If she hadn't just watched the live stream, she truly would have believed Julian had been on the phone with Director Silas all this time.

Jade remained quiet for a moment before asking, "Director Silas mainly shoots indie films that contain highly revealing scenes. You don't mind that?"

Julian froze for a fraction of a second before quickly recovering. "How could I be so narrow-minded?"

Perhaps his intense possessiveness was reserved solely for Selina.

True indifference always begins when the desire to possess fades away.

Jade looked down to hide her emotions. "Please turn down the offer for me. I want to take a break for a while."

Julian replied gently, "Alright. I'll look out for other suitable scripts for you next time."

There would be no next time. In ten days, she would be gone forever.

That night, Julian held Jade in his arms as usual, trying to warm her perpetually cold hands and feet.

The image of the luxury billboard she had seen earlier that day flashed through her mind.

As if asking casually, Jade murmured, "Selina has only done minor guest roles in two movies and hasn't even transitioned from being an influencer yet. How did she manage to get so many high-end endorsements?"

Julian's body stiffened slightly. He replied quickly, "Her boyfriend must be pulling strings to build up her career."

The word "boyfriend" felt like a sharp needle piercing Jade's heart.

She tightened her grip on the edge of the blanket, her voice dry and hollow.

"Is it really wise for Ruifeng to sign her? If Selina decides to get married or gets pregnant, would she even be able to afford the breach of contract penalty?"

Before she could even finish her sentence, Julian answered without a shred of hesitation.

"Since her boyfriend loves her so much, he would definitely pay the penalty for her and take her home as his wife."

Perhaps realizing his tone had been far too absolute, Julian paused for a moment before adding softly, "I've met the man before."

So this was Julian's true intention all along.

With just a single word from Selina, he would abandon everything to be with her.

If that was the case, what did their past ten years mean? Just a decade-long illusion?

Jade spoke no more. Silent tears welled up in her eyes and slipped down her cheeks in the darkness, leaving no trace.

Once Julian's breathing grew deep and even, Jade carefully slipped out of his embrace and walked quietly to the study.

The cold moonlight spilled through the window, casting a lonely glow over her slender silhouette.

Staring at the framed photograph of the two of them from their college days resting on the desk, Jade let out a bitter, silent laugh as tears blurred her vision.

Ever since she was a young girl, her path had been perfectly clear—to become the most renowned actress in the country.

She had to be beautiful, flawless in her acting, keep a perfect figure, avoid scandals, and stay away from romantic relationships.

She had strictly policed herself for eighteen years, fully believing she would dedicate her entire life to the screen and to art.

Yet, she had broken every single one of her rules for Julian.

On the day they officially got together, Julian had promised her: "Jade, I will never make you regret this. I will make you the happiest woman in the world."

As it turned out, the expiration date of that promise was exactly ten years.

Averting her eyes, Jade pulled out the divorce papers she had prepared beforehand. Stroke by stroke, she signed her name firmly at the bottom.

Julian, if you realized that you would never be able to find me again in ten days, would you feel even a single shred of regret?

Chapter 3

Early the next morning, Jade Yu visited the most private hospital in the Metropolis.

Julian called her, his voice lacing with a hint of suspicion. "The driver said you went to the hospital. Are you feeling unwell?"

"It’s nothing... just an irregular cycle. It's an old issue."

As she spoke, Jade closed her eyes and tore the paper in her hand into tiny pieces before tossing them into the trash can.

The scraps fluttered down, but the red letters on one piece remained glaringly sharp.

[PREGNANCY CONFIRMED]

After hanging up, Jade’s hand instinctively brushed against her lower abdomen. Memories came rushing back like a tidal wave.

During their younger years, when they were struggling to make it, Julian had acted as her agent. He once drank until his stomach bled at a dinner with investors just to secure her a minor role with only ten minutes of screen time.

Jade herself had spent three days filming in ice-cold water in the snow. Her entire body had ached with the freezing cold, yet she refused to give up the opportunity Julian had fought so hard to get for her.

That night, in their cramped and tiny rented apartment, Julian had shaken her awake, his face filled with panic.

"Jade, you're bleeding."

She had never seen that expression on Julian’s face before—not when investors were being difficult, nor when his family was berating him.

She once believed that as long as they loved each other, they were invincible.

But when the doctor told them the fetus was already starting to form and had been lost due to their negligence, their tears fell instantly.

Julian had held her, his voice choking with sobs. "I’m sorry, Jade. It’s all my fault."

"I promise, there won't be a next time."

When she became pregnant for the second time and shared the joyous news with Julian, all she received in return were two emotionless words.

"Get rid of it."

Perhaps realizing his tone was too cold, Julian added an explanation: "Jade, you're at the peak of your career right now. Let's wait for the next one."

But in the end, she never got a "next time."

"Miss Yu, are you sure you want to go through with the procedure?"

The doctor’s voice snapped Jade back from her memories.

He frowned as he looked at the test results. "The fetus is developing very healthily. However, your body is too weak. If you terminate this pregnancy, you may never be able to conceive again in this lifetime."

Jade’s heart skipped a beat.

In her previous life, Julian had brought her here and told her the fetus was unhealthy, claiming the doctor recommended a termination.

From that day until the moment she died, she had never been able to conceive again.

Living without a child had become her life's greatest regret.

She lowered her eyes and gently touched her still-flat stomach.

It looked the same as always, yet she could clearly feel a life beginning to take root and grow within her.

Heaven had given her a second chance at life, and it had given her this child back.

This time, she wouldn't let go. She wanted her child to see the world.

Unnoticed, the snow outside had stopped. Sunlight pierced through the clouds and the glass, falling over Jade, but it couldn't brighten the hollow loneliness in her eyes.

"Thank you, Doctor. I won't be having the surgery."

There were probably many single mothers in America. She wouldn't be alone.

The next day at the agency, her agent, Clara, hurried toward her with a contract, her face beaming with excitement.

"Jade! Mr. Grant secured the Ofilia endorsement for us!"

Ofilia was a high-end luxury sports brand. Shooting their commercials inevitably involved high-intensity physical activity.

Jade’s expression froze. She walked straight toward the top floor to Julian’s executive office.

Before she could enter, she stopped dead at the door.

Selina Song was just walking out of the office. She gave a soft, sugary greeting. "Hi, Sister Jade."

On the skin just above her collar, there were several unmistakable red marks.

"Jade? What are you doing here?"

Julian’s expression looked unnatural. He hurriedly buttoned his collar, his voice carrying a hint of hidden annoyance.

Jade’s breath hitched. She pushed past Selina and walked straight into the office.

"Turn down the Ofilia endorsement for me. I don't want to take on any assignments for the time being."

Julian’s brow furrowed.

Jade was a well-known workaholic in the industry. Even when she mentioned "resting," it usually meant stopping film shoots while continuing with other commercial gigs.

Thinking of this, Julian stared intently at her. "Jade, is it really just an irregular cycle?"

"Are you hiding something else from me?"

Jade froze for a second. She opened her mouth to speak but forced her voice to remain steady. "It really is just my cycle."

Julian finally relaxed his brows. He took her hand and said softly, "Stop taking the birth control pills from now on. Take care of your body."

"If you really do get pregnant, we'll have the baby. I'll take good care of both of you."

Jade nodded in silence.

In her previous life, Julian had said the exact same thing.