Chapter 7

Julia bit her lips so hard that they started bleeding. Did she have to endure the injustice for Kaitlyn's sake? "I don't care. I want to file a police report," she said firmly. After a short silence, Dylan suddenly pulled out a checkbook. "Since you won't let this go, I'll make it up to you on their behalf." The sound of his pen scraping against the check was akin to a stab to her heart. When he wrote the first digit, she bit her lip and tasted blood in her mouth. She refused to accept his check, and he assumed she wasn't satisfied with the offer. Hence, he tore away the first check and wrote another figure on the second page. He repeated this action a few times, offering a higher compensation each time. When he handed her the check worth a million dollars, her thoughts drifted back to that rainy night three years ago. They lived in a tiny rental, and he would come home at 3:00 am after working extra shifts. Despite being drenched in sweat, he'd pull her into a hug, promising her, "Jules, I will make a million dollars and give you a good life." He made good on his promise, but in a different way. He could offer her a million dollars without batting an eye, but it was so that she would spare the culprits who humiliated her. "Is a million dollars enough?" Dylan offered her the check once more. She took the check with trembling hands. Without warning, she broke into laughter. Tears rolled down her cheeks, staining the writing on the check. "It's enough," she croaked in an almost unrecognizable voice. "Dylan Schneider, you finally made good on the promise from years ago." He furrowed his brows, seemingly confused by her remark. She wasn't expecting him to get it. After all, the man who hugged her in her rental and promised to make a million dollars to give her a good life was long gone without a trace. … Dylan stopped visiting Julia at the hospital from that day onward. However, his assistant Kieran Johnson would show up at ten in the morning daily with nicely-wrapped gifts. Those gifts ranged from chocolate assortments to imported cheeses. "Mr. Schneider would like to inform you that he's been busy with work. He hopes you focus on your recovery," Kieran said in an aloof tone by her bed. Julia nodded. Her gaze rested on the mountain of unwrapped gifts on her bedside table. The gold logo dazzled under the sunshine, looking as glamorous as Dylan's current life. After Kieran left, Julia checked her phone and saw an Instagram post by Kaitlyn. In the photo, Kaitlyn rested her head on Dylan's shoulder with the blue skies and ocean of Mesona Island as her background. She wrote in her caption, "Thanks, my dear, for making time in the middle of your hectic schedule." Julia stared at the photo for what felt like forever until tears welled up. She realized that Dylan's so-called busy schedule was a trip to Mesona Island with Kaitlyn. A message popped up just as she was about to turn off her phone. "Dear Ms. Julia Thalman, we are pleased to inform you that your visa application has been approved. Your passport will be ready for collection by tomorrow. Kindly bring the original copy of your identification document when collecting your passport during business hours." Julia read the message three times before bursting into laughter. Tears streamed down her face in the middle of her laughing. They fell onto her phone screen atop the word "approved". Everything had finally come to an end. She no longer had to count the time, waiting for him to come home. She didn't have to eat the cold dinner alone late at night or endure Tessa's disdainful look. More importantly, she could finally let go of her past self, who was simultaneously detaching while guarding memories with pain. … The next day, after Julia got discharged from the hospital, she hurried to the visa center to collect her passport and flight tickets. When she arrived home at the villa, she saw Dylan and Kaitlyn chatting in the living room, while the bodyguard moved some luggage to the guest bedroom. They turned to look at her. Dylan shied away and explained, "Kaitlyn's parents are traveling abroad. She'll crash at our place for a while because she's scared to be home alone. "Our families are longtime friends and business partners. I have a responsibility to look after her." But he didn't have to explain himself. After today, he and Julia would go their separate ways. Julia gave them a nod and proceeded to go upstairs. "By the way…" Kaitlyn suddenly addressed Julia. "Dylan and I will attend a musical later. Would you like to join us?" Dylan hurriedly answered on Julia's behalf, "She should rest at home since she has a hand injury. Besides, it's not like she will appreciate musicals." Julia stopped dead in her tracks. She spun around, flashing them a pale smile. "Right. I won't appreciate musicals." Not long after they left, Julia finished packing her stuff. Standing in the middle of the bedroom, she scanned the space that carried all her expectations. It was empty now. In the photo on the coffee table, Dylan stared at her with tenderness as though he only had eyes for her. She gently ran her fingers along the photo frame before putting it face down on the table. After walking over to the door, she left her keys on the dresser next to the entryway before quietly closing the door. Three years ago, she saved a young man stained in blood from the alleyway. He was like a fallen star. Now, she had to leave him quietly with all her belongings. As the lights in the villa dimmed, she felt as if the brilliant star had never shone into her life before.