Chapter 7

I sat in the backseat of the car, leaning my temple against my hand, staring out the window in absolute silence.

The atmosphere in the car was suffocatingly tense.

Silas's two juniors frantically tried to make conversation, talking about fun spots in New York and telling bad jokes.

It was noisy.

I frowned slightly.

"Are you two this loud when you're with Julian?"

The driver laughed awkwardly. "Miss Vance, we've never worked for Julian. We only follow our boss."

"Oh?" I raised an eyebrow, turning my gaze to Silas.

He was resting with his eyes closed. Sensing my gaze, he slowly opened them. "We only took this as a temporary contract."

"I see."

The car fell silent again. My phone buzzed. Another notification.

Hailey had just posted on Instagram.

[Giving you both my award and myself. @JulianSterling]

In an instant, the internet exploded. Congratulations flooded in, with endless comments about how perfect they were for each other.

Silas reached out and tapped my screen, turning it off.

"If it makes you uncomfortable, don't look."

His voice was cold.

I knit my brows. Silas was starting to get interesting. He seemed genuinely terrified of me being hurt by Julian's actions.

"What do you think of Hailey?"

Silas froze, clearly not expecting the question.

But he still answered, "She looks like you."

"And?"

"But she isn't you."

I let out a soft laugh, tracing the edge of my phone.

Right.

She looked like me.

But she wasn't me.

He found a substitute, and then fell for the substitute.

I couldn't help but wonder—Julian, do you even know who you actually love?

But he was right about one thing.

Over these three years, his life had only gotten better, while I remained trapped in the abyss of the past, stagnant.