Theater: NovelMaster | Language: English | NEW
Synopsis
Passing by the café downstairs after work, I caught Victoria chatting and laughing with a young man.
He fussed over her collar one moment and gently smoothed her hair the next.
I stood outside the glass window for hours. The man’s hands never stayed still.
Until he confessed his feelings to my wife.
Victoria didn't push him away. Instead, she smirked. "Don't you know I'm married?"
The guy didn’t care at all.
"A woman as captivating as Ms. Sterling deserves admiration. I'm sure Mr. Vance can understand."
I let out a bitter smile. None of Victoria’s friends or inner circle had ever respected me.
After all, I had zero say in the Sterling family.
Seeing that Victoria didn't refute him, a chill settled deep in my chest.
Time and time again, they dragged my pride through the dirt.
I guess this marriage has finally run its course.
Before the guy could say another word, I strode inside, grabbed the iced coffee from their table, and poured it straight over his head.
His eyes went wide in shock, and he sputtered in fury,
"You piece of trash! Do you have any idea who I am? How dare you throw coffee on me?!"
Since the café was right below our office building, plenty of colleagues and regulars were hanging around.
The commotion immediately drew everyone’s eyes.
"Isn't that Julian Vance? Losing his temper in front of Victoria Sterling? Does he have a death wish?"
Victoria watched my outburst, completely unbothered. If anything, she found it amusing.
The boy shrank behind her, shooting me looks of pure contempt.
Then, putting on a wounded act, he whined, "Victoria, you have to defend me!"
Tears welled up in his eyes. That innocent, fragile look mirrored someone all too familiar.
Dominic—Victoria's dead first love. The man whose place in her heart I couldn't even scratch after five long years.
Victoria stirred her coffee with a spoon, glancing up with utter indifference.
"What's the drama for? Is this really worth making a scene?"
"If you don't like him, I can make sure he stays out of your sight."
"I promised Professor Campbell that no one would ever take your place, no matter what."
At the mention of our mentor, I clenched my fists. I unclasped the watch from my wrist and held it out to her.
"The professor gave this to me, but at the end of the day, it belongs to the Sterling family. Returning it to its rightful owner."
Victoria cast a careless glance at it, flicked her wrist, and tossed it into the boy's lap.
"Keep it. A million-dollar watch doesn't suit a nobody like Julian."
It wasn't that the watch didn't suit me; it was that she believed I didn't deserve it.
In Victoria's eyes, I was just a stray from the middle of nowhere, completely unfit for high society.
With that, she waved her hand dismissively and picked up a napkin to wipe her fingers.
As if touching the watch had tainted her.
Seeing the disgust plastered across her face, my chest tightened painfully, like a fist was crushing my heart.
"Mr. Vance, I never wanted to replace you," the boy chimed in, clearly catching on to Victoria's tone.”
“He knew he couldn't claim the main spot, but he was smart enough to settle for second best. "I just want to stay by Victoria's side and take care of her."
"Hear that?" Victoria arched an eyebrow at him. "Go wait in the car. I'll be out in a second."
The boy gave an obedient nod.
Victoria followed him out, pausing just long enough to drop a final warning:
"Julian, drop a watch if you want, but don't lose yourself."
"I'll let this little tantrum slide because it's a novelty, but you need to remember your place!"Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Victoria walked out with her kept boy, leaving me standing there like a fool.
A moment later, a team of Sterling family bodyguards swarmed in. The lead guard carried a nondisclosure agreement and a briefcase of cash.
Standard operating procedure: delete all security footage of Victoria and pay off anyone with a camera.
Once the mess was cleared, the lead bodyguard walked over with a word of advice.
"Mr. Vance, you've known Ms. Sterling for years. Why push her buttons?"
"At the end of the day, you're the one who suffers."
"When you're living under someone else's roof, you swallow your pride. That's just how life works."
I turned my head and looked at him, feeling completely hollow.
My wife had paraded countless side pieces in my face. How was I supposed to just 'swallow' that?
