- 18 minutes ago
Taste Me Billionaire Romance
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🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00The third year after our breakup, Julian and I reunited at a luxury hotel. I was a receptionist.
00:06He checked into the presidential suite with a female companion.
00:10That night, I received three internal calls from him.
00:13The sheets are dirty. Change them.
00:17I called housekeeping to handle it.
00:19Two hours later, he called again to have the sheets changed. I complied once more.
00:24At two in the morning, he made his third call.
00:26I politely refused before he could even speak.
00:30I'm sorry, sir, but housekeeping has already gotten off work.
00:33The man let out a light scoff and said casually,
00:36Then you come change them.
00:37I ignored him and hung up the phone straight away.
00:40I worked at the front desk. There.
00:42Was no reason for me to do housekeeping's job.
00:45A colleague leaned in and asked me mysteriously,
00:49Was it that guest from the presidential ute again?
00:52Seeing me nod, she covered her mouth and snickered.
00:57Making housekeeping change the sheets three times in one night?
01:00His stamina is really something.
01:03So, when you told him housekeeping was off duty, what did he say?
01:08I told her the truth.
01:10He told me to go up and change them.
01:12My colleague froze for a moment.
01:14Then she let out a sarcastic laugh.
01:17Does staying in the presidential suite make him a big deal?
01:21He really doesn't respect people.
01:23Does he think the hotel is his home?
01:26Treating us receptionists like 24-hour maids?
01:29I kept my eyes fixed on the computer screen.
01:31Some guests just get off on making others jump.
01:34My job description doesn't include changing sheets for anyone.
01:36Before she could finish, the phone in front of the manager, I didn't know what was said on the other
01:46end.
01:46My colleague suddenly widened her eyes and looked at me.
01:49You're saying at Chloe Bennett should go up to the presidential suite to change the sheets right now?
01:53Fifteen minutes later, I stood at the door of the presidential suite.
01:57Bracing myself, I pressed the doorbell.
02:01The one who answered the door was Julian, dressed in a bathrobe.
02:04Loosely tied at the waist.
02:06Seeing it was me, he stepped aside to let me in.
02:09The faint sound of splashing water came from the bathroom.
02:12His girlfriend was still inside.
02:14He led me into the bedroom.
02:15Then he sat down on the sofa to the side, minding his own business with perfect composure.
02:20He placed a cigarette between his lips and lit it.
02:23Before I could reach for the fresh linens, a voice drifted from the bathroom.
02:27Babe, I'm getting hungry.
02:29Can you order something up?
02:31Julian didn't glance toward the bathroom.
02:33He looked straight at me instead.
02:34You heard her.
02:35Go get room service.
02:36I'll wait.
02:37I stood there for a second.
02:38Then I turned and walked back out.
02:40Minutes later, I returned with a silver tray.
02:43Two glasses of sparkling water, a plate of sliced fruit.
02:47Julian's bathrobe had slipped further open while I was.
02:49Gone, his chest was half exposed.
02:52He didn't bother fixing it.
02:53His eyes followed every step I took toward the bedside table.
02:56The woman in the bathroom hummed a tune, completely unaware.
03:00I set the tray down carefully.
03:02My fingers trembled slightly.
03:03Julian watched me with an expression I couldn't read.
03:06Thanks.
03:07His voice was casual, Dat, to casual.
03:10Like ordering room service from any receptionist.
03:14He gestured toward the bed with his chin.
03:16The sheets.
03:17Get to it.
03:18I walked to the bed and silently pulled back the quilt.
03:20The water stain on the bed sheet caught my eye off guard.
03:23It felt as if I had suddenly taken a punch to the chest.
03:26A dull ache twisted in my heart.
03:28I bent forward to strip the dirty linens as I reached across the mattress.
03:32I felt him move behind me.
03:34His presence closed in.
03:35I could feel the warmth of his body near my back.
03:38But I kept my head down and kept working.
03:40He didn't say a word.
03:41He just stood there.
03:43Watching me bend and reach and smooth the fabric.
03:45The silence was louder than anything he could have said.
03:48I quickly spread the clean sheet and gathered the dirty linens.
03:51Once finished.
03:52I turned to leave.
03:54But he suddenly closed in.
03:55He pressed me tightly against the edge of the bed.
03:58Nowhere to run.
03:59He leaned in further.
04:01I stumbled backward onto the bed.
04:03The next second.
04:04He yanked my right hand from the bed edge and pinned it above my head.
04:07I furrowed my brows.
04:09Pushing against his chest with my left hand.
04:11But the disparity in our strength was too great.
04:13I couldn't budge him an inch.
04:15The sound of water in the bathroom still hadn't stopped.
04:18I struggled to stand up.
04:20His other hand traced along my face.
04:22All the way to my lips.
04:24Then pressed hard.
04:25I turned my head away.
04:26But I could clearly.
04:28Feel his breath hitting my neck.
04:30Scorching.
04:31I trembled all over.
04:33Unable to move.
04:33I could only lower my voice.
04:35You and your boy all may misunderstand.
04:38Let me shower.
04:40The man's eyes were cold and sharp.
04:42His breath heavy with the scent of alcohol brushing against my ear.
04:46For all these years.
04:47I couldn't figure it out.
04:54The sound of running water in the bathroom abruptly stopped.
04:57Yet he remained completely unfazed.
04:59In a panic.
05:01I bit down hard on his arm.
05:03He frowned and let out a muffled groan.
05:05His grip loosened slightly.
05:06I took the chance to push him away.
05:08Fleeing in a panic with the linens in my arms.
05:11As the door clicked shut.
05:12A woman's voice drifted out.
05:14Stop it.
05:16If you call someone to change the sheets again.
05:18I'll be too embarrassed to face anyone tomorrow.
05:21I couldn't quite catch his reply.
05:23Walking down the silent corridor.
05:24My violently racing heart finally began to calm down.
