A Seven-Year Illusion — I Bid Farewell to the Billionaire and Turned to His Rival

I spent seven years building Julian’s empire with him. Everyone in our circle said he loved me to his core. Until the day I opened his office safe and found a marriage certificate. His name was written on it. And his legal wife was Serena—his childhood friend, the girl he always claimed he only cared for out of guilt because she developed severe depression after saving his life. Outside the door, his friend asked him, "Chloe has been with you for seven years. Do you really plan on keeping her in the dark forever?" Julian let out a low, careless chuckle. "She loves me too much. She’ll understand. My body, my heart, my fortune—they will all be hers in the end. Serena just got a useless piece of paper." I looked down at the blinding marriage certificate, my heart turning to ash. I dialed a number I had blocked seven years ago. "Grandpa, I agree. I’ll accept the family alliance." The line went silent for a moment. "Are you sure, Chloe?" I put the certificate back exactly where it was, my voice dead calm. "I’m sure. Send the Vance family’s private jet to pick me up in two weeks." He thought I would understand. But I decided to leave him, along with the seven years of my wasted youth, forever behind in New York. --- **Chloe's POV** I had been with Julian Sterling for seven years. I stayed by his side from the days when he was just a broke entrepreneur to now, when he was one of New York’s newest self-made billionaires. Everyone said Julian adored me. For me, he would drop millions at auctions just to buy a rare pink diamond to make me smile. For me, he would drive across the city in the middle of a torrential storm just because I casually mentioned I craved a strawberry cake from a specific bakery. I used to believe in his love, without a shadow of a doubt. Until today. I was looking for the design drafts for our upcoming fall haute couture jewelry collection in his study. I opened his safe, and there, lying at the very bottom, was a crisp, blinding marriage certificate. The names on it were Julian Sterling and Serena Wood. The registration date was three months ago. That was during the time Julian supposedly went to Europe on a business trip to search for a rare sapphire for me. My fingers hovered in the air. The blood drained from my face, and my entire body went numb. Serena was the daughter of Julian’s old college professor, and the girl he had grown up with. Three years ago, during a car accident, Serena had pushed Julian out of the way. Her right wrist was shattered, permanently ending her career as a violinist. She fell into deep depression shortly after. Since then, Serena had become Julian’s untouchable, unspeakable sacred cow. Outside, through the cracked door of the study, Julian’s voice drifted in, mingled with the voices of his friends. "Julian, you seriously gave the title of Mrs. Sterling to Serena? What about Chloe? She’s been with you for seven years. Everyone in the city knows she’s your future wife. If she finds out, with her pride, she’ll tear your world down." After a brief silence, the sharp click of a lighter cut through the air. Julian exhaled a plume of smoke, his voice smooth and oozing control. "She won’t find out. The certificate is just to keep Serena stable. Her therapist said her depression is making her suicidal. She’s lost everything and is extremely insecure. Only the legal status of being my wife can keep her alive." "But..." Marcus, his friend, hesitated. "That’s not fair to Chloe." "How is it not fair?" Julian laughed, a hint of arrogance in his tone. "Chloe is independent, rational, and strong. She has her own career, and she has my undivided love. My body, my heart, my assets—they’ll all be hers eventually. Serena gets nothing but a piece of paper. Once Serena is stable, I’ll quietly divorce her and give Chloe the grandest wedding New York has ever seen." "Julian, you’re playing with fire. Chloe isn’t the type to tolerate this." "She won’t find out," Julian said, his voice dripping with absolute confidence. "And even if she does, she loves me too much. She’ll understand my position. She’s not some hysterical, unreasonable woman." Inside the study, I listened quietly. I didn’t shed a single tear, nor did I burst out to scream at him. I just found it incredibly absurd. Absurd to the point of nausea. Seven years of my youth, countless nights