By the end, Selina seemed to be choking back sobs.

She placed Sophia on the bed, wiping her eyes with one hand while secretly watching Julian’s reaction.

After a long silence, Julian frowned and said, "I will go and ask Jade myself."

Only then did Selina dry her tears. She tried to take Julian’s hand. "Julian, the doctor said a child recovers faster from autism with company. Let’s give Sophia a little brother, shall we?"

"No."

Leaving behind those cold words, Julian walked straight out.

The weather in the South Seas could change in an instant. The next day, after Jade and Lucas finished breakfast, it began to rain again.

Lucas went to the room to get a jacket for Jade, and she waited in the hotel lobby lounge.

Suddenly, a tall figure blocked the light.

"That was fast."

Jade looked up with a smile, but when she saw it was Julian, the curve of her lips quickly vanished.

Julian’s heart felt a sharp pang; that sweet smile should have belonged to him.

What was even more painful than that vanishing smile was the lack of any emotional stir in Jade’s eyes.

It was as if she had completely moved on from the past and started a brand-new life, while he was the only one still dwelling on that relationship, cruelly and heartlessly discarded by her five years ago.

He steadied himself, trying his best not to appear out of control. "Jade Yu, what did you do with Sophia yesterday?"

Jade frowned.

She strongly disliked Julian’s interrogative tone, but she answered anyway.

"Nothing. We only spoke a single sentence."

Her voice was still flat; she wouldn't give him so much as a glance or a flicker of an eyebrow.

The past emotions he had forced down began to resurface, quietly lighting a fire that boiled his blood.

The weather outside was cold, and the wind blowing through the lobby entrance carried dampness, yet Julian’s eyes were burning red.

"If you only spoke, why are there red marks on Sophia’s arm?"

Jade suddenly found it laughable. She looked up at him. "Did you come to ask me while already having an answer in mind?"

That look became the final spark that made Julian’s blood boil.

His volume rose abruptly, as if he were refusing to admit something or acting in self-defense. He picked out the most hateful words, enunciating each one.

"Aren't you exactly that kind of person? Since you can't have children yourself, you go and frame someone else's child."

"You did the exact same thing five years ago."

Seeing the color drain from Jade’s face and her nails digging hard into her palms, Julian’s heart felt a moment of pain, which was quickly swallowed by a secret sense of gratification.

See, Jade? You haven't moved on from five years ago at all.

Jade clenched her fists tightly, and only after a long moment did she release them. "Julian Grant, the one who killed the child was you, not me."

Just as she finished, a massive force struck.

Julian stumbled back, turning to see Lucas’s hostile eyes.

"Julian Grant, stop harassing my fiancée."

The word "fiancée" was like a dull knife, twisting painfully through Julian’s internal organs.

He turned stiffly to look at Jade and sneered, "Jade Yu, you really are cheap enough. How long has it been since we split, and you're already in such a hurry to be someone's fiancée? Can you not survive without a man?"

Lucas’s temper flared instantly, but Jade quickly stepped forward to pull him back.

"Don't bother with him. He isn't worth our time. Let’s go."

Only then did Lucas stop. He gave Julian a cold glare, draped the jacket over Jade’s shoulders, and led her away with his arm around her.

The sight of their backs deeply stung Julian’s eyes.

The place beside Jade was supposed to be his.

Julian lit a cigarette. As the crimson glow burned and faded between his fingers, his emotions finally settled.

Only then did he realize why he had said such hurtful things.

It was because he was jealous of Lucas—mad with jealousy.

Chapter 19

The South Seas was a warm place; even when it rained, the temperature stayed in the high teens.

Carrying an umbrella, Julian went alone to the small island he had bought for Jade. Though it was registered in Jade’s name, she had transferred the title back to him on the day she left. Perhaps because of her hasty departure, the personal belongings of both remained on the island, untouched.

Photos, souvenirs, their surfboards, and swimwear—everything was still there in the villa. He employed someone to look after the house. The servant, a foreigner who didn't know Jade had deregistered her stage name, asked when they would return for vacation.

"Next time," he replied, deceiving himself.

But what was the use of keeping those things? He knew perfectly well there was no "next time" and no future for him and Jade. Yet, he stubbornly held onto the island and stubbornly refused to marry. Now, these remnants felt like slaps landing heavily on his face.

...

Lucas rented a private beach to take Jade diving. Underwater was a world of deep azure, where tropical fish and transparent bubbles darted past. She reached out to touch them, looking at Lucas beside her with a smile. Lucas tightened his grip on her hand and led her forward.

In the past, to achieve the best shot while filming, Jade had held her breath underwater for several minutes, nearly suffocating. Since then, she had been somewhat afraid of water. But with Lucas holding her hand, she felt she could do anything.

When they surfaced, the rain was still falling. Lucas wanted to explore deeper, so he swam her back to the shore before diving down again. Jade changed her clothes and stepped out, sipping hot coffee as the dark clouds dispersed and sunlight broke through.

Lucas emerged and pulled off his diving mask. His blonde hair gleamed in the sunlight, making it impossible for her to look away. In his eyes, there was only her reflection.

The sea breeze blew, and Jade’s eyes suddenly grew hot. In this relationship, she had always been a coward, afraid to love and afraid to be loved. Even if she only hesitated and took a single step forward, Lucas would walk the remaining ninety-nine.

Thinking of this, Jade stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Lucas’s neck.

"Don't tease me," Lucas said, his hands on her waist. "I'm wet, I haven't showered yet..."

Before he could finish, Jade’s lips met his. Lucas froze for a second before pressing the back of her head to deepen the kiss.

When they pulled apart, Jade’s eyes were bright. "It's salty." She pulled him toward the room and kissed his chin. "Let’s shower together."

The fire was completely lit, and Lucas claimed her lips again. They spent a night of passion.

The next morning, they returned to the InterContinental. Lucas received a call from his company regarding an urgent matter. Finding it tedious, Jade told him she was going downstairs for some fresh air.

Just as she stepped out of the hotel, Selina rushed over in tears, grabbing her. "You kidnapped Sophia!"

"Jade Yu, if you have a problem, take it out on me! What kind of person kidnaps a child!" There were few tears, but her voice was shrill, drawing the attention of everyone nearby.

Jade pulled her hand away impatiently. "Selina, what are you raving about? If the child is missing, go to the police. Why are you coming to me?"

"You didn't come back all night! You're the only one with a motive!" Selina shrieked.

Beside her, Julian’s gaze grew colder. "Jade, if it really wasn't you, give me an explanation."

Jade’s lips curled; she suddenly found the situation pathetic. They had known each other for ten years, going from nothing to a Best Actress and a CEO; they knew every mole on each other's bodies. Yet, he seemed to have never known her at all, assuming the worst of her at every turn.

Jade reached out and began unbuttoning her collar, one button at a time. With each button she opened, Julian’s eyes grew redder.

Beneath the shirt were dense clusters of hickeys. When she reached the last button, she looked up at Julian.

"I spent the night with my fiancé. Is that explanation enough?"

Chapter 20

To Julian, those crimson marks didn't look like hickeys—they looked like brands seared into his heart. Before he realized it, he had grabbed Jade’s collar.

His hands shook as he forced the words out: "You really are desperate."

He rarely used such vulgar language, but in front of Jade, his reason was always overtaken by emotion. Once the words were out, they couldn't be taken back. He stared at her, hoping to see shame or hysteria, but her eyes held only icy mockery.

"It was consensual. Is there something wrong with being 'desperate' for my fiancé?"