05:27I never thought that after three years.
05:30He would hate me this much.
05:32It would have been better if we never crossed paths again for the rest of our lives.
05:35I didn't sleep that night.
05:37The next morning before my shift started.
05:39I walked through the hotel lobby.
05:41A woman's voice stopped me cold.
05:43Well, well.
05:45If it isn't the little receptionist who wandered into our room last night.
05:49I looked up.
05:50Julian's girlfriend stood by the front desk.
05:52Dressed in designer heels.
05:54And a silk blouse.
05:55She flipped her hair and looked me up and down with open disdain.
05:59My earrings went missing after you left.
06:02Three million dollars worth.
06:04She took a step closer.
06:05I don't know what kind of tricks you pulled before.
06:08But let me make something clear.
06:10You're nothing but a cheap hotel worker.
06:13Julian is way out of your league.
06:16Her lip curled.
06:17Don't ever let me catch you near our room again.
06:19She shoved past me.
06:21Shoulder checking me hard enough to make me stumble.
06:23The manager rushed over.
06:24Bowing and apologizing to her.
06:26I straightened up and said nothing.
06:28My hands clenched at my sides.
06:31Back at the front desk.
06:32My co-worker leaned in to gossip.
06:34Do you know who the guest in the presidential suite is today?
06:37It was past midnight.
06:39And I was too exhausted to humor her.
06:41But she only grew more excited.
06:43I just looked him up online.
06:44He's actually the eldest son of the Vance family in Boston.
06:48I said flatly.
06:49It's against the rules to pry into guests' information.
06:53I was just curious, okay?
06:56No wonder he could alarm our manager with a single phone call at two in the morning.
07:01She continued like a machine gun.
07:03I did a quick search.
07:04It's all about the Vance family's $100 billion inheritance war.
07:08This young master fell seriously in at a critical moment.
07:13Almost lost his right to inherit.
07:16He had a girlfriend back then.
07:18His first love, too.
07:20She was such a gold digger.
07:23Cheated on him while he was dying.
07:25People online are still cursing that woman to this day.
07:28My co-worker's noisy voice buzzed in my ears.
07:31Yeah, I know.
07:32She raised her voice slightly.
07:35You know?
07:36Have you read the news, too?
07:37I slowly turned my head and looked calmly at her surprised expression.
07:46Jillian instantly froze.
07:47She couldn't recover for a long while.
07:50Three years ago, when everything began, meeting Jillian was an unusual accident.
07:55I kicked a creep in the crotch and dragged him to the police station.
07:59Jillian followed.
08:00Leaning against the door waiting for me, he added my WhatsApp.
08:04And one thing led to another.
08:06The day he confessed his feelings, I asked him why.
08:09He just smiled.
08:10After a long while, he took my hand.
08:12I was captivated by the way you kicked that guy in the crotch.
08:15We were together for a long time.
08:17He bought an apartment near campus.
08:19And we lived like an ordinary couple.
08:21My parents divorced when I was young.
08:24I grew up depending solely on my grandmother.
08:26One time on a video call,
08:28Jillian heard my grandmother say she'd lost her teeth and it was hard to eat.
08:31The very next day, he took her to get dentures over $200,000.
08:36He didn't even blink.
08:38I felt awkward about the cost.
08:40He saw through my hesitation.
08:42You don't need to worry about the expenses.
08:44I'll cover it.
08:44I told him.
08:45If we ever break up, please don't make my grandma pull her new teeth out.
08:50He burst out laughing at once.
08:54The memory faded.
08:56That afternoon at the hotel,
08:57I found the presidential suite surrounded by commotion.
09:00Julian sat on the sofa in the reception room.
09:03His girlfriend,
09:04half leaning into his embrace.
09:06The manager stood to the side,
09:08wearing an apologetic smile.
09:10Julian's girlfriend spoke with arrogant superiority.
09:13This morning,
09:14I discovered I'd lost a pair of earrings in our room,
09:16worth $3 million.
09:18And the only people who entered last night were me and the cleaning lady.
09:20The cleaning lady was already interrogated.
09:22They found nothing.
09:23Strip,
09:24we're searching you.
09:25She pointed a finger at me.
09:28My gaze swept subconsciously toward Julian.
09:31Last night,
09:32my every move had never left his line of sight.
09:34How could I have possibly stolen those earrings right under his nose?
09:38But he didn't seem to have any intention of defending me.
09:40He just sat there with his legs crossed,
09:43watching it all unfold with cold indifference.
09:45The manager came over and whispered to persuade me,
09:48We can't afford to offend this VIP.
09:50Just play along and cooperate a little.
09:52I clutched my shoulder bag tightly under my arm,
09:55keeping my chin up,
09:56refusing to compromise.
10:03Hearing this,
10:04the woman shot up to her feet.
10:05My boyfriend is very busy.
10:07We don't have time for police procedures,
10:09with fake inspector procedure.
10:11My earrings are worth over $3 million.
10:13A birthday gift.
10:14I felt something off about you last night.
10:17The moment I came out of the bathroom,
10:18I saw you scurrying away.
10:20If you didn't have a guilty conscience,
10:22why run?
10:22She strode over and snatched my bag.
10:25I gripped it desperately,
10:26but her strength was astonishing.
10:28After a brief struggle,
10:29she yanked it away,
10:30with a harsh zip.
10:31The bag was torn open,
10:33everything inside hit the floor.
10:34Take off your jacket.
10:35Let's see what else you're hiding.
10:37My fingers trembled as I unzipped my outer layer.
10:40I slipped it off and held it out to her.
10:42Now the cardigan.
10:43I pulled it over my head,
10:45my thin camisole the only thing left.
10:47Julian sat motionless on the sofa.
10:49Watching.
10:50His jaw tight.
10:52His eyes on me the entire time.
10:54Julian's voice cut through the silence like a blade.
10:57Low, controlled,
10:59but unmistakably sharp.