fighting side-by-side to build his company, and all it got me was his self-righteous "cost-benefit analysis." He gave the legal status of his wife to another woman, yet expected me to play the role of his "true love" in the dark, appreciating his noble sacrifice. I put the marriage certificate back, closed the safe, and locked it. I pulled out my phone and dialed the number I had blocked seven years ago. It was picked up almost instantly. A grave, powerful voice echoed from the other end. "Changed your mind?" "Yes, Grandpa," I said, my voice as flat as still water. "I’ll return to San Francisco. I accept the family alliance." "Good! The Vance family boy has been waiting for you. When are you coming back?" "Two weeks," I said, looking down at the simple band on my ring finger—a gift from Julian. "Give me two weeks to wrap things up here completely. In two weeks, send the Vance family’s private jet to get me." I hung up, pushed open the study door, and walked out. ---**Chloe's POV** The laughter in the living room died instantly the moment I appeared. Julian’s friends froze, their eyes darting away guiltily. Julian, however, didn’t miss a beat. He casually stubbed out his cigarette, walked over, and pulled me into his arms. He smelled faintly of tobacco, mixed with a trace of woody perfume—Serena’s signature scent. "Why are you up so early? Did we wake you?" Julian murmured, leaning down to press a warm kiss on my forehead. His eyes were filled with nothing but tenderness. If this were yesterday, I would have melted. Now, it made my stomach churn. I didn’t push him away, but I subtly tilted my head to avoid his lips. "I need to look for some files in the study," I said, my voice cool. Julian’s arm went rigid for a split second. A flash of panic crossed his eyes before he smoothly masked it. "Did you find them? You should’ve asked me to help." "I found them." I looked up, staring straight into his clear, dark eyes. "Julian, are you keeping anything from me?" The air in the room instantly froze. His friends stopped breathing. Julian’s heart skipped a beat, but his face remained a mask of perfect devotion. He reached out, gently tucking a stray lock of hair behind my ear, and chuckled. "What are you talking about, babe? I’m all yours. What could I possibly hide from you?" Looking at his familiar face, I felt a chill. He felt like a total stranger. How could a man betray you so thoroughly and still look you in the eye with such easy affection? His love was so precisely compartmentalized—his body for one woman, his legal name for another. "Right," I said with a faint, empty smile. I didn’t press further. My lack of suspicion made Julian visibly relax. He probably thought I was just stressed from work. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a velvet box. Inside was a breathtaking diamond necklace. "Wear this to the brand’s launch party next week. You’ll be the most beautiful woman there," Julian said, draping the necklace around my neck. His fingers brushed against my collarbone in an intimate, familiar gesture. I looked down at the diamonds. I recognized this necklace—it was the runner-up piece at last month’s auction. The actual crown jewel of the night, "Tears of the Ocean," had been bought by Julian for fifty million dollars. Its whereabouts were still unknown. Now I knew. "Tears of the Ocean" was probably already sitting on the neck of the legal Mrs. Sterling. "Thank you. It’s beautiful," I said. No excitement, no warmth. "I have a business dinner tonight, so I might be late. Don’t wait up for me," Julian said, kissing my cheek before heading for the door. I stood there, watching his back disappear. I knew he wasn’t going to a business dinner. Today was Serena’s birthday. I walked into the bathroom, unclasped the necklace, and tossed it straight into the trash can. Then, I turned on the faucet and scrubbed the spot where Julian’s lips had touched my cheek with soap over and over again, until my skin was raw and red. ---**Chloe's POV** For the next few days, I went to work as usual, ran meetings, and finalized designs. I was as calm as a frozen lake. Nobody suspected a thing. Until three days before Sterling Jewelry's grand fall launch. I was reviewing the final exhibition catalog when I saw that my masterpiece—"The Crown of Thorns," a piece I had spent an entire year pouring my heart and soul into—now had a different designer’s name on it. Serena