Chapter 3

I took a deep breath, trying to wipe all those memories out of my head.

But then I heard my phone ring with a special notification tone.

This was a tone I had specifically set back then so I could keep track of Lily’s updates at all times.

Now that I heard it, it felt especially harsh and irritating.

Sure enough, on the latest page of Lily’s Instagram, there was a photo of two hands interlocked.

And the caption said: [Our tenth year together.]

How ridiculous. In their ten years, I had been there for seven.

The comments section below was full of fans sending blessings and saying how envious they were, all guessing who had successfully won over the actress’s heart.

Very soon, Jason Reed’s comment was pinned to the very top.

[Same heart, never changing. Only you never change.]

As the CEO of the Reed Group, Jason naturally had no shortage of admirers.

A reply and treatment like that was something I had worked seven years for and still never gotten.

I looked at Lily and Jason openly showing off their love on my phone, and I thought I would feel a little hurt.

But I didn’t feel any heartache at all. It was like the heart that loved Lily had already died long ago.

I collected myself and handled all of Lily’s work with the company.

When my assistant asked me how to deal with that supporting-role contract, I casually pointed to one of the company’s younger actresses.

[Give it to Emily Carter. I remember her acting is pretty good. She can definitely handle it.]

Over the years, I had focused all my energy on nurturing Lily, but I never ignored the other artists in the company.

Emily Carter was a rising star I had recently discovered. Her acting had a natural spark, and her features even looked a little like Lily’s.

That was why she left such a deep impression on me.

When I brought all the contract-signing matters related to Lily to her lounge to find her, Lily was still acting like she was above everyone else.

All those years of praise and pampering had slowly made her lose herself.

I could no longer see the purity and toughness she had once had in her.

Lily looked at the contract in my hand, her expression a little irritated. [Noah, are you sure you want to leave me?]

She still seemed to be convinced that with her current status, I would absolutely never leave her.

But this time, she had bet on the wrong thing.

I nodded firmly and threw the contract onto the desk in front of her. [I’ve already made up my mind. Sign it. I’ll have another agent handle your upcoming bookings.]

Seeing how cold I was, Lily actually laughed in anger.

She angrily signed her name on the contract.

Then she took off the ring on her hand right in front of me. [This is something you gave me back then. I don’t want it anymore either!]

I watched helplessly as Lily threw the ring into the burning fireplace beside her, and my chest grew heavy.

That plain band had been a prize we randomly won while celebrating when she got her first female lead role.

It didn’t have much monetary value, but it meant a lot.

I had originally thought Lily would at least feel a little regret over the seven years we had shared.

But now, looking at her stubborn, unyielding expression, my heart completely turned cold.

I nodded, my expression unchanged. [As long as you’re happy. I’m leaving.]

I didn’t bother with her anymore, as if my heart had gone into the fire along with that plain band.

Just after walking out the door, I got a call from my mother.

[Noah, come to France right away! Your dad... your dad had a stroke. The doctor said... he won’t make it through tonight......]

My mother’s choked, heartbreaking sobs on the phone left my brain completely blank.

My parents had lived in France for many years, and the company had also gradually started preparing to expand overseas.

Just last week, when I called my parents, my father was still perfectly healthy. Now he had suddenly fallen ill.

[Okay, Mom. Wait for me. I’m coming right now!]