call us." I smiled gently. "We're just classmates. Julian wouldn't be that heartless." Once everyone else drove off, I got into the car. Julian grabbed my wrist and pulled me into his arms. The alcohol buzz vanished instantly. I pushed him away, whispering, "Julian! Let go!" We were in a parking lot. Anyone could see. Julian held the back of my head, preventing me from struggling. In the cramped space, he leaned close to my ear. His warm breath tickled my skin. His voice was dangerously casual. "Snow White, say that again." "What is our relationship?" 4 How do I explain my relationship with Julian? We met at a business mixer after college. He helped me out of a tight spot for old times' sake. He was a major client for my company. He knew I needed money—lots of it. He liked my obedience. I was his canary in a gilded cage. This went on for three years. We weren't lovers. We were a transaction. So in public, he maintained my dignity, and I stayed silent to protect his reputation. That night, Julian went crazy. I was disheveled, voiceless, reduced to soft whimpers. But he wouldn't let me go. He kept asking in a hoarse voice. "Snow, am I that embarrassing?" "Why didn't you reject them when they asked for your number right in front of me?" "What do you take me for?" ... I woke up at noon the next day. My body ached. The house was empty. Julian had fallen asleep at dawn and left for the office after only a few hours. I didn't understand his anger last night. I chalked it up to weird possessiveness. On the surface, Julian was a playboy heir. But his father had handed him the reins of the group. Recently, there was internal strife, and Julian was stressed balancing the board members. He often came home exhausted. I never asked questions. I just poured tea and massaged his shoulders. As long as he deposited the money every month, I didn't care. My phone vibrated. I ignored it. The caller persisted. I frowned and picked up. "What?" "Why didn't you answer?" My mom complained. "Too busy to talk to your own mother?" "Did you find a job for your brother?" I was silent. "Sorry, I don't have that kind of pull." "It's just a few words for you. That Chairman Thorne is your classmate's dad, right?" "You went to school with his son. Can't you ask for a favor?" The "brother" she mentioned was her son with my stepdad. Spoiled and arrogant. He tried business and failed. Now he wanted a cushy job at the Thorne Group. "I saw you come home in his son's car the other day. Are you dating?" My mom suddenly sounded alert. "If you're together, we're practically in-laws!" "Mom!" I cut her off. "It's not like that. Stop imagining things." She went silent. After a long pause, she said slowly: "Your brother said you changed. I didn't believe him." "But for Grandma's birthday, you carried a bag worth thousands." "Your brother saw you enter a villa complex. An old man picked you up." "Snow, don't forget your roots. We are your family. You can't abandon us just because you have money." My voice turned cold. "Caleb stalked me?" She ignored my question. "Anyway, I'll say this." "We know where your money comes from." Her tone turned threatening. "Your brother knows where you live now." "If you don't want to be exposed and shamed, don't forget to send money home." "We are your family. We won't hurt you. You understand, right?"
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