Wood. I took the catalog and marched straight into Julian’s penthouse office. Julian was on the phone. When he saw me, he wrapped up the call quickly and hung up. "What's wrong? You look pale." He walked over, reaching for my hand. I stepped back, dodging his touch, and tossed the catalog onto his massive mahogany desk. My voice was ice-cold. "Explain this. Why is Serena's name on my design?" Julian glanced at the catalog. His eyes flickered, and then he let out a long, heavy sigh, adopting that familiar, patronizing tone of patience. "Chloe, I was just about to talk to you about this. Serena slit her wrists again yesterday." I stared at him, saying nothing. Julian continued, "She feels like she’s useless, like her life has no value. Her therapist said she needs a sense of purpose. She used to love jewelry design, so... I put her name on 'The Crown of Thorns.' It’s just to give her a reason to keep living." "A reason to live? By stealing someone else’s life's work?" My eyes cut like glass. "How can you call it stealing?" Julian frowned, clearly displeased by my words. "Chloe, you are already a top-tier designer in the country. You have countless accolades and glory. But Serena has nothing. Her hand was ruined saving my life! Can't you just be the bigger person? Think of it as charity." I wanted to laugh out loud. Why should I donate my blood, sweat, and tears to charity for his "savior" and "wife"? "And if I say no?" I locked eyes with him. Julian’s face darkened, a cold edge of warning creeping into his voice. "Chloe, stop throwing a tantrum. The decision is made, and the marketing materials have already been sent out. I’ll compensate you however you want. Shares, bonuses, or the entire next season's collection—it’s all yours." In his eyes, my passion and my pride were just commodities to be bought and sold. Looking at the man I had loved for seven years, a wave of profound exhaustion washed over me. I didn’t even want to fight him anymore. When love dies, even anger feels like a waste of energy. "Fine," I said, nodding slowly. My calm was almost eerie. "Since you’ve already decided, we'll do it your way." Julian blinked, caught off guard. "Chloe..." He took a step forward, trying to wrap his arms around me. I took a step back, keeping a polite, professional distance between us. "I have work to do. Excuse me." The fall launch arrived as scheduled. This was Sterling Jewelry's big play to break into the international market. The venue was packed with New York’s elite, and the paparazzi’s flashes were blinding. As the chief designer, I wore a minimalist, floor-length black gown. I looked cool, aloof, and utterly striking—like a dark rose blooming in the snow. I stood beside Julian, playing the perfect, elegant business partner. Until Serena arrived. ---**Chloe's POV** Serena wore a flowing white tulle gown, looking like a delicate, fragile lily. Around her neck hung the fifty-million-dollar "Tears of the Ocean." And on her head sat my masterpiece, "The Crown of Thorns." The moment she entered, all eyes turned to her. "Who is she? Why is she wearing the necklace Mr. Sterling bought at the auction?" "I heard she’s his childhood friend. They must be incredibly close." Under the murmuring crowd's gaze, Serena walked up to Julian and me. She looked at me timidly, her voice so soft it could be blown away by a breeze. "Chloe, thank you for letting me have 'The Crown of Thorns.' I really love it." Her words were carefully calculated. They established her special status while painting me as the one who had to step aside. My expression didn't change. I didn't even blink. I just looked at her calmly and said, "It’s just an inanimate object. I'm glad you like it, Serena. After all, some things in life can never be obtained just because someone 'let' you have them." Serena’s face turned pale. Her eyes instantly filled with tears as she turned to Julian. "Julian... did I say something wrong? Did I upset Chloe?" Seeing Serena’s distress, Julian’s brow furrowed. He turned to me, his tone laced with disapproval. "Chloe, today is a massive night for the company. Don't take your issues out on Serena." It was hilarious. Me, taking issues out on her? I didn't even want to waste my breath looking at her. But then, drama struck. As Serena turned around, she seemed to trip over her own dress. With a sharp gasp, she fell backward—straight into the decorative indoor