Sebastian’s expression went blank for a fleeting moment.

Julian had always kept a low profile, rarely appearing in the media, and spent most of his years abroad. As a result, Sebastian did not recognize his face.

He ground his teeth, his voice low and threatening. "Who are you? You dare snatch someone from me? Do you even want to stay in this city anymore?"

Julian let out a sigh and looked at Clara with an innocent expression. "What should I do, Miss Clara? Your ex-husband is threatening me."

Clara: "..."

As the CEO of the Julian Group, even if you weren't going to crush Sebastian, there's no way you'd actually be intimidated by him, right?

Clara shot Julian a questioning look:

What are you doing? Since when did you become my boyfriend?

Julian’s eyes curved into a playful smile, his meaning clear:

I’m helping you get rid of your ex-husband’s harassment for free—don't you want to thank me?

In Sebastian’s eyes, their interaction was nothing but a blatant exchange of affection.

Ignoring the throbbing pain in his wrist, he grabbed Julian by the collar. "She’s my wife! You’re shameless!"

Forced to tilt his head back, Julian remained perfectly composed, his elegant demeanor unshaken. "Mr. Sebastian, you are already divorced."

"And in love, the one who isn't loved is the real intruder."

Driven to the brink of insanity by rage, Sebastian clenched his fist, preparing to strike.

"Sebastian, stop it! Who I am with has absolutely nothing to do with you!"

Clara hurriedly pulled his hand away and shielded Julian behind her.

Julian loosened his tie and flashed a victorious smile at Sebastian.

The veins on Sebastian’s forehead throbbed. He looked at Clara in disbelief. "You... you’re taking his side?"

"I don't believe it. How could you fall for someone else so quickly!"

Clara’s own temper was finally ignited.

So it was acceptable for Sebastian to have women on both sides and dote on his childhood sweetheart, but she wasn't allowed to like someone else?

She tugged at Julian’s sleeve, gesturing for him to lean down slightly.

The smile in Julian’s eyes deepened as he obediently lowered his head.

A warm touch landed on his cheek.

He froze. The calm depth of his eyes shattered as a ripple of emotion surged through them.

Clara had kissed him right in front of Sebastian.

Time seemed to stand still. Sebastian stared at the two of them, his face a mask of shock and the heartbreaking look of someone betrayed.

Clara let go, her own cheeks flushing slightly. "There. You see now, Sebastian?"

"You are a thing of the past. I have someone new."

"Clara, how could you... how could you..."

Sebastian was so furious he could barely speak without stuttering.

"He’s just a pretty boy! Aside from a handsome face, what does he have? Can he even give you a decent life!"

Despite the gravity of the situation, Clara nearly laughed.

In reality, the Julian family was fully capable of standing on equal footing with the Sebastian family.

It was just that the Sebastians dominated this city, while the bulk of Julian’s assets were in the United States.

Julian, seemingly enjoying himself, said with a beam, "Mr. Sebastian, you're mistaken. Miss Clara is quite wealthy herself now. What's wrong with finding a 'pretty boy' like me?"

"At least a pretty boy like me won't make her angry, let alone hurt her."

"Unlike some people who act like they're the master of the house, keeping women on both sides and hurting their wives."

A thick scent of "green tea" manipulation wafted through the air.

Sebastian looked ready to kill. "Do you think I won't end you right now!?"

"Sebastian, shut up!" Clara shot him a glare. "This is a police station! If you continue making such wild threats, I’ll call the guards!"

Sebastian’s eyes turned red, and a hint of genuine grievance flickered in them. "Clara, he’s the one bullying me..."

"Didn't you say he was a useless pretty boy? How can a useless pretty boy bully the great CEO Sebastian?"

Clara sneered, taking Julian’s hand to walk away. "Get lost. Don't ever show your face to me again."

Sebastian could only stand there, watching her walk away.

His wrist throbbed with pain, but he couldn't spare a single thought for it. His mind was filled with the scene he had just witnessed.

Clara had stood on her tiptoes to kiss another man.

Julian had smirked at him, a mocking smile on his lips.

Clara... the Clara who once illuminated his life... did she belong to someone else now?

As the sky grew dark, the harsh overhead lights cast a long, lonely shadow of him on the ground.

He looked utterly desolate.

Clara didn't stop until they had walked all the way out of the police station and reached the edge of Central Park, where she paused to catch her breath.

Her feelings for Sebastian had long since eroded, but seeing him again caused old memories to resurface.

Those dark memories felt like a giant net, tightening around her heart.

"Miss Clara, are you alright?"

That deep, pleasant voice echoed in her ear, and Clara realized she was still gripping Julian’s hand.

She let go as if she had been burned, a crimson flush spreading across her cheeks. "Um, I’m sorry. About just now..."

"I understand. It was to spite Sebastian," Julian said with perfect understanding. "Well? Did it feel good?"

Clara hesitated for a split second before nodding honestly. "It did."

For so long, she had been the one trapped in internal turmoil, jealousy, and pain.

She hadn't understood why Sebastian protected Luna so fiercely, and she had even doubted herself.

Seeing Sebastian lose his cool today and watching his composed mask shatter—the feeling was indescribably satisfying.

Julian smiled. "That's good, then."

"Miss Clara, what I said before still stands. If possible, I hope—"

Clara wasn't a fool; she could guess what he was about to say. She stood frozen in place, her heart racing.

Suddenly, Julian’s expression shifted. He reached out and violently pulled Clara into his embrace, shielding her firmly.

A heavy iron bar swung down, striking Julian squarely across the back.

Julian’s previous injuries hadn't fully healed, and the strike was delivered with full force. Even as resilient as he was, a muffled groan escaped his lips.

He delivered a swift kick outward. Luna, who had been clutching the iron bar, was sent crashing to the ground, the bar clattering beside her.

Luna coughed up a mouthful of blood, barely able to move, but her expression remained vicious and crazed. "Clara, you ruined me! You ruined my whole family!"

"I’m going to ruin you too!"

"You think you’ve won? You’re about to die! Hahahaha!"

Clara had no interest in her. Trembling, she supported Julian’s body as it slowly began to slide down.

He had been holding himself up by sheer willpower.

"Julian, hang in there..."

Clara didn't panic excessively; she pulled out her phone to call an ambulance, even though her hands wouldn't stop shaking.

In spite of it all, Julian managed a weak smirk. "Come to think of it, this is the first time you’ve called me by my name."

Before this, it had always been a distant "Mr. Julian."

Clara’s eyes stung with unshed tears. "What are you talking about at a time like this! Stop talking and save your strength!"

Before the call could connect, a car pulled up and stopped in front of them.

The window rolled down, revealing Sebastian’s face.

Clara froze in surprise.

"Don't just stand there! Get in if you don't want him to die!"

Sebastian turned his head away, suppressing the urge to finish Julian off himself, and gritted out, "I’ll take him to the hospital."

...

By the time Julian woke up, it was already late at night.

Clara was looking at him with a deep, worried frown.

Sebastian was hunched in the corner, his face full of resentment, looking like a powerless husband watching his wife tryst with another man.

Julian still had the heart to joke: "Miss Clara, we really are birds of a feather, constantly ending up in the hospital together."

Clara was so irritated by his attitude that she gritted her teeth, stood up, and playfully punched him in the chest.

"Cough... cough... Miss Clara, any harder and you’ll lose your dear 'boyfriend'."

Clara: "..."