11:00Stop.
11:02A moon made of crystal hit the ground and shattered.
11:05When Julian's gaze fell upon that crystal moon,
11:08a crack appeared in his calm facade,
11:10his atoms apple bobbed slightly.
11:12He said in a deep voice,
11:14Enough.
11:15Stop making a scene.
11:16Pick out a new set you like tomorrow.
11:18Julian dismissed the manager and his girlfriend.
11:21The reception room fell quiet.
11:23Leaving only the two of us staring at each other.
11:25Shards of crystal had cut my calf during the struggle,
11:28beads of blood seeping through.
11:30A flicker of heartache seemed to flash through his eyes.
11:33I figured it had to be a hallucination.
11:35I crouched down, picking up scattered items one by one.
11:38His voice drifted down from above, cold as ice.
11:41Didn't he buy you anything nice?
11:43He must have gotten at least some of the scraps back then.
11:45And yet he still lets you keep things from your ex-boyfriend?
11:48I stood up, my tone perfectly calm.
11:51We broke up.
11:52There's no need for your sarcastic remarks.
11:55He paused, then suddenly let out a laugh.
11:59Got dumped after he had his fun?
12:01No wonder you've been reduced to working here.
12:04What a pity.
12:05If you'd kept up the act a bit longer,
12:07you wouldn't have ended up with a loser like Alexander Vance.
12:09I didn't want to hear another word and turn to leave,
12:12but he yanked me back and pinned me against the wall.
12:15He gripped my chin,
12:17tilting my face up to force me to meet his gaze.
12:19A dark, turbulent sea rolled in his eyes.
12:22He lowered his eyes.
12:23His gaze landed on the thin, bloody scratch on my calf.
12:27After a long moment,
12:28he turned his head away,
12:29but his words were meant for me.
12:31I'll take you back.
12:33There's medicine in the car.
12:35It was clearly just a minor scratch shot yet,
12:38as if possessed,
12:39I still got into his car.
12:41I couldn't explain why.
12:43Perhaps in that brief moment,
12:45I craved the slight softening of his tone,
12:47sitting in the passenger seat.
12:49I spoke up to emphasize,
12:50I didn't take your girlfriend's earrings.
12:52He didn't reply,
12:53as if losing three million dollars
12:55was of no consequence to him.
12:56He just opened his briefcase and rummaged inside.
13:00Then he found a box of band-aids and tossed it to me.
13:02Deal with it yourself.
13:04As he closed the briefcase,
13:05something fell out.
13:06It was an amulet,
13:07the one I had given him back
13:08when he was gravely ill.
13:10That year at the Lord's Sanctuary,
13:11I climbed the steps one by one,
13:13praying for him.
13:14I thought he would have thrown it away long ago.
13:16I never imagined it would still be kept
13:18so carefully in his car.
13:20He leaned over,
13:21picked it up,
13:22and tossed it back into the briefcase.
13:24His voice carried a trace of mockery.
13:26This thing actually saved my life once.
13:29But who would have thought?
13:31The one who prayed for this amulet for me was you.
13:34And the one who ultimately traded me was also you.
13:36He reached over and gripped my chin,
13:38forcing me to turn and face him.
13:40His thumb pressed against my lower lip.
13:42For a fraction of a second,
13:43his gaze dropped to my mouth,
13:45then his jaw tightened.
13:46He released me as if my skin had burned him.
13:48His hand flicked away sharply.
13:50He turned back to the steering wheel
13:51and gripped it hard.
13:53The car approached my place.
13:55From a distance,
13:56I spotted Alexander standing by my door.
13:59I glanced sideways at Julian.
14:00He had clearly seen him too.
14:02His hands on the steering wheel tightened.
14:04He slammed on the brakes
14:05right in front of Alexander.
14:07My body pitched forward from the sudden momentum.
14:09Alexander stood there,
14:10watching us.
14:12He frowned imperceptibly.
14:13Julian's icy voice rang out inside the car.
14:16Are you always this entangled with your ex-boyfriends?
14:18I didn't answer him.
14:19I simply unbuckled my seatbelt.
14:21Thank you for bringing me back.
14:23Julian kept the doors locked,
14:24refusing to let me out.
14:25The mocking smile on his lips deepened.
14:27Right, I almost forgot to ask.
14:30Did Alexander not even give you a breakup fee?
14:32Or did he think you didn't serve him well enough
14:34to be worth the price?
14:35Anger surged within me.
14:37I instinctively raised my hand and slapped him.
14:40Alexander's face changed.
14:41He hurried over to the passenger side,
14:43knocking anxiously on the window.
14:45Julian poked his inner cheek with his tongue,
14:47staring at me with dark eyes.
14:48Get out.
14:49I got out of the car.
14:51Alexander immediately pulled me over,
14:53shielding me behind him.
14:55The window rolled down.
14:56That amulet was thrown out forcefully.
14:58It landed right at my feet.
15:00The black sports car roared away like a gust of wind.
15:03I squatted on the ground and picked up the amulet.
15:06My fingers brushed away the dust.
15:07Teardrops fell onto it,
15:09blooming into water stains.
15:10Alexander squatted beside me,
15:12smiling bitterly.
15:13Just tell him the truth.
15:16I don't mind if he comes looking for trouble.
15:18You don't need to protect me.
15:20It's what I deserve.
15:21My voice choked with sobs.
15:22Forget it.
15:24He and I are in the past.
15:27After work the next day,
15:28the manager notified me of a staff dinner
15:30and sent an address.
15:31A high-end club.
15:32I was suspicious.
15:34But I went.
15:34I was led into a private room by a waiter.
15:37Unexpectedly,
15:38the room was full of Julian's friends.
15:40Julian sat at the head of the table.
15:42His gaze swept over me carelessly.
15:44A familiar-looking man spoke up.
15:46Chloe, right?
15:48Your manager said we lost an item worth three million
15:50belonged to Mr. Vance.