pool. "Serena!" Julian’s eyes went wide. Without a second thought, he threw my hand off. He didn’t even pause to take off his designer tuxedo jacket before diving straight into the water. He pulled a shivering, soaking-wet Serena into his arms, holding her tightly. The crowd gasped. Camera flashes exploded over the water. The CEO of Sterling Group ruining his own launch event by jumping into a pool for a woman—this was guaranteed to be front-page news tomorrow. When Julian threw my hand off, my heel twisted, and I almost fell. But I caught myself instantly. I stood by the edge of the pool, looking down at the two of them clinging to each other. Julian’s face was a mask of sheer panic, his eyes entirely locked on Serena’s safety. He had completely forgotten about the woman he had left on the deck—his partner of seven years. The media’s cameras swung toward me, trying to catch any sign of jealousy, rage, or heartbreak on my face. But they were disappointed. My face was completely blank. I stood there like an elegant, emotionless statue. I calmly signaled the security team to restore order, then stepped up to the podium and took the microphone from the host. My voice was clear, steady, and utterly composed. "Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Sterling has had a minor accident while rescuing a guest. We will adjust the schedule slightly. In the meantime, allow me to introduce the rest of our fall collection." My control of the room was flawless. Only after the event ended did I walk back to the dressing room. I looked at my own calm eyes in the mirror. I pulled out my phone and sent a pre-drafted resignation letter straight to Julian’s inbox. Then, I texted my grandpa’s assistant: "Change of plans. Send the jet in three days." ---**Chloe's POV** I knew Julian didn't see my resignation letter until after he had Serena settled at the hospital. He drove like a madman back to our penthouse that night. When the door burst open, the living room was dark. I was sitting on the couch, sipping a glass of red wine under the moonlight. "Chloe! What the hell is wrong with you?!" Julian roared, storming over and snatching the glass from my hand. He slammed it onto the coffee table, the sound of shattering glass piercing the quiet apartment. His eyes were bloodshot, his chest heaving. "Resigning? Who gave you permission to resign? Just because I saved Serena first today? How many times do I have to tell you, she’s sick! She can’t swim! How could I just stand there and watch her drown? Can you stop being so cold-blooded and unreasonable?!" I watched him rave, throwing all the blame onto me. "Julian," I said softly, my voice carrying a quiet, heavy weight. "Saving her was your instinct. Resigning is my choice. There is no connection between the two." "No connection?" Julian sneered. "Are you telling me you aren't jealous? You're using your resignation to blackmail me!" He grabbed my chin, forcing me to look at him. "Chloe, I’ve set aside half of Sterling's shares for you. I gave you all my love. What more do you want? Do you have to drive Serena to suicide to be satisfied?!" Forced to look at this familiar yet foreign man, I realized how far gone he was. He claimed to love me, yet he abandoned me at every critical moment without hesitation. He claimed he gave me everything, yet he gave the legal title of his wife to another woman. "I’m not satisfied," I said, looking straight into his eyes. "Julian, your love is filthy. It disgusts me." Julian froze as if struck by lightning. His grip on my chin loosened. "What did you say?" He stared at me in disbelief. I stood up, brushing the creases from my dress. My tone was as casual as if I were talking about the weather. "I said, we’re done. Julian, I’m not playing this three-person game with you anymore." "Done?" Julian let out a dark, disbelieving laugh. He suddenly pinned me against the wall, his eyes wild and possessive. "Chloe, you’ve been with me for seven years. You are branded with my name. You think you can just leave? Dream on! You are mine, forever!" He leaned down, trying to force his lips onto mine. I didn’t struggle. I just kept my eyes open, staring at him coldly. There was no anger in my eyes, no sorrow—only absolute indifference and disgust, as if I were looking at a piece of garbage. Julian froze mid-air. "Chloe..." His voice suddenly broke, softened by a trace of panic. "Don't be like this, okay? I know