Chapter 2

Of course Julian wouldn't sleep on the couch.

The last time he slept on the couch was before his retirement.

I'd stayed up all night with him during training.

I fell asleep on his single bed watching a movie in the middle of the night.

Not wanting to wake me, he tiptoed over and squeezed himself onto a single sofa for the whole night.

I told him to get a bigger bed.

He just smiled and tapped my nose:

"Nice try—you're not managing me twenty-four hours a day."

Now the training room has a king-size bed. When I asked why, he shrugged and said: "Lydia sometimes rests here after hosting competitions. The small bed wasn't comfortable for her."

His straightforward attitude left me speechless.

He didn't even realize that he'd instinctively started putting Lydia before everything else.

Julian hadn't been home for three days.

But his social media was full of his activities.

He was back to hanging out at racing tracks and bars, in his element.

He'd posted more in three days than in the previous six months combined.

Scrolling down, I saw Lydia's Instagram post.

In the photo, Julian wore a racing suit, his arm around Lydia's waist, smiling as he held up a trophy.

The caption read: [Boys will be boys—what a big baby]

The two of them looked exactly like a couple in love, sharing their joy.

I casually liked the post.

Then I took a cab to the office and submitted my resignation.

My manager was shocked. "Why are you suddenly quitting?"

She knew how hard I'd worked to get where I was.

From an industry rookie to somewhat established, I'd built my network and resources through countless late nights.

Sometimes I even had to drink with clients.

I didn't actually like this industry.

But I persevered, partly because this job helped Julian's career, and partly because I wanted to save money while I was young.

As the manager signed the papers, she teased:

"I heard your family all lives abroad. Are you going back to get married?"

I shook my head with a smile. "I just miss home."

Back then, I'd ignored my family's objections and stubbornly chased love to a foreign land.

Turns out I'd lost the bet.

When my colleagues learned I was leaving, they insisted on a farewell dinner.

I couldn't refuse, so I smiled and said I'd treat them.

I just didn't expect to run into Julian and Lydia at the restaurant.

Fortunately, they were leaving just as we arrived.

When we passed each other, Julian's eyes swept over me coldly, then he smiled and put his arm around Lydia's shoulder.

"Come on, let me introduce you to car bombs."

Surprise flashed across Lydia's face as she looked at me with a challenging expression.

She deliberately leaned close to Julian's ear and laughed sweetly.

"Aren't you afraid Scarlett will get upset again?"

Julian sneered. "Like she has any say?"

I listened to their footsteps fade away and breathed a sigh of relief.

This was for the best—avoiding awkwardness.

That night I had a great time chatting with my colleagues. By the time we finished, it was past midnight.

I was about to call a cab when a familiar Porsche Panamera stopped in front of me.

The window rolled down, revealing Julian's grim face.

"Get in."

I was both surprised and exasperated—drunk driving is illegal!

He saw right through my thoughts and yelled irritably:

"Out drinking with a bunch of guys until midnight—Scarlett, you're something else."

"I haven't been drinking. Just get in the car!"

It was indeed hard to get a cab at this hour.

I wasn't going to be stubborn, so I plopped into the back seat.

After getting in, I closed my eyes to rest. When I rolled down the window for some air, I realized the car was still parked.

I opened my eyes to meet Julian's very complicated expression.

"Scarlett, do you think I'm your chauffeur?"

I paused, then spoke without thinking.

"Didn't you say before that I don't get carsick, so I should just sit in the back?"