I Was Just His Secret Game

Chapter 3 The Price of Ten Years

Serena shivered and looked up sharply.

Julian had appeared silently, frowning as he took in the scene before him.

"Julian?" Chloe instantly switched to a feigned look of innocence. "Why are you here? We're just standing up for Evelyn."

Julian ignored her. He walked straight to Serena and draped his jacket over her shoulders.

Then he turned to the onlookers, his voice calm but carrying an unyielding authority.

"Everyone, disperse."

The crowd exchanged glances and gradually moved away.

Chloe opened her mouth to protest, but Julian's gaze stopped her.

"Go home. Don't let Evelyn know about this."

Once they had left reluctantly, Julian bent down to Serena.

"Can you stand?"

Serena stayed still, looking up at him, tear-streaked and trembling.

"Julian, you just watched them humiliate me?"

Julian was silent for a few seconds, then pulled a black card from his pocket and held it out.

"This card has no limit. Consider it compensation."

Serena stared at it, then laughed sharply, the sound bitter and mixed with tears.

"Compensation?" she asked, word by word. "Julian, is this what I wanted?"

"What do you want then?" Julian's brow furrowed deeper. "Serena, stop. Evelyn isn't well. I don't want her to be upset over this."

"So, I deserve to have my clothes torn off in public? To be called a mistress, pointed at by everyone?" Serena stood, staggering slightly, shoving away his hand, and threw his jacket to the floor. "Julian, I want you to publicly clear my name. Tell everyone I am not a mistress! Our relationship started first. You hid me for ten years."

Julian's eyes conflicted. After a long pause, he spoke slowly, "Impossible."

"Serena, calm down. Take the card and live quietly. Clear your name?" He tugged at the corner of his mouth, a flicker of complexity in his eyes. "Do you really think that's possible?"

Serena paled instantly. She wiped her tears, picked up her torn jacket, wrapped it around herself, and turned toward the door.

"Where are you going?" Julian asked behind her.

Serena didn't look back. "Julian, we're finished. This time, it's real."

She didn't return to her apartment. The next day, she went to Julian's company, one of Havenport's landmark buildings.

Ten years ago, when she first came here, her palms had sweated with nerves, feeling unworthy of such a dazzling place.

Now, it felt like mockery.

The receptionist recognized her but didn't stop her, only whispering, "Miss Quinn, Mr. Shaw is in a meeting…"

Serena ignored her and went straight to the top-floor executive office.

She pushed the door open. Julian stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, on the phone.

He turned at the sound of her entrance. His frown melted, and a brief flicker of joy appeared in his eyes.

"You came?" He hung up and stepped forward, reaching to embrace her. "Feeling better?"

Serena's voice was hoarse. "Julian, clear my name and return my ID."

Julian studied her.

Today, she looked as usual: hair in a ponytail, no makeup. But her eyes were different. The love and softness were gone, replaced by a cold, resolute calm.

"Serena," Julian rubbed his brow, exhausted. "Do you have to make such a scene?"

"Do you think I'm making a scene?" Serena smiled bitterly. "Julian, ten years. Ten years. Even a dog would develop feelings after ten years, right? hat about you? What was I to you? A tool for your desire? A toy to be used and discarded?"

She stepped closer, staring into his eyes. Do you remember when we first got together? You drove two hours just because I said I wanted a local snack. hen I had a fever and was hospitalized, you skipped an important meeting to stay with me all night. hen I said I wanted to see the aurora, you called it childish but secretly booked flights and a hotel to surprise me. Julian, were any of those real?"

Julian avoided her gaze.

Outside, the lights of Havenport flickered like stars, traffic weaving below. The sixty-eighth-floor office could see the entire city.

He had once held her here, promising that everyone would know she was his woman.

Now it felt like the cruelest joke.

"That's all in the past," he said hoarsely. "Serena, people have to move forward."

"Move forward?" Serena nodded. "Then tell me, how am I supposed to move forward?"

"The video of me being humiliated is still online. Everyone calls me a homewrecker. I have to wear a mask and hat just to leave my house." She took a deep breath, steadying her voice. "Julian, is it really that hard to say one thing to clear my name?"

Silence filled the office. After a long pause, Julian went to his desk and pulled out a document.

"This is the transfer for the Langford Residences penthouse. It's done. Also, I opened an account for you at Helvetia Bank with thirty million. Enough to live comfortably for the rest of your life."

He looked at her, a brief softness in his eyes. "Stop fussing. Forget about status and titles. Go home and wait for me. Evelyn isn't well. Even after I marry her, I won't neglect you."

Serena didn't respond. She looked at the documents and felt everything had become absurd. Ten years of youth, ten years of love, and in Julian's eyes, she was just someone to be paid off.

She turned her gaze to the city skyline and whispered, "Julian, I was eighteen when I met you. I'm twenty-eight now. I gave you my best ten years. All I ask is one thing—just clear my name. Is that so hard?"

Julian opened his mouth, but the office door swung open before he could speak.