I hurt you today. Next month... next month I’ll take you to Iceland to see the Northern Lights. Didn't you always want to go? Let’s just go on a vacation, okay?" Watching him scramble to appease me, I found it pathetic. "Sure," I said with a faint smile that didn't reach my eyes. "Go ahead and plan it." Julian let out a massive sigh of relief, thinking I had finally yielded. He wrapped his arms tightly around my waist, burying his face in my neck, breathing in my scent hungrily. "Chloe, you're the only one for me. I can't live without you." I let him hold me, my eyes drifting past his shoulder to the cold, dark night sky outside. I didn't need him to see the Northern Lights. In three days, I would be on a private jet to San Francisco, vanishing from his life forever. ---**Chloe's POV** Two days left before my departure. I started clearing out my things. I didn’t pack any big suitcases; instead, I began systematically destroying everything that carried our seven years of memories. Julian’s old love letters, flight stubs from our trips, my unpublished design sketches... I threw them all into the incinerator in the backyard. The firelight danced across my face. I felt no regret. Julian’s friends came by the penthouse to drop off some files and caught me in the act. "Well, well, Chloe. What are you doing? Burning things to throw a tantrum?" Marcus walked over, looking at the ashes in the incinerator, his tone mocking. "Julian just stayed at the hospital with Serena for a few days, and you're already acting out? Women shouldn't play hard to get. Julian loves you, but acting like this will only push him away." To them, my behavior was just a childish bid for attention. I didn't even look at them. I tossed another photo album into the flames. "Julian and I are over. Don't bring him up to me. It's pathetic," I said, my voice cold as ice. The friends exchanged uneasy glances, then burst into laughter. "Over? Stop joking, Chloe. Could you actually survive without Julian? Everything you have—your penthouse, your career, your status—Julian gave it to you. Without him, what are you?" I finally stopped. I turned my head, my eyes cutting through them like daggers. "Everything I have, I designed with my own hands. Without Julian, I am still Chloe Vance, a top-tier designer. But you..." I let out a sharp, mocking laugh. "Aside from your trust funds, what exactly do you have?" Their faces turned ugly as my words hit a nerve. Just then, the front gate buzzed. It was Serena. She wore an oversized trench coat, looking pale and fragile. Seeing me, she took a timid step forward, her voice soft. "Chloe, is Julian not here?" Seeing her, Julian’s friends immediately put on their chivalrous acts. "Serena, what are you doing here? It's freezing outside. Come inside." Serena shook her head, her eyes locked on me. "I came to talk to Chloe." The friends backed off, leaving us alone. Serena walked up to me. The fragile act vanished instantly, replaced by a smug, malicious grin. She leaned in, whispering so only I could hear, "Chloe, stop wasting your time. Julian is already married to me. Legally, I am the real Mrs. Sterling. You’re nothing but a side chick he keeps in the dark." She expected me to break down. She wanted to see me scream and cry. Instead, I just looked at her calmly, a hint of pity in my eyes. "Are you done?" I asked, my voice completely flat. Serena froze, utterly thrown off by my reaction. "You... you aren't mad?" "Why should I be mad?" I laughed quietly, my eyes sharp. "Serena, do you think a piece of paper proves anything? Proves he loves you? If he loves you so much, why is he terrified of making your marriage public? Why does he sleep in my bed every single night? The man you fought so hard to steal is just garbage I’m throwing out." "You!" Serena’s face twisted in rage. She raised her hand, aiming a slap at my face. I was faster. I grabbed her wrist mid-air, and with my free hand, I delivered a stinging slap across her face. *SLAP!* It was clean, hard, and absolutely ruthless. Serena’s head snapped to the side, a trickle of blood leaking from the corner of her lip. She held her bruised cheek, staring at me in sheer shock. "That’s for stealing my design," I said coldly. "Serena, drop the victim act. You don't scare me." Suddenly, the front door was kicked open. Julian stormed in, catching the exact moment I slapped Serena. "Chloe! What the hell are you doing?!"