Chapter 4: From This Moment On, I No Longer Love You
Sonya tried to shake off Julian’s grip, but he held her tightly from behind. She bit him, and he pinched her chin, then shoved her into the car and ordered the driver to go.
The driver, recognizing Sonya, glanced at her through the rearview mirror, sensing the tension. “Mr. Butler, Julian’s crazy! Please let me out!” Sonya pleaded.
“Miss Ella…”
“Who’s your boss, huh? Who pays your salary?” Sonya snapped.
The driver assumed it was a lovers’ quarrel and, fearing involvement, quickly drove off.
Sonya, unable to escape, slowly calmed down.
“Julian, I’m not going to argue or fight with you. We’ve broken up. There’s no need for this!” she said, trying to keep her composure.
Julian’s face twisted with fury. “Broken up? Hah, I don’t agree!”
“You’re about to marry Seraphina. Can’t you just leave me alone?”
“No!”
Julian pulled her close, whispering fiercely in her ear, “Didn’t you want to have my child? I’ll grant your wish. Tonight.”
“Julian! You bastard!” Sonya slapped him. A sharp crack echoed in the car.
Julian stared at her, stunned. “You… you hit me?”
Sonya’s eyes welled, but she bit her lip, refusing to cry.
This was the man she’d loved for eight years, and now he felt like a stranger. He didn’t even have the most basic respect for her.
“Julian, what am I to you? A free housekeeper? Or a cheap prostitute?”
Julian’s anger flared. “Turns out you know your place. Housekeeper or prostitute, it was your choice. Don’t blame anyone but yourself for being so pathetic.”
Sonya stared at him for a long moment, then let out a self-deprecating laugh. “You’re right. I am pathetic. I deserve it.”
“You want to marry me? Keep dreaming.”
“I don’t now.”
“I know you’re jealous of Seraphina. Do you think you can hold a candle to her?”
Sonya remained calm while Julian grew frantic. “I’ve slept with you for free for eight years. Do you think any other man will want you?”
“So, I’m trash in your eyes?”
Julian gritted his teeth. “Yes, you’re trash!”
Sonya nodded, her eyes clear for the first time. She finally saw Julian for who he was. Eight years wasn’t a short time, but she had many more years ahead of her.
With that thought, Sonya laughed.
“What are you laughing about?” Julian asked, seething.
Sonya looked at him, a smile playing on her lips. “Julian, from this moment on, I no longer love you.”
Julian fell silent. Sonya had threatened to break up with him many times, but she’d never before said she didn’t love him.
“Mr. Butler, please pull over,” Sonya said, addressing the driver.
The driver hesitated. “Miss Ella, we’re on the highway…”
Sonya wouldn’t risk her safety. “Let’s wait until we get off the highway,” she said.
At that moment, Julian’s phone rang. His face softened at the sight of Seraphina’s name. She was at the film set, surrounded by reporters, and needed him to pick her up. “Okay, I’m coming!” Julian hung up and ordered the driver to head north at the next fork in the road.
Sonya frowned. Her house was south.
“Mr. Butler, please exit the highway and let me out,” she insisted.
“Pull over and let her out,” Julian snapped.
The driver hesitated. “But this is the highway…”
“I said pull over!” Julian shouted.
Reluctantly, the driver stopped in the emergency lane. Julian shoved Sonya out of the car. As she stood there, she realized her bag was still inside. She looked back, but the car was already speeding away.
It was rush hour. Cars rushed by on the highway, and Sonya walked along the edge toward the next exit, the blaring horns making her uneasy. A few drivers rolled down their windows to yell at her.
It took her over an hour to get off the highway. Without her phone or money, she had no choice but to walk home. The night air was cold, and she wrapped her coat tighter around herself.
Fewer cars passed now, but as she rounded a corner, a drunk man tried to grab her. She ran, gritting her teeth, and tripped, scraping her knee. Terrified, she limped on until she lost him. Her house was in the suburbs, and by the time she arrived, dawn was breaking.
She paused, then knocked.
Seraphina answered the door, wearing a low-cut camisole, her hair undone.
“You just got back?” Sonya frowned. “What are you doing here?”
Seraphina blinked. “Julian brought me here.”
Sonya bypassed her and entered, seeing Julian walking out of the kitchen, carrying a steaming bowl of tomato and egg noodles.
He could cook? She didn’t even know that.
Sonya remembered a time when she had a fever, drenched in sweat, and Julian had come home late, complaining about being hungry. He asked her to cook for him. “If you don’t like takeout, learn to cook,” she’d said. “You won’t want to starve when I’m not around.”
He hugged her, acting like a spoiled child. “I won’t learn. You’ll cook for me forever.”
Sonya sighed, recalling that moment.
Seraphina was his princess. She was just his housekeeper.
Julian glanced coldly at Sonya before leading Seraphina to the living room. He placed the noodles on the table and then fetched a pillow for Seraphina.
“I don’t feel like eating,” Seraphina pouted.
“You have to eat. Breakfast is important,” Julian urged, feeding her a spoonful of noodles.
Seraphina shook her head. “It’s too salty.”
“Really?” Julian tasted it. “Yeah. I’ll make another one.”
Without a word, he went back to the kitchen.
Sonya was exhausted and just wanted to sleep. Dragging herself to the bedroom, she found her bed unmade, her pillow on the floor, and Seraphina’s clothes hanging in her closet. Her own clothes were tossed on the chair.
Pressing her anger down, Sonya went downstairs. “Who slept in my bedroom last night?”
Julian glanced at her. “Seraphina’s going to stay here.”
“This is my home. Did I agree to this?”
Julian frowned. “It’s my house. My say is final.”
Sonya stiffened. That was true. The house was Julian’s. After college, she had rented an apartment, but Julian had insisted she move in with him because her place was too small. Though she didn’t pay rent, she covered the household expenses.
She didn’t owe him anything.
“Julian and I plan to renovate this house. We can leave a room for you,” Seraphina said with a smile.
Sonya grabbed her suitcase from the closet, packed her things, and went downstairs to leave.
“Sonya, I have no patience for you. If you leave with your stuff now, we’re really over. No turning back,” Julian gritted his teeth.
Sonya reached the foyer. Turning back, she looked directly at Julian and placed her house keys on the shoe rack.
“I’m glad we could end this without drama.”
