Flashing lights lit up Julian's face, but not his expressions. He remained as cold and unreadable as ever. My boss was beside himself with excitement. He rushed over for Julian's autograph, then a photo. Seeing me standing there without reaction, my boss kindly turned back and called out to me. "Irene, come take a picture with Mr. Reed!" "He's the youngest CEO in the world. One photo with him can definitely get our café buzzing! I might even give you a raise!" My hands froze mid-wash. I didn't look up, but some reporters still saw my face instantly, and the next second, they swarmed toward me. "So you've been here all along, Ms. Walker. Once celebrated worldwide for your designs, and now stuck behind a café counter. How does that feel?" "We hear your ex-husband has waited ten years for you, postponing his wedding again and again. What do you make of that?" I ignored them, ignored their questions and microphones that nearly poked my face, and just focused on my work. Still, I couldn't stop the tremble as I reached for the cups. I knew Julian too well. There was no way he could do that for me. I stayed on guard. The standoff dragged on until Julian stepped in front of me, he blocked the cameras. His expression was so stern. "This is our private matter. We're not accepting interviews. We appreciate your understanding." Then he turned to me, his gaze deep and complicated. "Irene." He paused, as if he had so much to say, and in the end, only said one thing. "Long time no see." His voice seemed to come from the past, and my hand quivered beyond control. Clatter— A coffee cup hit the floor and shattered. Flying shards cut into my skin. Blood dripped from my fingertips. Julian grabbed my hand instinctively, frowned as if he cared. "Are you alright?" I pulled away at once and apologized to my boss in a rush. "Alan, I'm so sorry. I'll clean it up. Just charge it to my pay." Before Alan could even respond, a bright, cheerful voice came from the doorway. "Julian, what are you doing here?" "You just left without a word. We’re all worried!" I followed the voice and saw her walking in with a gentle smile. She reached for Julian's hand naturally and pressed a soft kiss to his lips. I remembered her too well. It was Chloe Bennett—the woman who caused the accident ten years ago. She had become Julian's fiancée. And behind her… I actually saw my biological parents, who had disowned me like a stranger. Chloe turned to me then, her gaze sweeping over me with a thin smile of contempt on her lips. "Well, isn't this our greatest architect, Irene? Long time no see." "Oh, by the way, your parents have made me their goddaughter. I suppose that I should call you 'sister' now!" I glanced past her, and there stood my parents. They had aged so much. Their backs were hunched, their hair completely white. A sharp, quiet ache spread through my chest. I couldn't help but wonder how they'd feel if they ever found out their 'goddaughter' was the one who made me fall like this. My father snorted coldly. "We only have one daughter, and that is Chloe. A murderer blinded by greed would only make me sick." My mother clenched her jaw. "Julian, why would you even bother with trash like her?" "Just let her rot away!" Their words hit the café like a cold wind. Everyone, including Alan, looked at me strangely. I turned my face away, swallowing the pain, refusing to meet their eyes. Julian let out a soft sigh. "Don't blame your parents. That thing hit them too hard." He gave a gold-embossed business card to me. "I owe you far too much. If you ever need anything, call me."
