No one knew I tested my young uncle three times. The first time, he politely rejected me. The second time, he didn't take my feelings seriously. "You're still young. You can't tell the difference between love and dependency. Let's talk about this when you grow up." The third time, he couldn't control his love anymore and pinned me against the wall. My young uncle, who raised me for ten years, and I started a secret relationship. Guilt-ridden over my late mother, he acted as my guardian in public, overseeing my studies and interfering in my social life. In private, we spent every night entangled in passion. I was convinced he loved me. Full of joy, I planned to ask him for a commitment at my birthday party. I even slipped a huge diamond ring into his suit pocket beforehand, waiting for him to put it on my finger. That day, I waited and waited, but he never showed up. Instead, I saw a video of him proposing on one knee. He looked deeply in love, sliding that very same diamond ring onto another woman's ring finger. Julian’s friends cheered and screamed, whispering to him: "Nice going, Jules! You snagged the beautiful CEO. But what about the princess at home? She can't live nameless in your house forever, right?" Julian took a deep swig of his drink, eyes glazed over: "She's impatient. We'll take it slow. I'll find her a good family, marry her off. That way, my big sister can rest in peace." I smiled bitterly through my tears and called my aunt, who was on a business trip overseas: "Auntie, I agree to the arranged marriage you mentioned." But when Julian discovered my wedding photos, the man who should have been relieved cried and begged me not to leave... 1 Afraid my aunt would sense something wrong, I hung up immediately after agreeing to the marriage. I rushed home to pack. Looking at the rare treasures Julian had collected for me over the years, I decided not to take a single one. Let all the beautiful memories be buried here! Just as the movers took my luggage, Julian returned, his clothes disheveled. "Where are these things going? Why aren't you staying home? Where are you going to fool around?" Staring at the glaring lipstick mark on his neck, I pretended not to care: "My best friend is home alone and wants me to stay with her for a few days." Julian nodded, taking off his coat, and thoughtfully negotiated with me: "Why don't you stay there a bit longer? A business partner is coming over, and I have some matters to handle." For the first time, I didn't object and nodded. A loving couple's life—I, the outsider, would indeed be an eyesore. His eyes gleamed with secret joy. He lowered his head to kiss me, but I subtly dodged. A sickly sweet rose scent mixed with alcohol fumes hit my brain. Before, fearing he saw me as a little girl, I tried wearing sexy lingerie and heavy rose perfume to tease him. But he was furious, dragging me into the shower and yelling: "Look at yourself! What kind of ghost are you pretending to be? You're young and already learning bad habits! Trying to seduce men? Are you worthy of your mother?" I thought he liked purity, so I threw away all the perfumes and appeared clean and fresh before him. Now I understand. Julian doesn't dislike sexy and mature women; he just likes other sexy, hot women. From the beginning, he never saw me as his future wife. I struggled to push him away, but he thought I was just throwing a tantrum. Grabbing my wrist, he coaxed patiently: "Is the little princess angry? Blame me for missing your birthday party. I brought you a gift." But after fumbling in his pockets for a long time, he found nothing. Julian looked embarrassed: "I might have dropped it somewhere. I'll buy another one tomorrow to make it up to you." I smiled bitterly. For so many years, he had never forgotten my birthday. But this time, he not only missed my birthday party but also lost my gift. He wanted to say more, but his phone rang urgently. It wasn't the ringtone I recorded for him; it was a seductive female voice. He answered immediately: "I'm home. What's wrong, babe?" Suddenly, he pushed me away. I fell hard to the ground, but he acted as if he hadn't heard: "Don't panic. I'm coming to pick you up right now." "Uncle Julian, I..." Watching the man rush away, my heart turned completely cold. Clutching my swollen, bleeding ankle, I slowly looked for medicine. In the past, if I got even a small injury, Julian would rush to apply medicine for me. I realized it was time to be independent! Before long, the door was kicked open. Julian carried a drunk Chloe in, gently placing her on the sofa. Julian ordered me: "Gigi, heat up a bowl of hangover soup." I didn't speak, limping to do as told. When I brought it to her lips, she slapped it away. She frowned and cursed: "What is this crap? It's so hot!" The soup spilled all over me, instantly raising dense red blisters on my arm. 2 Tears welled up in my eyes, but Julian scolded me coldly: "Can't even do a small thing right? What use are you? Go to your room and stay there!" I wiped away my tears and left without looking back. Julian noticed my stumbling steps and spoke with a hint of concern: "Gigi, what's wrong?" He started to get up to check my injury, but Chloe grabbed him tightly and wouldn't let go. "Julian, don't you want me anymore?" Julian immediately turned back and