Standing on the stairs, she saw him and was taken aback.

Once upon a time, he would make her breakfast personally on the morning after, bringing it to the bedside.

But now, seeing her standing by the dining table, he sneered: "You don't really think I'd make breakfast for you, do you?"

With that, he placed the plate in front of Selene.

Clara’s face flushed red instantly.

Even though she had experienced things a million times more tragic than this over the years.

But why did this small action sting her heart like the tip of a knife?

Just as she was in a state of chaos, he spoke again:

"Go change your clothes, come with me to an art exhibition."

Clara was stunned, her heart beating wildly against her will, only to be doused by a bucket of cold water immediately after.

"Today is the opening of the art exhibition I’m hosting for Selene; you will act as her assistant, responsible for carrying her bags and blocking drinks."

At ten o'clock in the morning, they arrived at the exhibition site.

Julian held Selene in his arms, introducing her to the VIPs and celebrities who had come to support the event.

And Clara was ordered around by him, pouring wine and changing glasses, like a dutiful servant.

The taunts that reached her ears pierced her heart like needles:

"It’s truly ridiculous, she’s actually here accompanying her husband and his mistress."

"In all of Jiang City, who doesn't know that this so-called Mrs. Sterling is nothing but a joke."

"And she takes it so lightly herself; she really is shameless enough."

In a life covered in scars, a few taunts were the most trivial things, not worth her attention.

She calmly took a glass of champagne from the champagne tower, preparing to take it to Julian.

Just then, Selene suddenly blocked her:

"Don't you want to ask me how Julian ended up with me?"

Chapter 3

Clara quietly looked her over.

Her gaze wandered, sliding from that triumphant, beautiful face to the mottled kiss marks on her neck.

In that moment, an irrepressible soreness surged in her heart.

She managed a faint smile at the corner of her mouth:

"Does it still matter?"

Selene had once been her closest friend.

She knew all of her hidden past and the bitterness and heartache she kept buried deep inside.

On countless nights, after being tormented by Julian, she would hold her and cry uncontrollably.

She had once thought that in this world, there was at least one person who would feel heartache for her.

But that night, the seductive sounds from the private room were like a sharp blade, severing her heart.

Her only friend had climbed into her husband's bed.

In that instant, a cold chill swept through her entire body, making her unable to stop shivering.

But she could not complain, could not cry, could not feel aggrieved, nor could she be angry.

She could only grit her teeth and silently endure the heart-wrenching pain.

Clara’s cold expression infuriated Selene.

She grabbed Clara’s wrist and dragged her into an empty corner of the exhibition.

"Clara, the thing I hate most is this indifferent look of yours!"

Selene smashed the champagne glass onto the ground, and glass shattered everywhere.

"You only think about your own grievances, but you have no idea how Julian survived these past few years!"

Her voice coiled like a snake, every word like a blade cutting into the bottom of Clara’s heart:

"He said you dumped him because you looked down on his poverty. After you left, he worked day and night to make money, drinking until he vomited blood just to compete for projects. In the early stages of starting his business, he said every kind word and forced every smile just to secure some working capital!"

"A man as arrogant as Julian placed his self-esteem on the ground for people to step on, only then finally reaching today, blood and tears included! But he finally climbed to the top, and he didn't want to take revenge on you! All he wanted was for you to turn back and admit you were wrong!"

"He gave you the title of Mrs. Sterling and brought you home. But you? How did you treat him! You trampled on his sincerity! You told him you only wanted money, not his heart, let alone his marriage!"

Selene paused, pulling at the corner of her lips bleakly:

"You didn't know, did you? The club where he always spent the nights is his own property. All these years, he hasn't touched a single one of the girls there. Each time, he just had them enter and then sat on the side, making you hear it, all just to make you jealous, hoping you would bow your head and soften up to him. As long as you were willing to bow your head and admit you were wrong, he would let the past go, pretend nothing had happened, and bring his past promises and his heart to you once again!"

Hearing these words, Clara was completely stunned...

In an instant, the bits and pieces of her past with Julian surged up like a tide.

She was almost drowned by the memories, as if she had returned to those dreamlike years.

Selene stepped forward, her smile growing ferocious:

"What? Think your charm is infinite, that Julian will be obsessed with you forever?"

Her eyes flashed with intense jealousy and hatred:

"That's right, all those women before were just fleeting clouds. However, last night, what happened between Julian and me was no act. He kissed me, and we really slept together."

"Do you know why Julian really took me?"

Selene asked softly, her slender fingers stroking Clara’s left eye:

"Because I told him that the eye he lost in that car accident was donated to him by me."

This sentence was like a sharp blade, stabbing directly into Clara's heart.

"Anyway, you don't want him anymore, so why not let him be with me? With me, at least I won't let him only receive endless heartache and indifference."

Clara closed her eyes, her nails digging deeply into her palms.

Her tone was surprisingly calm:

"Fine."

Selene’s lips trembled slightly, as if she hadn't expected her to be so straightforward.

Suddenly, she quickly pressed closer, whispering:

"Since you've agreed, then disappear completely from his world, and don't keep hooking him anymore."

As soon as she finished speaking, Clara felt a great force.

She lost her balance, stumbled backward, and bumped into an art sculpture at the exhibition site.

The sculpture swayed in the air a few times and crashed straight toward Selene.

Chapter 4

"Clara Vance! You’re asking for death!"

Julian Sterling picked Selene Hart up horizontally and rushed out in a hurry.

The art exhibition ended in a haphazard manner, and Clara was forcibly taken to the hospital by bodyguards.

Selene had suffered a heavy hemorrhage after being hit by the sculpture, and since Clara’s blood type happened to match hers, Julian ordered her to donate blood without a moment's hesitation.

Clara barely struggled as she was pinned down in front of the blood collection station.

A thick needle was plunged into her vein.

After four hundred milliliters were drawn, Clara already felt darkness encroaching on her vision.

The doctor looked at the sweat beads on her forehead, pulled out the needle, and said to Julian, "A simple physical examination must be done for blood donation, otherwise we cannot confirm if the blood is usable..."

Clara froze.

She had heard that physical examinations could reveal many things, including whether one had ever undergone donation procedures.

She subconsciously thought of the left eye she had donated to Julian.

No, absolutely not! She must never let him know about this!

Clara grabbed the blood bag from the doctor’s hand and ripped it hard.

The warm blood that had just been in her body immediately spilled all over her, and the specks of blood splattered on her face made her look as ferocious as a vengeful ghost.

Darkness swam before her eyes, and she collapsed into a pool of blood.

Julian was stunned by the sudden turn of events before him.

With a complex expression, he knelt on one knee in front of Clara:

"Why did you push Selene? Why do you refuse to donate blood to her?"

"Clara Vance, are you jealous?"

Clara felt a sharp pain in her heart, but immediately put on a cruel mask:

"Why should I donate blood to her? Did she pay me? If there’s no money, why should I use my blood?"

Looking at her, Julian sneered and signed a check.

The flimsy paper was thrown in her face, yet it hurt as much as a fierce slap.

"Isn't money all you care about? I'll give it to you!"

"Doctor, keep drawing! Draw until there is enough for Selene!"

The bodyguards ignored her struggles and held her down firmly.

The giant needle pierced her vein, and Clara couldn't help but shiver.