I forced a faint smile. "Go on back. I'll handle my own personal life."
The guard let out a heavy sigh.
"Pride and money—you can't have both. You're a smart man, Mr. Vance. You should know better."
With that, he signaled his men and left.
I ordered a fresh cup of coffee, sat in the very chair Victoria had occupied, and stayed there for the rest of the day.
I didn't head back to the penthouse until the early hours of the morning.
Facing the dark, empty rooms, a wave of numbness washed over me. Victoria hadn't come home last night. She was probably still tangled up in bed with her new favorite.
I walked up to the walk-in closet on the second floor and packed a few casual shirts and jeans into a duffel bag.
Usually, divorce comes with endless complications—asset division, custody battles.
Between Victoria and me, there was only that watch.
Who would have guessed that the lavish, star-studded 'wedding of the century' that took the city by storm didn't even have a valid marriage certificate?
I still remembered every single word she said on our wedding day:
"Julian, I'm only going through with this wedding to fulfill Professor Campbell's dying wish. The only man in my heart will always be Dominic. Don't go dreaming about things you'll never have."
Even knowing that, I had stepped up to that altar. Being with Victoria had been my dream for years.
I loved her. As long as I could stay by her side, I was willing to endure anything.
I used to believe that sincere devotion would eventually move her heart. But reality slapped me hard across the face.
Love isn't something you can earn by begging.
No matter what I did, Victoria would never look at me as an equal.
After walking out of the penthouse, I decided to go somewhere far away.
For the first half of my adult life, I had orbited around Victoria, giving up my own time and identity. In this vast world, I had voluntarily locked myself in a golden cage, acting like a blind fool.
It was time to slow down and see what was out there.
I took off toward the quiet countryside, carrying just a backpack and staying in cheap hostels.
Far from the corporate rat race and high-society games, the quiet peace of the small town gave me an unfamiliar sense of safety.
I rented a little cottage with a yard for just a few hundred dollars a month.
After spending two days cleaning and settling in, someone knocked on the front gate.
I opened it to find a young woman in casual clothes standing outside.
Her face was bright with an infectious smile, radiating youthful energy. She looked to be in her early twenties.
"You don't look like a local," she chirped. "Are you here traveling?"
I nodded.
"I'm here for work! Here, I made these muffins—welcome to the neighborhood! We're next-door neighbors now, so let's look out for each other."
I thanked her. She asked how long I was staying, but truthfully, I hadn't made any plans.
Over the next few weeks, we started hanging out and exploring the area together. Her name was Chloe.
She told me she had been working here as a volunteer teacher for two years, and her assignment would end after this year.
"By the way, our school is having a little party tonight. Want to come?"
"The kids are super sweet. They'll love meeting you!"Truth be told, I loved kids. Victoria didn't. To be precise, she just refused to have a child with me.
Ever since our wedding, her family had brought up grandchildren multiple times.
Every single time, she threw a fit. Once, after a fight about having a baby, she stayed out of the country for an entire year.
After that, no one in the family dared bring it up again.
With Chloe's persistent nudging, I agreed to go.
That evening, I drove to the address she sent me.
The school building was old, clearly weathered by decades of neglect.
When I pushed open the third-floor classroom door, a confetti popper went off right above my head.
A burst of applause erupted from the room, followed by Chloe's cheerful voice: "Everyone, welcome our new friend!"
"Welcome, Miss Chloe's friend!"
A swarm of little kids rushed forward, shoving handmade cards and small trinkets into my hands. Chloe stood in the corner, beaming at me.
Having never been on the receiving end of so much genuine warmth, I stood frozen, completely at a loss, until Chloe stepped in to rescue me.
She clapped her hands. "All right, party people! The welcome ceremony is officially over. Everyone back to your seats for the talent show!"
The kids scurried back to their spots obediently.
I hadn't seen such bright, innocent smiles in years.
Whenever I came home to Victoria, the house felt like an icebox. Outside of work matters, she barely spared two sentences for me.