hugged her: "How could that be possible? I love you the most. How could I not want you?" Then came the rapid breathing of a man and a woman. What they were doing was self-evident. I slammed the bedroom door shut, squatting on the floor, biting my wrist to stifle my sobs. Once upon a time, Julian coaxed me like this, saying the person he loved most in the world was me. Exhausted from crying, I fell into a deep sleep, only to have the door flung open. A sobered-up Chloe looked around my room: "You must be the little girl Julian said is staying at his place, right? He asked me to borrow a set of pajamas." She rummaged through my closet on her own, mocking: "All these childish cartoons. No wonder Julian said he doesn't like you. He likes curves like mine!" I remembered how, in the heat of passion, Julian would coax me, saying he liked my innocence. It was all excuses! Then, she casually pulled open my drawer. Alarm bells rang in my head, and I ran to stop her. But she was faster, pulling out that diary and reading aloud: "I like my Uncle Julian the most... He is the person who treats me best in the world... I will definitely marry him and be his bride to repay his kindness..." Chloe laughed clutching her stomach: "So that's why you're hostile towards me. You like your uncle! He said you were just an ignorant child and told me not to stoop to your level!" My girlish crush was ruthlessly exposed, and by my rival no less. I blushed furiously, snatching it back recklessly. She lost her balance and fell hard to the floor. "Ouch!" Hearing the noise, Julian ran over. Chloe burst into loud sobs: "Boohoo, sorry Gigi, I was just curious what was in the drawer. I won't look again next time. I was wrong, I apologize!" Julian's eyes were full of distress as he anxiously checked her injury. Then he turned to glare at me furiously, slapping me hard across the face! "It's just looking at your broken notebook! Do you have to be so vicious?" He snatched the notebook and tore it to shreds, as if tearing apart my heart. "If you won't let Chloe see it, then don't have it at all!" With a cold snort, he threw the paper scraps in my face and carried Chloe to the hospital. 3 I finally couldn't hold back and wailed aloud, squatting down to piece together the fragments. Julian knew perfectly well how important this was to me. When I was small, my mother, widowed early, fought her way through business wars alone and accidentally offended a gang. She was tortured for seven days and nights. Julian, as my mom's youngest brother and the next generation she favored most, bet everything he had to negotiate with the gang. But contrary to his wishes, he only brought back my mother's ashes. I, understanding nothing then, cried incessantly, rushing at him, demanding my mother back. "You bad man! Give me back my mom!" "Gigi, I'm sorry. As long as you can be happy, hit me however you want." I cried with red eyes for a long, long time, finally fainting in his arms. When I opened my eyes again, he was bustling around me, driving alone to buy me clothes and cakes, piling them all in front of me. He pinched my cheek, eyes full of heartache, handing me a notebook, telling me to write down all my grievances. "I asked experts. They say writing down emotions can release sadness. Gigi, don't be afraid. From now on, I'll protect you." Julian comforted me awkwardly, but purely and directly. In that moment, helpless me fell completely for him. From that day until today, I loved Julian for ten whole years. Whenever I was unhappy, I would write my love for him in that notebook. I still remember his vows, but he, the one who made them, has long forgotten. I held the pile of fragments, took one last look, and threw them into the trash can. Since it's come to this, I don't want the vows or Julian anymore. Never again. Julian didn't return until daybreak. I mailed my luggage home, left the key on the table in the hall, and bid farewell to the place I had lived for ten years. On the road, Julian sent a message. Sorry, I reflected on myself. I was too harsh. Don't take it to heart. I'll make it up to you when I get back. Sitting in the car moving away, I didn't reply, just exited the chat and unpinned him. Julian sent a few more voice messages. I played them—it was a seductive female voice. Don't disturb Julian and me tonight. Anyone who bothers me will pay. Julian said he'll accompany me properly today! Followed by a few suggestive emojis. A moment later, Chloe recalled the message. Ahhh, sorry Miss Bai, who knew I sent it to you using Julian's WeChat... You didn't see anything, right? My heart ached. Too tired to play along, I still opened Julian's social media with my alt account. It was densely packed with photos and videos I hadn't seen. So Chloe had been back for a long time. In this past month, Julian took her everywhere whenever he could. These sceneries were all beautiful check-in spots I saw in videos, forwarded to Julian, pestering him to go with me. I waited for years, never finding a time when he wasn't busy. Chloe had been back for only a month, and suddenly he wasn't busy anymore. Everywhere they went, Julian posed for many photos with Chloe. In all the years Julian and I were together, I was never allowed to point my camera at him. "You don't know how many rumors are out there, all