15:53Today you were called here as a representative
15:55to apologize to him.
15:56I recognized him.
15:58The man speaking was the boss of our hotel,
16:00being put on the spot like that.
16:02I couldn't just throw a fit and leave.
16:04They arranged for me to sit in the empty seat
16:06next to Julian.
16:07I could only bite the bullet.
16:08I picked up the glass of wine in front of me
16:10and drank it as a self-punishment.
16:12A buddy of Julian stood up and said loudly to me,
16:14A 10-7 German's piece of mine's jewelry
16:16can't be one of Bae's with just been title.
16:19About this.
16:21100,000 per glace.
16:22His tone was full of vindictiveness.
16:24The net of heaven is vast,
16:26and I am the sinner caught in it.
16:28Julian glanced at me impassively
16:29and twitched his lips.
16:32$300,000 a glass.
16:36Switch to vodka.
16:40Glass after glass of liquor
16:41was poured into my stomach.
16:43Spicy and scalding,
16:45as if it were going to burn a hole
16:46right through my chest.
16:47Julian sat at the head of the table,
16:49watching me drink.
16:51His expression, unreadable,
16:52his friend leaned over
16:53and whispered something in his ear.
16:55Julian's eyes flickered toward me
16:57for a split second.
16:58He lifted his chin
16:59almost imperceptibly toward the
17:01waiter standing by the wall.
17:03The waiter nodded and slipped away.
17:04When the next glass was set in front of me,
17:06I picked it up and downed it.
17:07The bottle on that tray had been switched.
17:09Clear liquid.
17:10Yes,
17:11but no longer vodka.
17:12Julian had signaled for water,
17:14and the waiter had complied.
17:15But my eyes still grew blurry from the alcohol.
17:17I slumped over the table.
17:19I vaguely heard his buddy ask him,
17:21Just hit it again if you're that wung up on her.
17:23I'll have someone send her to a room upstairs.
17:25Julian smiled disdainfully.
17:28Alexander got tired of playing with her.
17:29You think I still care?
17:30Fine.
17:31Beat her up if you want.
17:33I already gave you the room card anyway.
17:36I didn't know how long I slept in my dreams.
17:38I went back to the time when we were deeply in love.
17:41Back then,
17:42his heart ached for my cramps.
17:44He took me to a specialist.
17:46The prescription tasted awful.
17:48Every time I choked it down with a grimace,
17:50he'd slip a chocolate into my mouth.
17:52I'd scowl and say I was never taking it again.
17:55He'd pull me into his arms and cut my face.
17:57Then his mouth would come down on mine,
17:59sudden and deep,
18:01the half-melted chocolate,
18:02dissolving between our lips.
18:04His voice was deep and bewitching.
18:06Is it still bitter like this?
18:08I blushed and answered his question with one of my own.
18:10Is this how you coax your girlfriends into taking their medicine?
18:13He smiled.
18:14What other girlfriends?
18:16I've only ever coaxed you like this.
18:19Suddenly,
18:19the bed dipped,
18:20the man in the dream was no longer rubbing against me gently.
18:23His kisses grew increasingly fierce and rough as,
18:26if he wanted to tear me apart and swallow me whole,
18:29everything became more and more real,
18:31so real that I could hardly catch my breath.
18:33I instinctively pressed against his chest.
18:36Subconsciously,
18:36I said,
18:37Julian,
18:38be gentle.
18:39His grip on my waist tightened.
18:41His mouth crushed.
18:42Against mine,
18:44what started as a kiss turned desperate three years of everything he'd held back,
18:47pouring out at once.
18:49I couldn't breathe.
18:50I couldn't think.
18:51The next second,
18:52I struggled to open my eyes.
18:54Our eyes met.
18:55We were both speechless for a long time.
19:26Perhaps it was the alcohol.
19:27Avoiding his gaze.
19:29I have nothing more to say.
19:30He laughed,
19:31a faint hint of tears seeping into his eyes.
19:35You like him that much?
19:37One call from him and you can't wait to go back?
19:41Chloe,
19:42I must be out of my fucking mind to think you had your reasons.
19:46I was kicked out of the room by Julian.
19:47I walked down the corridor,
19:49unsteady.
19:49Sunlight crept through the hallway windows.
19:51I looked down.
19:53I was wearing his shirt,
19:54the white dress shirt from last night.
19:55Hanging past my thighs,
19:57the collar smelled like him.
19:58The door opened behind me.
20:00Julian stood there holding two cups of coffee.
20:02He saw what I was wearing for a moment.
20:04Neither of us spoke like we'd done this a thousand times before.
20:07Then his expression hardened.
20:08He set one cup on the table by the door.
20:11Get out.
20:12I'm done waiting.
20:13That night,
20:14I lay awake in my staff quarters.
20:16Footsteps paced in the corridor,
20:18stopped right in front of my door,
20:20then silence.
20:20My phone lit up.
20:21One missed call from a number I'd memorized years ago.
20:24It had rung twice before hanging up.
20:26I heard a hand touch the doorknob,
20:27then nothing,
20:28just retreating footsteps fading down the hall.
20:32I walked out of the club into the early morning air.
20:35The air was slightly cool,
20:36yet Julian's girlfriend wore thin.
20:38Sexy clothes.
20:39She held a phone in her hand and passed by me without even looking at me properly.
20:43As we brushed past each other,
20:44she bumped into me as if on purpose.
20:46I let out a muffled groan,
20:48but she ignored it completely.
20:49I heard her on the phone,
20:51whining in a sickly sweet tone.
20:53Not wearing one?
20:54I'm overvading today.
20:55Will you take responsibility if something happens?
20:58Marriage?
20:59Are you serious?
21:00My footsteps froze.
21:01The words hit me like a physical blow.
21:04Right in front of me,
21:05talking about marriage,
21:06about a future with Julian.