I didn't refuse Julian's card. Or rather, I accepted it politely like I would for any customer, but that's all. I didn't believe he just came for me. And I didn't expect to see him again. Then, three days later, Alan called, "Irene… I'm really sorry." "I didn't know who you were. And people like you should never just stay in a small café." "I'll mark you down for full attendance this month and send your paycheck shortly. And today's your last day." He hung up before I could say anything. I tried calling back, but I'd been blocked. At the same time, a message popped up, my salary arrived. Four thousand five hundred. Alan had even added an extra thousand, with a note: “Consider this my compensation. My café is small, can't bear any trouble. Please, spare me another visit.” My heart sank. I knew who was really behind this. Sure enough, Julian's call came through. "Irene, I can't undo what happened back then. I hope you understand. But in every other way, I'll make it up to you." "That café job was way too much for you, so I took care of it. And I bought you a villa in Portwell. I'll send you the key. And another thing is about Chloe. She's still inexperienced and needs someone who knows the drawings. Help her out. I'll pay you two hundred thousand a month." My fists clenched so hard they ached. Why? Why could he so easily shove me into the abyss, where loneliness and hatred swallowed me alive? And why after all this happened, could he still carelessly shatter my peaceful life as if he's some superior savior? Why did he think he could arrange everything for me? Help Chloe? He just wanted me to be her shadow, her tool. The thought of it made my stomach churn. I pressed my lips together and said through gritted teeth. "Thanks for the offer, Mr. Reed, but I have my own life now. Please don't come to me again." Julian was silent for a long moment. "Irene, don't be difficult. A genius like you only truly enjoys working as an architect. I'm taking care of your life and letting you shine, what else could you want?" "Don't push me, Irene. I've got my ways." And then he hung up. A faint unease settled in my chest. That very afternoon, I found out exactly what he meant. I needed to find another job as soon as possible. But no matter where I went, people only pretended to respect me. I decided to go back home for a rest. But at the door, I found the landlady waiting. She was a kind old lady. When I first came here with no money, she had waived a month's rent and always brought me her homemade treats. Now, her eyes were red, standing at my doorstep. "Irene… you're back!" she said, clutching my hand. "I'm so sorry, but I can't rent the apartment to you anymore. Please don't blame me...I have no choice." "Some great man came to town. He said if I let you stay, my daughter, she… she..." Her voice broke as tears ran down. I didn't want to make things harder for her. That night, I packed my things and moved out. This was Julian's compensation. Destroying my life… and then arrogantly offering compensation. Ridiculous.
The day I moved out, Julian showed up. He lost weight in just a few days. Dark shadows sat under his eyes, like he hadn't slept at all. He came with a moving crew and directed them as if this was something he ought to do. His manner was so natural that anyone who didn't know us would consider him as a husband picking up his wife and taking her home. At the villa, he poured me a glass of honey water. "You've always been tense," he said. "This helps you relax." I took the glass in silence and had a small sip. It was sweet. So sweet it made my hands tremble. So this must be a part of his "compensation", it tasted like heaven, but could drag me down to hell in the next second. I set the glass down. "Mr. Reed," I said calmly, "what happened before is over. If you really wanted to make up for it, you shouldn't have shown up uninvited." He froze for a moment, a flicker of disappointment crossing his eyes before he masked it. "Irene," he said softly, "don't keep pushing it." "I know what you feel. This is just the first step. I'll soon find someone to claim the fall and clear your name." "I know you don't like Chloe. I'll keep her out of sight. For now, just rest." His tone was gentle, but the message was clear. I wasn't being offered a choice. He wanted control. Absolute control. And Chloe was never going to stay out of sight. The very day I moved in, Julian had barely arrived when she stormed in with a group of reporters. "Julian, I heard Ms. Walker was here. Why didn't you tell me?" She turned to the cameras, her voice full of practiced sympathy. "She was wrong, of course. But everyone has to live on. I hope Ms. Walker has learned her lesson and will walk the right path from now on." She pressed a card into my hand. "This is just a small gesture," she said warmly. "You're my senior and also my fiancé's ex-wife. Please take it. If life gets hard, just let us know." She played her role perfectly. By that afternoon, the news had spread all over Portwell. [Disgraced Engineer Resurfaces After Deadly Collapse, Billionaire Ex Shows 'Mercy'] [Back Among the Elite: Can the Victims Ever Find Peace?] Suddenly, Julian became the devoted tycoon and Chloe became the gracious fiancée. And once again, I was only the one who got torn apart by public outrage. Whether on purpose or not, Chloe leaked my address. From then on, grieving families and angry crowds gathered outside my home every day. Three days later, my parents came. It was the first time in ten years that they had come to see me on their own. When I saw them standing at the door, the good old memories came back, a spark of hope rose in my chest. "Mom, Dad… You're here. Come in, have some water." I stepped aside to welcome them. My father only snorted at me. "We wouldn't dare drink a murderer's water." My mother leaned against the doorframe, her voice tired. "Irene, we can't forgive what you did back then." "But don't keep making the same mistake. We're begging you. Chloe truly loves Julian. You're divorced now. Stop clinging to him." "She's considerate. She doesn't want to say it out loud, so we will. Leave Portwell." "If you insist," she added quietly, "your father and I will find a way to make you leave." Her voice was still gentle. The same voice that once sang me to sleep. Now, every word felt like a blade, cutting into my heart until my blood ran out.
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