Part 2The Hundred Chances I Gave You

When the banquet ended and I reached for my car door, Julian caught my wrist from behind.

"Let's go together. Take my car. Leave yours with Quinn—I'll pick it up tomorrow."

Before I could respond, he naturally took my bag from me, his other hand covering mine as he firmly shut the car door.

I stiffened but didn't argue with him anymore.

People have to move forward. You can't stay trapped in endless waiting, building your own cage.

The car merged into the deep night.

Watching the flickering neon lights outside the window, I suddenly felt so tired.

Tired of Julian. Tired of these seven years of unresolved feelings.

We drove in silence.

Until he broke it first. "Are you angry?"

"No." My voice was flat.

He turned to look at me, his brow furrowed into a tight knot. "Jenna, I know you've been waiting and it's been hard. But the overseas projects are crushing me. I'm stretched too thin. I really can't help it."

"How are we any different from being married right now? We're just just not legally married yet."

"If you can't wait, we can go to City Hall right now. We can get the license anytime."

Seeing my continued silence, a rare crack appeared in his usually composed expression.

"What do I have to do for you to believe me?"

I looked up, my voice calm. "You don't have to do anything. I believe you."

like punching a pillow, Julian turned to me in bewilderment.

"Then why haven't you said a single word to me from the end of the banquet until now?"

I turned back to the window. The neon lights still flashed tirelessly.

Red, yellow, green—the same as every night for the past seven years.

But I knew clearly in my heart that Julian and I could never go back.

Back then, my parents strictly forbade me from dating, but when they found out I liked Julian, they relented.

Mom smiled and held my hand, her tone full of approval.

"The Wright family matches ours perfectly. Much more reliable than those social climbers out there."

"You two are in love—it saves us the trouble of an arranged marriage."

In the dim car, Julian's profile was still sharp and handsome, the kind countless people chased after.

But looking at him, I could no longer piece together the memory of that boy who used to blush when he smiled at me, who always put me first.

I spoke softly, my voice so calm it felt foreign even to me.

"Julian, let's break up."

The car lurched violently. I pitched forward, nearly hitting the windshield.

"Jenna, do you know what you're saying?"

The car stopped on the roadside. He turned his head.

The cramped space left me nowhere to escape. I was forced to meet his gaze.

The moonlight deepened. I had no energy to look at Julian's increasingly dark expression.

"The Ashford family rules—I told you when we first got together." My voice stayed level.

"Before thirty, if I don't get married, I have to accept an arranged match."

I smiled slightly. "Next month on the tenth, I'll be thirty."

The car fell silent. So silent only heartbeats remained.

"So you're breaking up with me to go through with an arranged marriage?"

Julian's voice trembled with anger.

"Jenna, won't you fight for us? Tell them you have someone you love. Marriage is just a matter of time."

"We will get married. I just... I'm not ready yet."

"I want to give you the best."

My chest suddenly felt blocked, sour emotions surging up.

I couldn't help asking one more time.

"How much longer would I have to wait?"

The moment the words left my mouth, I regretted them.

At this point, what was the use of asking these questions, waiting for his high-sounding excuses?

"It won't be much longer." He reached out to hold me, his thin lips moving to kiss me. I turned my head away.

His hand froze in midair, the light in his eyes gradually dying.

"Jenna, you don't trust me anymore?" His voice was hoarse with bitter laughter as he pounded the steering wheel.

Just then, his phone rang abruptly.

He straightened up, instinctively moving to open the door to take the call.

I beat him to it, speaking softly.

"I'll get out. It's easy to get a cab here."