Three years of loving him, three days to erase myself from his world novel Chapter 209

Her chaotic emotions raged until midnight before Clara finally fell asleep.

The next morning, terrified of being ambushed by Julian at the cafe again, Clara stayed home to sketch.

Leo Miller video-called her, asking her to look over the revised drafts from their last discussion.

Clara reviewed them and approved. "I think they look great."

Leo picked up on the slight change in her tone. "What's wrong? Did you catch a cold? Your voice sounds off, and you look completely drained."

Clara froze. Was it that obvious?

She was just about to brush it off,

when Leo chimed in, "Is this about Julian?"

He followed up with, "Did he come looking for you?"

"..."

He hit the nail on the head every single time.

Clara offered a dry laugh, rubbing her forehead as she joked, "You should be a fortune teller."

Leo scoffed, turning serious. "Don't change the subject. What exactly is going on between you two?"

Clara sighed. After a moment's thought, she gave him a rundown of the events from the past few days.

Listening to it all, Leo whistled, sounding rather gleeful at the misery.

"Serves him right! Clara, I'm telling you, absolutely do not get back together with him. Let Julian chase you until he drops. I don't care if he's being genuine or not—just don't take him back!"

Clara listened quietly, feeling somewhat dazed. Her fingers gripped the phone tighter, and finally, she offered a soft sound of agreement.

"I know, Leo."

"As long as you know. Tell me if anything happens. Also, prep hard for the competition. It's coming up in a few days, and that's your top priority."

"Got it!"

Clara agreed. The competition was her number one focus.

After that, Leo had business to handle at his company and signed off.

Hanging up the video call.

Clara set her phone down, stared blankly out the window for a while, and then buried herself back in her sketching.

But some things were just sheer torture; the harder you tried to forget them, the more aggressively they clung to your mind, playing on a relentless loop.

Especially since Julian was bombarding her with texts:

[I have an overseas meeting this morning, so I can't keep you company at the cafe. I had some food ordered for you—make sure you eat.]

[How about I pick you up for lunch? Don't you love fish? Arthur told me there's an excellent seafood place nearby.]

[...]

Staring at the screen, Clara's heart was a tangled mess. She drifted off for a moment, gripping her phone as her mind wandered into the past.

Over the last three years, Julian had either been wrapped up in his career or doting on Seraphina Shaw. The time he left for her was practically non-existent. He didn't even have time for her birthday, let alone any ordinary day. Eating alone, going to the hospital alone, just being alone... it was her normal.

And now... he was so eagerly trying to spend time with her, even scoping out restaurants to match her taste.

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