21:07At the hotel entrance,
21:09Alexander's car was already parked there.
21:11Seeing me come,
21:12he hurried over and helped me into the car.
21:14What happened?
21:14Did you drink a lot?
21:15I remained silent,
21:16and he didn't ask any more questions.
21:19The car drove through the early hour.
21:21I watched the scenery outside the car window,
21:23rapidly retreating backwards.
21:24I suddenly said to Alexander,
21:26Let's go back.
21:29Let's go back in a couple of days.
21:31For the past three years,
21:33he has always been by my side.
21:35When we were abroad,
21:36he told me he'd liked me for many years,
21:39since a fleeting glance in our first year of high school.
21:41To this day,
21:43his feelings remained unchanged,
21:45but my heart was already stuffed
21:46with every memory of Julian and our past.
21:48I politely rejected him,
21:50so he stayed in the friend zone,
21:52accompanying me until now.
21:53Upon returning home,
21:55I went into the bathroom
21:56and took off my clothes
21:57to take a shower,
21:58turning around.
21:59I saw myself in the mirror.
22:01An ugly scar crawled across my abdomen,
22:04left behind by the kidney donation surgery back then.
22:07That year,
22:08Julian fell gravely ill,
22:09his kidneys were failing
22:10and needed a transplant.
22:12That year,
22:13Julian forbade me from getting tested for a match.
22:15He said he'd rather die
22:17than let me remove a kidney for him.
22:19I begged all of his brothers and sisters.
22:21Only Alexander was willing to get tested,
22:24but he wasn't a match either.
22:25I hid it from Julian
22:27and secretly went to another hospital.
22:29I was the only match,
22:30but I had staged a hypertension.
22:32The doctor warned the risks were extremely high.
22:35I looked at Alexander.
22:37What do you think I should do?
22:38He was quiet for a long moment,
22:40then he said,
22:41voice heavy.
22:41It's your choice,
22:43but whatever you decide,
22:46I'll be there.
22:47I couldn't care about all that anymore.
22:49The surgery was performed at another hospital,
22:52kept secret from Julian.
22:53I had Alexander help me put on that act.
22:56Besides him,
22:56no one knew,
22:57because strict lifelong monitoring
22:59was required after the surgery.
23:01Alexander helped me contact top specialists abroad
23:04and took me overseas.
23:06Later,
23:06while abroad,
23:07my kidney function declined.
23:09Now,
23:10the doctor advised surgery.
23:12He warned it carried very high risks.
23:15Walking out of the hospital that day,
23:17Alexander suddenly asked me,
23:19Is there anything you want to do?
23:20The breeze was light
23:21and the sun was warm that day,
23:22yet I stood on a foreign street
23:23and burst into tears.
23:25Alexander,
23:26I want to see him one more time.
23:27Alexander's expression shifted.
23:29His voice was careful.
23:31Chloe,
23:32are you sure?
23:33He's made it very clear
23:35how he feels about you.
23:36You know what going back means.
23:38I wiped my face
23:39with the back of my hand.
23:41I'm sure.
23:42If the outcome this time
23:43is truly unpredictable,
23:45then let me have one proper,
23:47final meeting with him.
23:48Alexander looked at me
23:49for a long moment.
23:51His eyes were full of things
23:52he didn't say.
23:53Then he exhaled slowly.
23:55Okay,
23:56we'll go back.
23:57I'll book the flights right now.
23:58He pulled out his phone
23:59and started typing.
24:00I watched him,
24:01my chest tight with something
24:02between gratitude and guilt.
24:05Alexander came to see me that evening.
24:07His expression was heavy.
24:08He sat down across from me
24:10and said,
24:10I went to see Julian today
24:12at his company.
24:14I froze.
24:16Alexander continued carefully.
24:18I walked into his office
24:19and placed a surgical record
24:21on his desk.
24:22Julian's eyelids
24:22suddenly twitched violently.
24:24Frowning,
24:25he opened that surgical record.
24:26When the patient's name
24:27in the first column
24:28caught his eye,
24:29his entire body
24:30seemed to freeze.
24:31All,
24:32the color drained
24:32from his face
24:33in an instant.
24:34Alexander looked at Julian's
24:35suddenly pale face,
24:36speaking at a leisurely pace.
24:38Chloe and I
24:39were high school classmates.
24:41I've liked her since then.
24:46When we met again later,
24:47she came
24:48and you and I
24:51are half brothers.
24:53Julian's hand trembled
24:55as he held the record.
24:56Knuckles white.
25:06Alexander continued.
25:08She donated her kidney
25:08to you,
25:09you in secret.
25:11Julian forbade her
25:12from getting tested.
25:13He'd rather die
25:14than let her do it.
25:15So she hid everything.
25:17The surgery
25:18at another hospital.
25:19No one knew
25:20except me.
25:21Julian lunged forward,
25:23grabbing Alexander
25:24by the collar.
25:26Why did you play
25:27along with her nonsense?
25:29Why didn't you
25:30take her away?
25:32Alexander didn't flinch.
25:34Julian,
25:35I tried to shake
25:35her resolve.
25:36I even despicely
25:38urged her to give up
25:39on you,
25:39but she insisted
25:40on donating
25:41her kidney to you.
25:42She said she couldn't
25:43just watch you die.
25:47Alexander smiled
25:48helplessly.
25:49She begged me so hard,
25:51I had no choice
25:52but to help her deceive you.
25:53For the past three years,
25:54she and I have been
25:55completely innocent.
25:56Nothing happened
25:56between us.
25:57Her surgery is scheduled
25:58for next Monday.
26:02I asked her if she had
26:03any unfulfilled wishes.
26:04She said she wanted
26:06to return to the country
26:06to see you.
26:09Julian asked hoarsely,
26:10Did you arrange
26:11for her to be
26:12at that hotel too?
26:15Yes.
26:16I knew you had
26:17a long-term suite
26:18at that hotel.
