Chapter 2: Doubt

At the breakfast table, Julian looked at the bread and milk in front of him, feeling that something was missing. "Is this all there is?" Megan, hearing Julian’s question, was momentarily stunned but quickly nodded. "Yes, sir. Miss Chloe usually prepares your breakfast every morning, but since she isn’t here today, I made it according to your previous instructions. Are you not satisfied?" Julian couldn’t exactly say he was dissatisfied with the food itself—it was what he had always asked for—but something still didn’t feel right. The difference was stark, not only in the variety but in the taste as well. Even something as simple as toasted bread tasted off. After two bites, Julian threw the bread down and stormed upstairs. Megan watched his retreating figure, confused. Why was he suddenly so upset? --- “Oh my God, get up already, I’m going to be late for work!” Chloe swatted away the hands shaking her awake, her eyes refusing to open. “Just five more minutes…” “This isn’t like you. Usually, by this time, you’ve already set ten alarms and are rushing back to make Julian’s breakfast. You broke up yesterday, but shouldn’t you have made up by now?” Mia said while doing her makeup in front of the mirror. In the past, whenever Chloe and Julian fought, Chloe would stay at Mia’s place, only to rush back to Julian’s before dawn. Mia always found it frustrating since, more often than not, Julian was the one at fault in these breakups. Yet, the person in the wrong never apologized. Instead, it was always Chloe who had to lower her pride and make amends. What kind of logic was that? But her best friend was so consumed by this relationship that Mia never felt it was her place to say anything, even though she thought the whole situation was absurd. Chloe buried her head under the blanket, her voice muffled. "This time, it’s really over." “Really? I don’t believe you.” Chloe had said the same thing every time, so Mia wasn’t convinced at all. "…" “Whatever, I’m off to work. Sleep in if you want, but remember to lock up when you leave. I’ve got a date tonight, so if you’re still here, do me a favor and tidy up a bit,” Mia hurriedly instructed before rushing out the door. Chloe finally woke up again, her stomach growling with hunger. After washing up, she sat at the dining table and ate the breakfast Mia had left for her, feeling a pang of nostalgia. In all the years she had been with Julian, she had never slept in like this. Seeing the sun shining outside when she woke up felt unfamiliar. After breakfast, the first thing Chloe did was head to Mia’s wardrobe, grab an outfit, and make her way to the bank. She needed to cash the 80 million yuan check to feel secure. However, she didn’t intend to deposit it all in one bank. She spent the entire morning running to several different banks, negotiating interest rates, and depositing her funds. By the time she left the last bank, she had deposited 50 million yuan in savings and kept 30 million as liquid funds. Now, she was practically a millionaire, not to mention owning two properties. Each of the three banks also gave her a black card. Looking at the cards in her hand, Chloe felt even more satisfied. It seemed that breaking up had its benefits. With her newfound wealth, Chloe’s first order of business was to reinvent herself. The old Chloe had no sense of self. Everyone saw her as an extension of Julian. But now, she didn’t want to be anyone’s accessory anymore. Julian loved glamorous women with golden curls, always dressed in elegant outfits and high heels—like a delicate doll. To keep Julian’s interest, Chloe had spent endless time and effort on her appearance. But that was no longer necessary. She walked into a hair salon, where the stylist was stunned by the sight of such a doll-like woman. "Miss, how can I help you today?" "Cut it to collarbone length, straighten it, and dye it brown," Chloe instructed. Her natural hair was a darker brown, slightly wavy, and fell to her collarbone, making it easy to manage. Even though the stylist thought a woman this beautiful should be styled in a more elaborate way, he couldn’t argue with her request. After leaving the salon, Chloe went straight to the nearby mall and quickly bought herself a comfortable casual outfit. She swapped her high heels for flats, exchanged her delicate dress for a simple shirt and jeans. This new look made her feel incredibly light. As she wandered down the street, she found herself standing in front of a hospital without realizing it. A few students, vibrant and youthful, were standing by the entrance. Chloe felt a pang of nostalgia. Her old life seemed so far away now. "Senior, Professor Lauren doesn’t like being disturbed. If we all go at once, we probably won’t get to see her, right?" "True. Let’s just choose two representatives. Have the students from the bioinformatics department arrived yet?" "Yes, they’re here, senior." Chloe had been lost in her thoughts, but when she heard the familiar name of her professor and her field of study, her focus sharpened. She quickly approached the students. "Did you just say Professor Lauren? The bioinformatics professor from H University?" Chloe’s sudden appearance startled the students, and her intense gaze made them too nervous to say anything but nod. Chloe looked up at the hospital, her expression growing more complex. The male student in charge was about to say something, but Chloe turned and hurried away. She practically fled back to Mia’s apartment, where she collapsed on the couch, hugging herself tightly, her emotions a tangled mess of regret and sadness. She wanted to see Professor Lauren so badly, but she didn’t have the courage. Years ago, when she chose Julian over her career, she had severed ties with her professor, saying harsh and final words. Those words must have hurt the professor deeply. Professor Lauren had so much faith in her, believing she could achieve great things in her field. But now, Chloe had become the kind of woman who lived only for a man—the very thing she had once sworn she would never be. “Hey, why are you still here? Didn’t Julian come for you?” Mia asked, surprised when she returned home and found Chloe still sitting on the couch. It seemed this standoff would last longer than she had anticipated. Chloe snapped out of her thoughts. “I already told you, we broke up. I ordered takeout, it’s on the table. I’m going to rest now.” She had intended to cook dinner, but her thoughts had been consumed by Professor Lauren, leaving her no energy for it. Chloe went to her room while Mia looked at the takeout, clicking her tongue in mild disbelief. Meanwhile, as soon as Chloe cashed the check, Julian received a call from the bank. “Mr. Julian, Miss Chloe came in today to cash the check…” Julian didn’t bother listening to the rest. He couldn’t believe Chloe would go to such lengths to force him to apologize. Didn’t she realize how childish this was? He didn’t care about the money. Hanging up, he called Adam. “Meet me at the usual place tonight.”