365 DAYS OF CONTRACTUAL REVENGE

Chapter 8

After cleaning up the chaos and putting on his running gear, Julian Manchineel left his apartment. He walked toward the park Eidelweiss Quinzel had mentioned. The fresh, quiet morning air was a stark contrast to the tension he had felt all night.

Julian spotted Eidelweiss. She was standing in the grassy area, wearing the all-black athletic clothes he had bought her, looking graceful and focused as she stretched. Her back was straight and her movements precise, as if she were preparing for an important presentation, not just a morning run.

Julian had just opened his mouth to greet her when a loud voice called his name from behind.

"Julian! Oh my God, Julian!"

The voice was too loud and cheerful for the quiet morning. Eidelweiss turned around, her eyebrow raised, intrigued by the sudden interruption.

A woman rushed over. She had bright blonde hair and wore gaudy neon sportswear. As soon as she reached Julian, the woman lunged and hugged him tightly, as if they were long-lost lovers.

"I missed you, Julian! It's been too long!" the woman exclaimed coyly.

Julian was stunned. He returned the hug awkwardly, trying to recognize her face. Her features had completely changed, and her body looked drastically slimmer.

"Sharon?" Julian asked, his voice filled with confusion.

The woman laughed, pleased to finally be recognized. "Yes, it's me! What do you think? Plastic surgery and liposuction! I surprised you, didn't I, Julian? You couldn't recognize me!"

As Sharon released the hug, Eidelweiss had already stepped closer, observing the strange scene with her sharp hazel eyes.

Julian realized this was the moment to start their charade. He swiftly placed his hand on Eidelweiss's waist.

"Sharon, wait a minute. Meet Eidelweiss. My girlfriend," Julian introduced, his voice sounding formal and official, trying to mask his shock.

Sharon's eyes widened completely. She looked at Eidelweiss and Julian alternately.

"What? A new girlfriend?" Sharon asked, genuinely surprised. "But... I thought you were still with Arin? You two were practically getting married, Julian!"

"We... we broke up a long time ago," Julian replied, brief and cold.

Sharon turned to stare at Eidelweiss, a disturbing curiosity in her eyes. "Wow! When did you two start dating? I mean, when did you leave Arin for this... Ms. Eidelweiss?"

That simple question instantly derailed their plan.

Julian and Eidelweiss exchanged glances. They had never discussed the start date of their fake relationship.

"We..." Julian started.

"Recently," Eidelweiss cut in, her tone too quick and unconvincing.

"Yes. Recently," Julian repeated, trying to concur, but the pause between their responses felt long and stiff.

Sharon frowned. She sensed the clear incongruity. She let out an awkward, forced laugh to break the suddenly frozen atmosphere.

"Wow! You two! Such a funny couple! You've only just started dating, but you already look so attached. Congratulations, Julian!" Sharon chirped, though her tone revealed massive confusion.

Eidelweiss and Julian, instead of responding, could only offer strained smiles. Their act had been tested, and the result was decidedly unconvincing.

Just as Sharon finished her awkward laugh, a man approached them. He was tall, handsome, and muscular, wearing expensive-looking sportswear. The man radiated an undisguised aura of affluence.

"Honey, this is my friend, Julian, and his girlfriend, Eidelweiss," Sharon said in a childishly cheerful voice. "Meet Billy, my fiancé. We're getting married in two months."

Billy politely shook hands with Julian and Eidelweiss. While Billy engaged Julian in small talk about cars, Sharon leaned close to Eidelweiss, whispering proudly.

"You know, Eidelweiss? Billy absolutely spoils me. He paid for all my plastic surgery and liposuction in Seoul. He said I deserve the best."

Eidelweiss returned the whisper with a small, forced smile. It was a familiar pattern: women chasing luxury, and men capitalizing on their obsession. A pattern that was not at all new to Eidelweiss, and apparently, not new to Julian either.

Julian leaned in and whispered softly into Eidelweiss's ear, just loud enough for Billy not to hear. "I'll show you photos of Sharon before the surgery later. You'll be surprised."

Eidelweiss only gave a slight nod, a silent confirmation that they were both on the same page regarding their judgment of other people's motives.

"Congratulations, Sharon, Billy," Eidelweiss managed, trying to sound sincere.

Billy smiled broadly. "Thanks. We hope you two follow suit soon. Don't date for too long, you look great together!"

Both Eidelweiss and Julian's faces tightened. They awkwardly agreed, trying not to look at each other, fearing their gazes would expose the actual duration of their "relationship"—which was mere hours.

Finally, Sharon and Billy bid farewell, continuing their morning run. Before fully stepping away, Sharon approached Eidelweiss and offered a brightly colored business card.

"Oh, Eidelweiss, Julian. Here's my card," Sharon said. "I'm now a manager at Daily Vet, a fairly popular news website about animals and their treatment."

Sharon turned to Julian. "If you need promotion, Julian, call me! I can put your clinic, Manchineel, in the spotlight. Consider it our parting gift."

After Sharon and Billy had completely disappeared from view, Eidelweiss let out a breath of relief. She felt the tension finally ease.

"We almost gave ourselves away," Eidelweiss whispered, her voice tinged with frustration. "A trivial question and we were already out of sync. We need to construct a more detailed backstory."

Eidelweiss looked down at the business card in her hand. An unexpected opportunity: access to media that could promote Julian's clinic, which meant promoting their new couple status. Their charade had found its first stage.

"I think I have a new idea, Julian," Eidelweiss stated, her voice filled with cold excitement. Her CEO energy was reigniting.

Without waiting for approval, Eidelweiss firmly took Julian’s arm, pulling him away from the park area. Julian was surprised by the woman's speed and sudden change of mood.

"Wait, Ms. Quinzel!" Julian protested, being dragged backward. "I haven't even run yet. Didn't we agree to start the day with a morning run?"

Eidelweiss stopped for a moment, turning to Julian with a look that brooked no argument. "Forget the morning run, Julian. This plan is far more important than mere exercise."

She lifted Sharon's business card, her eyes gleaming with calculation. "Sharon's offer to promote your clinic is no coincidence. It's a perfect opportunity. I recall perfectly," Eidelweiss said, pausing to emphasize her point.

"CuraMedica, before Joy completely seized it, had a long-term plan to expand our business into the high-profile veterinary sector and pet pharmaceuticals. We saw it as a highly lucrative and untapped market."

Eidelweiss let the information sink in. Julian, initially grumbling, was now silent, intrigued by Eidelweiss's business analysis.

"If we can use Daily Vet to boost your image—and indirectly, my image as your girlfriend—we're not just building a perfect cover," Eidelweiss continued, her steps now turning back towards Julian's apartment. "We're also starting to infiltrate the very business sector that was once my target. We'll make Joy and Arinra see that I haven't just bounced back; I'm attacking from a direction they never anticipated."

Julian Manchineel, the veterinarian with a dark secret, now stared at Eidelweiss, the woman who was plotting her revenge with the calculation of a master. He realized that this partnership was far more complex than just a romantic farce.

"Alright, Ms. Quinzel," Julian said, quickening his pace to match Eidelweiss's. "Let's go home. I want to hear the details of your business plan, and how you intend to utilize the 'generous' promotion from Arinra's former friend."