Three years of loving him, three days to erase myself from his world novel Chapter 166

Through the gloating words, Clara could easily picture the smug, arrogant smirk on Seraphina's face.

Clara blinked slowly. Her grip on the phone tightened until her knuckles turned bone-white, yet she felt completely numb to the physical pressure.

So, he had run off to comfort Seraphina. Again.

After a long silence, a pale, brittle laugh escaped Clara's lips.

She was mocking herself. How pathetic that she had harbored even a shred of hope.

Just then, another message popped up on her screen.

Julian: [An emergency came up. Go ahead and eat. Don't wait for me.]

Cold and dismissive, as always.

It was as if her texts had merely been an annoying distraction.

An unspoken accusation that she was being unreasonable—that she was pestering him about a trivial anniversary dinner while he was busy dealing with "important" matters.

Clara stared at the screen, her face turning ashen with utter humiliation.

She typed back: [Understood. Get back to work. I apologize for bothering you, Mr. Lowell.]

He didn't reply. He didn't care about her anger. He didn't care about her humiliation.

Clara gripped her phone, every last trace of affection inside her completely extinguished.

The door to the private suite opened, and the server asked politely, "Miss, would you like us to start serving now?"

Clara snapped back to reality. She smoothed her hands over her face, forcing a composed expression. "Yes. Please serve the food."

"Right away."

Soon, the table was covered with a stunning array of exquisite, mouth-watering dishes.

But Clara had absolutely zero appetite.

She opened a bottle of vintage red wine and sipped it slowly, viewing it as a toast to the three years she had completely wasted.

From this moment forward, her heart would never beat for Julian Lowell again.

A single, scalding tear traced a silent path down her cheek, glittering in the dim light.

After finishing her glass, Clara set it down and fired off one final message to Julian:

[Don't forget to open the box I gave you the other day.]

She didn't wait to see if he'd reply. She stood up and walked out.

She was leaving. For good.

...

The night was thick and inky.

Julian, cutting a striking figure in a tailored black overcoat, strode out of the airport and slid into the back of a waiting Bentley.

A massive crisis had erupted with an S-tier project in Northampton that morning, forcing him to fly out immediately. He had been locked in negotiations up until now.

Settling into the leather seat, he leaned back in exhaustion. His long fingers loosened his tie as he massaged his temples. The dim streetlights cast shadows across his sharply sculpted features, giving him a dark, commanding allure.

Arthur got into the passenger seat. "Where to, Mr. Lowell? Back to the estate?"

Julian opened his eyes, a sudden thought occurring to him. "To The Azure Heights."

Julian's scowl deepened. But then, logic took over. Clara must have gone back to the estate to wait for him.

Every year on this day, she would decorate the house and prepare a romantic surprise.

Even though he had always thought her efforts were painfully childish.

"I see," he replied smoothly. Turning on his heel, he headed back down to the car and instructed the driver to head to the estate.

Both the driver and Arthur were surprised by the quick exit, but neither said a word.

As they pulled into the estate's driveway and Julian prepared to step out, Arthur spoke up. "Mr. Lowell, I have a report here. Please take a look when you have a moment."

He handed over The Lineage Dossier.

Julian paused, taking the envelope. "Alright."

He shut the car door and strode toward the house.

Thinking about Clara's gentle smile and the elaborate surprise she had undoubtedly set up, his pace unconsciously quickened.

He didn't even realize the faint flicker of anticipation stirring in his chest.

However, when he pushed open the front door and stepped into the living room, his good mood vanished instantly. Everything was exactly as he had left it. Not a single thing had been changed.

Julian frowned, scanning the room before looking toward the dining area. It was completely spotless.

There was no extravagant candlelit dinner waiting for him.

He couldn't stop himself from calling out, "Clara? Clara!"

Silence was his only answer.