26:19It was the only place
26:20where you two
26:21could bump into each other
26:22by chance
26:22without getting
26:23too deeply involved.
26:24After Alexander left,
26:27Julian closed his eyes
26:28in despair,
26:29his hand trembled,
26:30coffee spilled
26:31onto his suit pants.
26:33He curled up
26:34on the sofa,
26:35breaking down
26:36into loud sobs.
26:37The kidney,
26:37which seemed to fall
26:38from the sky,
26:41was secretly marked
26:42with the most
26:43expensive price.
26:49That night,
26:50Julian sat alone
26:51in his study.
26:52A friend came by.
26:58Forget her.
26:59She made her choice.
27:05Julian didn't look up.
27:06His phone showed
27:07an old photo of me.
27:15I can't forget her.
27:18The man who hated me
27:20for three years
27:21had been breaking apart
27:22inside all along.
27:23The next day,
27:24Alexander drove me
27:26to the hospital.
27:28I finished my pre-op
27:29preparations
27:30in the hospital room.
27:31I kept taking
27:32deep breaths nervously.
27:34Alexander
27:34had just gone
27:35somewhere unknown.
27:38I craned my neck
27:39to look toward the door.
27:40To my surprise,
27:41I saw Julian appear
27:42right in front of me.
27:46I was too nervous,
27:48so nervous
27:48that I started
27:49hallucinating.
27:52His face
27:52was full of dejection,
27:54the stubble
27:55on his chin unshaven,
27:56his eyes were completely...
27:57Violet,
27:58he had always been
27:59so particular
28:00about his appearance.
28:01The last time
28:02I saw him
28:02this unkempt
28:03was when he was
28:04severely ill.
28:06That figure
28:06drew closer
28:07and closer to me.
28:08I clearly heard him
28:09call my name
28:10with a trembling voice.
28:12Chloe,
28:14if I had known
28:15it was like this,
28:17I would rather
28:18you had truly
28:19betrayed me back then.
28:21With red eyes,
28:22he cupped my hand
28:23in his palms.
28:24His scalding tears
28:25fell drop by drop
28:26onto the back
28:27of my hand.
28:35So it wasn't
28:36my hallucination
28:37after all.
28:37He really came
28:38to see me,
28:39such a handsome face,
28:40now completely
28:41drenched in tears.
28:52I want you
28:52to make it out alive.
28:56It was my fault.
28:57I owe you.
28:59When you come out,
29:00let's start over,
29:00okay?
29:03The night
29:04before my surgery,
29:05I lay in the
29:06hospital bed.
29:07Drifting in
29:08and out of sleep,
29:09Julian sat beside
29:10me the entire time.
29:11He hadn't left
29:12once.
29:13Sometime past
29:14midnight,
29:15I half-dash woke,
29:16my throat was dry.
29:20Julian.
29:22The name slipped
29:23out before I
29:23could stop it.
29:25His hand
29:26found mine
29:26instantly,
29:28gripping it
29:28firmly.
29:31I'm here.
29:32I'm not going
29:32anywhere.
29:35His face
29:36in the dim
29:36light looked
29:37exhausted,
29:37but his eyes
29:38were wide open,
29:39watching me
29:40like he was
29:41afraid I'd
29:41disappear if
29:42he blinked.
29:44Go to sleep.
29:46I'll be right
29:47here when you
29:48wake up.
29:50I'll be right
29:50wake up.
29:59His thumb
30:00traced slow
30:01circles on the
30:01back of my
30:02hand.
30:03The moment I
30:04was wheeled out
30:05of the ward,
30:06I squeezed his
30:06hand back.
30:07After all these
30:08years, I was
30:09still full of
30:09courage.
30:11Okay, I'll
30:12make it out
30:13alive.
30:14The last thing I
30:15saw before the
30:15doors closed was
30:16Julian's face,
30:17pale, rigid,
30:19his eyes locked
30:20on mine.
30:26Then the
30:26operating room
30:27swallowed me.
30:32When I woke,
30:33the first thing I
30:34felt was his
30:34hand gripping mine.
30:35The room was
30:36quiet.
30:37The operating
30:37light was off.
30:42Julian sat
30:43beside my bed,
30:44still in the
30:45suit jacket I'd
30:46once bought for
30:46him in all the
30:47years we'd been
30:48apart.
30:48He hadn't
30:49worn it once,
30:50but even
30:51during the
30:51three years he
30:52hated me the
30:52most, he'd
30:53never thrown
30:54it away.
30:55His hand
30:56rested in the
30:56suit pocket.
30:57He pulled
30:58something out,
30:58and his palm
30:59lay over a
30:59dozen dried
31:00lilac.
31:01Blossoms, the
31:02petals had
31:02withered long
31:03ago.
31:05I remembered
31:06that early
31:06summer, the
31:07lilacs on
31:08campus had
31:08bloomed like
31:09a sea of
31:09stars.
31:13Ordinary
31:14lilacs
31:14usually have
31:15for petals
31:16occasionally
31:16there are
31:17five-petaled
31:17ones, which
31:18are said to
31:19symbolize good
31:19luck.
31:21I told
31:22Julian that
31:23if you make
31:23a wish on
31:23a five-petaled
31:24lilac, it
31:25will come
31:26true, so I
31:26dragged him
31:27all over
31:27looking for
31:28five-petaled
31:28lilacs.
31:31He found
31:32it amusing.
31:33If you want
31:34five-petaled
31:34ones, I'll
31:35have someone
31:35deliver a
31:36whole truckload
31:37to you.
31:37But I said
31:38it only counted
31:38as good luck
31:39if I found
31:39them myself
31:40with a
31:40sincere heart,
31:41so he had
31:42to accompany
31:42me all over
31:43campus looking
31:44for five-petaled
31:45flowers.
31:45In the
31:46end, we
31:47finally collected
31:48eighteen
31:48five-petaled
31:49lilacs.