talking about our relationship." "I know you love me very much, but I don't want others to misunderstand, nor do I want them to look at you strangely, and even more... make your mom angry in heaven." But when you truly love someone, how can you hide it? I was too slow. Julian kept our relationship secret for eight years. I should have understood long ago—he didn't love me at all! I wanted to exit the interface but saw Julian's latest post. The two of them cuddling by the sea, chasing each other joyfully, like a couple in love for years. Clicking on it, a familiar "Chloe" drilled into my ears. These affectionate voices were once whispered by Julian into my ear countless times. "Chloe," "Gigi." It turned out, the one he was calling was never me. Tears finally flowed uncontrollably, dripping onto Julian's caption. Turns out only when you are with the right person do you know that every moment in life is meaningful. I wiped away my tears and casually liked the post. Arriving at the hotel and unpacking, my childhood friend Jess sent a message asking why I wasn't home. I straightforwardly said I was going back to get married soon. Because Julian made me keep our relationship secret all these years, whenever Jess talked about relationships, I would deliberately change the subject. Now that I'm leaving, I should tell her properly and say goodbye. Jess exclaimed in disbelief: "Why didn't you say so earlier? I'll throw you a celebration party!" Saying this, she dragged me away. "Gigi, before you always said you were busy with work, and we best friends couldn't even see your face. Now that you're leaving, you absolutely cannot flake on me!" I could only let her drag me along, laughing off her questions about me. Before, my life revolved around Julian alone, racking my brains to manage everything for him. I had no time to attend such gatherings, let alone bring him along to have fun. Julian always said, wait for the right opportunity to give me an open identity. Now that I'm leaving, why not enjoy myself thoroughly? 4 Jess invited many people. When we arrived at the hotel, everyone was there. Everyone chattered, asking why I was suddenly getting married and who the lucky guy was. I responded with a smile, but saw Chloe in a stunning gown in the adjacent hall. Standing next to her was Julian in formal wear. Mr. and Mrs. Song sat nearby as celebrities from all walks of life came forward to congratulate them on their engagement. So, this luxurious party was held to announce their engagement. Julian really couldn't wait to tell the whole world he was marrying Chloe. I instinctively wanted to dodge, but Mrs. Song had already spotted me. "Oh my, isn't this Gigi? Long time no see, little girl! I just asked Julian why you didn't come!" "He said you were busy. Look, you came after all!" Mrs. Song's face lit up with joy as soon as she saw me. Julian froze, slightly loosening his hold on Chloe. Mrs. Song had taken care of me a lot before, often scolding Julian for not taking good care of me. "Gigi has grown into a great beauty, graceful and elegant. I think it's time for you to get married too." With that, she pulled me into the middle of the banquet hall, introducing me to other boys. "I know the backgrounds of all these boys. They are all handsome and talented. See who you like?" Before I could refuse, Julian sneered: "She doesn't need it." Yes, I don't need it anymore, after all, I'm going back for an arranged marriage soon. Jess pulled me back: "Auntie, Gigi really doesn't need this. She's getting married soon. It's not appropriate to say these things, right?" Hearing this, Julian's smug expression froze, and his stare at me became meaningful. I ignored him, apologized to Mrs. Song, and left with Jess. But Julian grabbed me at a corner, pulling me into his arms. His eyes were full of anger, his voice restrained in my ear. "Don't make up stories about marrying someone else in the future. I get jealous hearing it." Looking at him, I inexplicably found it funny: "But aren't you also getting married to another woman soon?" Julian frowned, "Stop it. You know it's just a business alliance." After a moment, he softened his attitude to coax me: "Alright, after the banquet, I'll take you to that newly opened French restaurant. Haven't you been clamoring to go?" "I'll find you an apartment in the next few days. You move there. Since Chloe is officially engaged to me, it's not appropriate for you to live at home anymore." Because I was sensible, I obediently followed Julian, acting as his bed warmer. Now, does he plan to keep me as a mistress who can never see the light of day for a lifetime? I was about to say "no need," when Chloe's crying came from the banquet hall. Julian immediately let go of me and ran over. "What's wrong, Chloe?" Chloe pointed at her empty neck with red eyes, sobbing uncontrollably. "Julian, the heirloom jade necklace you gave me is gone... That's passed down through generations of the Song family. It was there when I washed my hands just now..." Seeing me, Chloe cried and pulled at me: "Miss Bai, only you and I were in the restroom just now... I know you're hostile towards me... but that necklace is really important to Julian and me. If you took it, please, I beg you, give it back!"
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