I had tried to break the ice countless times, asking her out on normal dates like real couples do. Every single attempt was shut down without hesitation.
Chloe pulled me over to sit beside her.
We talked about everything that night, though mostly it was her talking while I listened.
My previous life had been a monotonous loop between the office and the penthouse.
As Chloe put it, it was so mind-numbingly dull I might as well have been a ghost.
She, on the other hand, was full of life. With shining eyes, she said her dream was to build schools and become an educator who changed lives.
Watching her talk with such passion reminded me of Professor Campbell.
He had taken immense pride in mentoring his students, celebrating every single milestone they reached.
"Are your parents proud of you?" I asked.
Her smile faltered slightly. She rested her chin in her hands and shook her head. "Honestly? When I signed up to teach in a rural school, they completely freaked out.”
“They said a girl shouldn't go running off to the middle of nowhere. I had to submit the application behind their backs."
I stared at her, quietly admiring her guts.
"Life is about testing your limits, right? I refused to spend my whole life trapped on the path they laid out for me."
I never imagined that the person who would wake me up from my stupor would be a girl fresh out of college.
She was a blaze of energy, as if nothing in the world could ever knock her down.
"What about you?"
Her eyes fluttered with genuine curiosity.
"I was tired of being stuck in a dead-end routine, too. That's why I came here."
During my years with Victoria, I had erased myself completely, walking on eggshells just to protect her image and the Sterling family reputation.
"What about after? Have you thought about what you want to do once this trip is over?"
Her question caught me off guard. I lowered my gaze, unsure how to answer.
Unlike her, I didn't have a grand dream. My future felt like a blank fog.
For the past five years, my only goal had been trying to bridge the gap between Victoria and me, working tirelessly so that her circle might finally see me as someone worthy of her.
Now that I had walked away, the purpose driving my existence had vanished.
"Julian."
She suddenly called my name with total sincerity. I looked up, meeting her gaze.
"If you haven't figured it out yet, then just live for yourself first. Life is long, and you're still so young. You'll find something worth fighting for."For the first time in my life, someone told me to live for myself.
She was right. I was still young—not even thirty yet.
I shouldn't be running myself ragged to please someone else. I needed to live my own life.
Chloe's words gave me clarity, washing away any lingering doubts about leaving Victoria.
I smiled at her. "Chloe, you're going to be an incredible educator. And an amazing teacher."
After the performances wrapped up, I stayed behind to help her clean up the classroom.
By the time we swept up the last bit of confetti, it was already past midnight.
"Time flies. It's almost three in the morning," she remarked.
I laughed softly. Suddenly, she skipped in front of me with a mischievous grin. "Since it's this late, why even go home?"
Chloe was always bursting with spontaneous ideas. I looked at her, bewildered. "What are you planning now?"
"Have you ever seen the sunrise from the ridge? Let me show you. Sunrises out here hit different compared to the city."
Before I could protest, she seized my wrist and dragged me running across the open fields.
"Julian, have you ever sprinted at full speed while screaming at the top of your lungs?"
I shook my head. Back when I was with Victoria, every move I made reflected on the Sterling family name.
Even if Victoria and her snobbish friends never truly accepted me, we still had that lavish wedding.
Our names were tied together in the public eye.
Doing something so wild was completely unthinkable back then.
"Never?! You're seriously missing out. It feels amazing! Just repeat after me!"
I nodded.
Chloe sped up, and I lengthened my stride to match hers.
"I'm Chloe Hayes!"
"I'm Julian Vance!"
"And I am going to be a world-class educator!"
"And starting today, I'm only living for myself!"
Our voices bounced across the quiet, sprawling valley, echoing back to us in waves.
Chloe came to a sudden halt, catching her breath in ragged gasps. She pointed toward the horizon. "Julian, look! The sun!"
She cheered like an excited kid.
I stood beside her, a genuine smile spreading across my face.