31:52After making
31:52my wish back
31:53then, I had
31:54secretly hidden
31:54the flowers in
31:55his pocket.
31:56He looked at
31:57the dried petals
31:58in his hand
31:58now, his lips
31:59curled to
31:59smile, but his
32:01throat tightened
32:01with a sudden
32:02ache.
32:02He closed his
32:03hand, gripping
32:04the petals
32:05tightly.
32:06On the boundary
32:07between life
32:07and death, this
32:08time it was his
32:09turn to make
32:10a wish.
32:11I made a
32:12wish back
32:12then.
32:13I want to be
32:14with you year
32:14after year.
32:16That sentence
32:17had become
32:17permanently etched
32:18in his heart
32:19and his
32:19lifelong ambition.
32:23Days passed.
32:24The doctor said
32:25my recovery was
32:26going well.
32:28Julian refused
32:29to leave my
32:30side.
32:30He fed me
32:31water.
32:32Cup by cup,
32:33he helped me
32:33walk down the
32:34hallway, one
32:35slow step at
32:35a time.
32:36When I got
32:37tired, I leaned
32:38my head against
32:39his shoulder.
32:40He didn't
32:40say anything.
32:41He just let
32:42me rest there.
32:44One afternoon, I
32:45woke up from a
32:46nap and felt
32:47cold.
32:48Julian noticed
32:49immediately.
32:50He picked up
32:51his jacket from
32:52the chair and
32:52draped it over
32:53me.
32:53It was his
32:54white dress
32:54shirt, the
32:55same one I'd
32:56worn that
32:57morning after
32:57the night we'd
32:58spent together.
33:01I pulled it
33:02tighter around
33:02myself.
33:03The collar
33:04still smelled
33:04like him.
33:06He asked it
33:07casually, but his
33:08eyes stayed on
33:09my face.
33:10Does it fit?
33:13It's too big.
33:16But it's warm.
33:20He reached
33:21over and
33:21tucked the
33:22collar around
33:22my neck.
33:23His fingers
33:24brushed my
33:24jaw.
33:25For a moment,
33:26neither of us
33:27moved.
33:31a week later,
33:32the doctor
33:33cleared me to
33:33go home.
33:36Julian drove
33:37me himself.
33:38He opened
33:38every door for
33:39me, carried
33:39every bag.
33:44At the entrance
33:45to my apartment
33:46building, Alexander
33:47was waiting.
33:48He nodded at
33:49Julian, a silent
33:50acknowledgement
33:50between two men
33:51who both loved
33:52the same woman.
33:55Julian's arms
33:56settled around
33:56my waist,
33:57possessive,
33:58unyielding.
34:02Alexander saw
34:02it and said
34:03nothing.
34:04He just looked
34:04at me and
34:05smiled.
34:10Take care of
34:11yourself,
34:11Chloe.
34:13I'll be abroad
34:13if you need
34:14anything.
34:16I nodded.
34:17Thank you,
34:18Alexander,
34:19for everything.
34:21He turned and
34:21walked away
34:22without looking
34:22back.
34:24Julian watched
34:24him go,
34:25then he looked
34:25down at me.
34:26He's gone.
34:29Are you ready?
34:30Let's go home.
34:31Home.
34:32He said it so
34:33easily, like the
34:34last three years
34:35had never happened.
34:40That night,
34:41I sat by the
34:42window while
34:42Julian made
34:43dinner in the
34:43kitchen.
34:44The domesticity
34:45of it all
34:45still felt
34:46unreal.
34:47He came out
34:48carrying the
34:49bowls, set
34:49them on the
34:50table, then
34:51sat across
34:51from me.
34:52I called
34:53the hotel
34:53today, resigned
34:54your position
34:55for you.
34:56I blinked
34:57at him.
34:57You what?
34:59You're not
34:59going back to
35:00work there.
35:01Not ever.
35:02I opened my
35:03mouth to argue,
35:04but he kept
35:05talking.
35:05I also called
35:06the Vance
35:06group legal
35:07team.
35:08The hotel
35:09violated
35:09multiple labor
35:10laws during
35:10that whole
35:11search
35:11incident.
35:14If you want,
35:15we can sue
35:15them into
35:16the ground.
35:16He paused,
35:17then added...
35:18By the way,
35:19her earrings
35:20turned up.
35:24They'd fallen
35:24behind the
35:25nightstand
35:25in the
35:26suite.
35:26She'd
35:26misplaced
35:27them
35:27herself.
35:31Julian,
35:32I didn't...
35:32I know
35:33what you're
35:33going to
35:33say.
35:39You're
35:39going to
35:39say it
35:39doesn't
35:40matter,
35:40that you
35:41just want
35:41to move
35:41on.
35:42He reached
35:42across the
35:43table and
35:43took my
35:44hand.
35:48But it
35:48matters to
35:49me.
35:54Everything
35:54they did to
35:55you matters
35:55to me.
35:56I looked
35:57at him,
35:57really looked
35:58at him.
35:58the man
35:59who had
35:59humiliated
36:00me,
36:01hurt me,
36:02broken me,
36:02and then put
36:03himself back
36:04together piece
36:04by piece just
36:05to earn
36:05forgiveness he
36:06might never
36:07fully deserve.
36:09Fine.
36:11Sue them.
36:12His eyebrows
36:13rose.
36:14That's my
36:15girl.
36:16I rolled
36:17my eyes,
36:18but I felt
36:18the corner of
36:19my mouth
36:19twitch,
36:20almost a
36:20smile.
36:26One
36:27evening,
36:27Julian sat
36:28beside me
36:29and spoke
36:29quietly.
36:31Three years
36:32after you
36:32walked away,
36:32a friend
36:33mentioned
36:33seeing you
36:33at his
36:34hotel.
36:35I checked,
36:37and you'd
36:37actually come
36:38back,
36:39working as
36:40a receptionist.
