But because of Selina’s invitation, he had interrupted her: "Get in the car."

He had taken Selina back to the Bentley, watching the taxi carry Jade further and further away. It felt as if he would never find her again. Their relationship had shifted from husband and wife to strangers destined never to cross paths again.

"Jade!"

Julian woke up in the middle of the night, drenched in a cold sweat. He gasped for air like a fish out of water, but his lungs felt empty.

He turned on the lights and frantically searched every corner of the house, trying to find some small piece of evidence to prove he and Jade still had a connection.

After a long time, he walked barefoot into the study and stared at the signature line on the divorce papers.

The name "Jade Yu" was the only thing she had left him.

When facing unspeakable grief, the subconscious often builds a defense. But the pain doesn't vanish; it simply hides. All it takes is one moment for it to break through the surface again.

Under the shroud of night, the divorce papers finally shattered Julian’s final defense. He clenched his fists and wept uncontrollably. "Jade, I was wrong. Please come back."

Only the endless darkness of the night responded.

The next morning, Julian returned to his usual self. Only his slightly reddened eyes recorded the tragedy of the previous night.

Over the next two months, he worked as usual. He even reinvested in the scripts he had previously rejected for Jade’s sake, casting another actress as the lead. It was as if Jade’s departure had no impact on him.

But Julian knew he was merely performing "normalcy." He was like a rotting apple—appearing whole on the outside, but hollow within.

One day, a cleaner found an earring in a corner of the desk. Just as they were about to pocket it, Julian called out, "Where did you find that?"

The cleaner hurriedly handed it over, stammering, "I... I found it under the desk. I thought nobody wanted it. Mr. Grant, I'll never do it again, please don't fire me..."

Julian could no longer hear whatever the cleaner said next.

He picked up the earring. As his fingers curled around it, the sharp metal cut into his hand, and cold blood dripped from his palm.

Memories surged like a tsunami, pulling him back to the day Jade had called him.

"It’s nothing. I dropped an earring, but I’ve found it now."

A piercing pain drilled into his bones. Julian stared at the crimson on his palm, lost in thought.

When Jade called him that day, had she been in this much pain?

The cleaner rushed forward. "Mr. Grant, you're bleeding."

A dark tide swirled in Julian’s eyes. He gripped the earring even tighter. "Leave it. Get out."

Only now, by feeling the same pain as Jade, did he feel a little closer to her.

A few months later, Selina’s pregnancy began to show.

After several failed hints to Julian, she managed to find the address of his parents and paid them a visit. Consequently, Julian was summoned to the ancestral home by a phone call from his father.

"You brat! If Selina hadn't come to us, how long were you planning to keep this a secret?"

With a joyful expression, Julian’s father slapped him on the shoulder. "Selina is so sweet and sensible. She’s much better than that Jade Yu."

Julian’s mother brought out fruit, completely oblivious to his darkening expression. "That Jade Yu was married into the family for ten years without a single child; there must be something wrong with her body!"

"I’ve seen the things people say online. Her private life is indecent."

Julian froze. He knew Jade’s private life better than anyone. Yet the black PR he had personally authorized had come back to stab him in the heart.

Julian frowned. "What’s online isn't true. I was married to her for ten years; I know what kind of person she is."

A flash of resentment crossed Selina’s eyes, but she quickly masked it. She took Julian’s hand and said tearfully, "I don't want to steal Sister Jade’s place. I just want to give the baby a complete home."

"If Sister Jade ever comes back, I will return the position of Mrs. Grant to her immediately."

Though she said this, everyone present knew Jade wasn't coming back.

Julian’s father spoke up first. "In my opinion, the 18th of next month is an auspicious day. You should get married as soon as possible so I can hold my grandson."

"Young people are better. That Jade Yu couldn't conceive in ten years, but look at Selina—she’s pregnant so soon after being with you."

Seeing Julian’s continued silence, his mother dramatically clutched her chest. "Oh, my heart hurts so much."

His father supported her while shouting, "You ungrateful son! If you don't agree, are you trying to kill us?"

Julian’s lips parted, and he finally spoke: "The child can be brought into the Grant family, but I will never marry her."

Chapter 15

Upon hearing the first half of the sentence, Julian’s mother lowered her hand. But after the second half, she clutched her chest again, looking as if she were about to faint.

Julian rubbed his temples tiredly. He took his mother’s arm. "I'll take you to the hospital."

His father shoved them apart and shouted angrily, "If Jade Yu never comes back, are you going to stay unmarried for the rest of your life?"

Julian gave no answer. He turned and left without looking back.

His father stamped his feet in rage. "Julian Grant! You’re going to make us die with our eyes open in regret!"

Under the desolate night, Julian’s lonely silhouette paused for a brief moment before being swallowed by the darkness.

Meanwhile, in New York.

The morning sun filtered through the apartment window. Jade poured herself a cup of black coffee, watching the news while preparing breakfast.

The man on the screen, dressed in a sharp suit at a music awards ceremony, appeared a second later in person. Bare-chested and coming from the bedroom, he hugged Jade from behind, resting his chin in the crook of her neck.

"Vina, the weather is so nice today. Let’s go for a picnic."

Having just woken up, Lucas’s deep voice was husky, and his breath tickled Jade’s neck.

Jade stuffed a piece of toasted bread into his mouth. "Lucas, we don't have the kind of relationship where we go on picnics together."

Unfazed by the rejection, Lucas took a bite of the bread and returned to the bedroom to put on a shirt.

"That’s fine. I’ll keep asking until we do have that kind of relationship."

The warm yellow light shone through the glass, spilling over his blonde hair and into his emerald eyes. A simple white shirt covered the red marks on his back, outlining his broad-shouldered, narrow-waisted physique.

Before coming to America, Jade never imagined she would end up in this kind of relationship with Lucas—the founder of Venus and now a genius music producer. After all, they had only met twice before.

The first time was right after Jade won an international Best Actress award. At a banquet following an awards ceremony in Germany, Julian had taken her to offer a toast. Lucas was surrounded by a crowd like a moon among stars, his green eyes possessing a distant, cold light that kept everyone at bay.

Upon seeing Jade, he had frozen for a moment. A rare smile touched his lips as he clinked glasses with her, but his words made Julian’s face pale.

"Jade, you are beautiful, but your taste is terrible."

"Both in your choice of gowns and your choice of men."

Jade had smiled back. "Thank you, Mr. Lucas. My taste is indeed terrible."

"Otherwise, why would I think you have such a handsome face?"

The room fell silent as everyone held their breath, looking between Lucas and Jade. It wasn't until Lucas chuckled and drained his glass that the people around them relaxed.

The second time was in Metropolis. Lucas had flown there personally with three gowns for Jade to choose from, asking her to be the spokesperson for Venus.

Jade had only one condition: he had to make a matching suit for Julian using the same craftsmanship.

Lucas’s features were deep and his lips pale; when he wasn't smiling, he carried the natural pressure of a ruler. They stared at each other for three minutes without speaking.

Finally, Lucas conceded. "Venus making a suit for him is out of respect for you. It doesn't mean he is worthy of my brand."

"Jade, time will prove my words true."

Back then, Jade was young and spirited; she hadn't taken Lucas’s words to heart. She never expected them to be prophetic.

Her taste truly was beyond saving. It had taken the price of her life to see Julian Grant’s true face.

Chapter 16

After breakfast, Lucas asked once more before leaving, "Will you be my girlfriend?"