Even without a wink of sleep, I had never felt lighter.
Once the golden light completely washed over the hills, we strolled slowly back toward the village.
"Are you always like this?" I asked, unable to contain my curiosity.
"Like what?"
"So full of sunshine?"
"Why wouldn't I be? I love my life right now. I've got food, a warm bed, and work that matters.”
“You should've seen this place when I first arrived—that classroom back there had cardboard taped over broken windows in the dead of winter."
"Then this generous philanthropist stepped in, funded renovations, and built a whole community library."
She pulled out her phone to show me an article. "Look at her. Gorgeous and kind-hearted, right?"
Victoria's face flashed across the screen. My smile froze instantly.
Memories rushed back. On his deathbed, Professor Campbell had two wishes: to see Victoria and me together, and to ensure underprivileged kids had access to education.
Over the years, Victoria had poured millions into charity schools, gaining immense public praise.
Looking back, Victoria was kind and gracious to virtually everyone in the world.
Except me. Me, she treated with sheer disgust.
"What's wrong?" Chloe asked.
"Nothing," I murmured, forcing a smile.
Chloe tapped on a video interview attached to the article. "Seriously, whoever got to marry her must be the luckiest man alive."I stared down at the screen.
Victoria was dressed noticeably differently than usual. Less corporate, much more sensual and daring.
I used to coordinate all her outfits. Now that I was gone, the boy from the café had clearly taken over the job.
She was probably dressing to his tastes.
How pathetic. When we were together, I had to bend over backward to match her preferences. Yet with him, she was reshaping her own habits—just because his face looked like Dominic's.
A dead first love really is an unbeatable phantom.
"Ms. Sterling, the public hasn't seen you and your husband attend events together for months now. Rumor has it he packed his bags and walked out?"
The interviewer's question pulled my wandering thoughts back to reality.
The media loved milking scandal. Drama brought clicks, and clicks brought ratings.
Clearly, the scene at the café hadn't stayed entirely buried.
Even with the Sterling family's hush money, someone had leaked the story.
Victoria offered a polished, camera-ready smile, though I caught the cold annoyance flickering beneath her eyes.
"I sent him away on a business trip. He doesn't have anyone else in this world besides me. If he ran away, where on earth would he go?"
Her tone dripped with supreme confidence.
My hands clenched tightly into fists at my sides.
I grew up an orphan before Professor Campbell took me in. Once the professor passed, I truly had no family left.
Victoria was banking on the belief that I was helpless without her. She thought I'd come crawling back.
This time, she was dead wrong.
"Let's head back. I'm exhausted," I said flatly.
I didn't watch another second of the video. I quickened my pace, and Chloe locked her screen and hurried after me.
"Did something upset you?"
"No. Just spent the whole night awake."
"Julian, you do know teachers take plenty of psychology classes, right?"
I managed a faint chuckle. Chloe clearly picked up on my mood, but instead of prying, she cracked a few goofy jokes to cheer me up.
After that night, I spent several more peaceful months in the valley.
Before I knew it, more than half a year had slipped by. My savings were running thin.
It was time to get back into the real world and find a job.
The night before I left, I cooked a lavish dinner to say goodbye to Chloe.
Chloe loved my cooking, constantly telling me it was a crime I wasn't a professional chef.
I only developed those skills because of Victoria.
Victoria was ridiculously picky about her food—both the ingredients and the seasoning. To please her, I had spent a year taking culinary classes abroad and earning certifications.
There was an old saying: the way to someone's heart is through their stomach.
Too bad that after five years of effort, it hadn't made a difference.
As I stepped outside to head toward Chloe's place, high beams suddenly blazed in my face from a parked sedan.
I froze. The headlights flashed twice.
Then, the driver's door swung open. A pair of long legs stepped out.
My heart skipped a beat.
I spun on my heel to walk away, but a voice called out behind me: "Julian Vance! Where do you think you're running to?"
I stopped dead in my tracks.
Chapters (5)
Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Watch & Promotions
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