36:41He paused.
36:42I had a
36:42permanent suite
36:43there.
36:44I never
36:44brought anyone
36:45home.
36:46Over those
36:47three years,
36:47I changed
36:47girlfriends one
36:48after another.
36:50But there
36:50was a gaping
36:51hole in my
36:51heart.
36:52No one
36:53could fill
36:53it.
36:54That void
36:55was shaped
36:55exactly like
36:56you.
36:56I listened,
36:57my chest
36:58tight.
36:59The day
36:59I took
37:00her to
37:00check-in,
37:00you happened
37:01to be
37:01on duty.
37:04I deliberately
37:05held her
37:05hand and
37:06walked right
37:07up to you.
37:09She didn't
37:10know I'd
37:10timed my
37:11arrival for
37:11your shift.
37:14I called
37:14the front
37:15desk over
37:15and over,
37:16asking for
37:16the sheets
37:17to be
37:17changed.
37:21just to
37:21see you.
37:25Until
37:25that crystal
37:26fell out
37:26of your
37:26bag,
37:28the
37:28cheapest
37:28gift I'd
37:29ever
37:29given you,
37:30yet it
37:30made my
37:30heart soften
37:31instantly.
37:33He looked
37:34at me.
37:35I never
37:36got over
37:36you.
37:42those nights
37:44when I
37:45secretly
37:45replaced
37:46your
37:46vodka
37:46with
37:46water.
37:47I was
37:48protecting
37:48you all
37:49along.
37:52When I
37:52kissed you
37:53like a
37:53madman
37:54in that
37:54hotel room,
37:54I wasn't
37:55taking
37:55revenge.
37:57I was
37:58trying to
37:58hold on
37:58to the
37:58only person
37:59who'd
37:59ever
37:59truly
37:59loved
38:00me.
38:04spring
38:05came early
38:05that year.
38:06The
38:06lilacs
38:07outside
38:07the
38:07hospital
38:07window
38:08were
38:08starting
38:08to
38:08bloom.
38:09Again,
38:10I sat
38:10on the
38:10bench
38:11in the
38:11garden,
38:12letting
38:12the
38:12sun
38:12warm
38:12my
38:12face.
38:13Julian
38:14appeared
38:14with
38:14two
38:14cups
38:15of
38:15coffee.
38:15He
38:16handed
38:16me
38:16one
38:16and
38:16sat
38:17down
38:17beside
38:17me.
38:18Remember
38:18these?
38:19He
38:20pointed
38:20up at
38:20the
38:20lilac
38:21branches
38:21overhead.
38:22Five
38:22petaled
38:23ones
38:23scattered
38:23among
38:24the
38:24ordinary
38:24four
38:24petaled
38:25blooms.
38:28I
38:29squinted
38:29up at
38:30the
38:30branches.
38:31How
38:31many do
38:31you think
38:32we can
38:32find
38:32this
38:32time?
38:33We're
38:34not
38:34climbing
38:34all
38:34over
38:35campus
38:35this
38:35time.
38:36My
38:37scar
38:37is
38:37still
38:38healing
38:38in
38:38case
38:38you
38:38forgot.
38:39He
38:39laughed.
38:40A
38:40real
38:40laugh,
38:41not
38:42the
38:42cold
38:42mocking
38:42sound
38:43I'd
38:43grown
38:43used
38:43to
38:43hearing.
38:44Fair
38:45point.
38:45I'll
38:46do
38:46the
38:46climbing.
38:47You
38:47just
38:47sit
38:48here
38:48and
38:49make
38:49wishes.
38:51I
38:51turned
38:52to
38:52look
38:52at
38:52him.
38:52What
38:53would
38:53I
38:53even
38:53wish
38:54for?
38:55He
38:56set
39:00surgical
39:00scar
39:00where
39:01my
39:01sleeve
39:01had
39:01ridden
39:02up.
39:03You
39:04don't
39:04need
39:04to
39:04wish
39:04anymore.
39:05Everything
39:06I have
39:06is
39:06yours.
39:07Everything
39:07I am
39:08is
39:08because
39:08of
39:09you.
39:13The
39:14wind
39:14carried
39:14the
39:15scent
39:15of
39:15lilacs
39:15toward
39:16us.
39:16I
39:17leaned
39:17my
39:17head
39:17against
39:18his
39:18shoulder.
39:18Then
39:19I
39:19wish
39:19for
39:19this.
39:20Right
39:21here.
39:22Just
39:23like
39:23this.
39:24Year
39:25after
39:25year.
39:28Some
39:29nights
39:29I
39:30still
39:30wake
39:30up
39:30reaching
39:31for
39:31the
39:31edge
39:31of
39:31the
39:31bed.
39:33From
39:33the
39:34years
39:34when
39:34I
39:34slept
39:34alone
39:35in
39:35foreign
39:35hospitals
39:36and
39:36empty
39:36apartments.
39:37But
39:38every
39:38time
39:38his
39:39hand
39:39finds
39:39mine
39:39before
39:40I
39:40can
39:40pull
39:40away.
39:42I'm
39:42here.
39:43He
39:44says
39:44at
39:44half
39:44asleep.
39:45Eyes
39:45still
39:45closed.
39:46And
39:47I
39:47remember
39:47I'm
39:48home
39:48now.
39:49The
39:49scar
39:50on
39:50my
39:50abdomen
39:50will
39:50stay
39:51with
39:51me
39:51forever.
39:52A
39:52permanent
39:53reminder
39:53of
39:53the
39:53price
39:54I
39:54paid.
39:54But
39:55when
39:55Julian's
39:56arms
39:56wrap
39:56around
39:56me
39:57even
39:57the
39:57scar
39:57feels
39:58different
39:58now.
39:59Not
39:59a
39:59wound.
40:00A
40:00proof.
40:01That
40:02love
40:02doesn't
40:02always
40:02make
40:03sense.
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