Part 3The Hundred Chances I Gave You

I unbuckled my seatbelt and was suddenly stopped by him.

"Jenna."

"Let's just... let tonight's unpleasantness end tonight."

"I've had your birthday gift ready for a long time. Next month, I'll give you a surprise."

My hand on the door handle paused.

"Okay. Thanks."

His phone rang again, with a sense of urgency.

I understood. I quickly got out of the car.

It was Iris's custom ringtone.

No matter how deeply Julian hid it, how could someone as sensitive as me not notice?

I dragged myself home.

My gaze fell on the notebook on my desk.

Inside was everything about Julian and me, from burning passion to desolation.

So much time had passed, I'd almost forgotten how Julian and I had reached this point.

I sat at the desk, flipping through page by page, forcing myself to see the truth clearly.

Until I reached page ten, where Iris's name first appeared in my diary—also our first fight.

Back then, she hadn't even graduated yet but got an internship at Julian's company.

Fresh and green, with clear eyes.

Like all college students entering society, carrying naive curiosity and vibrant energy.

Julian at that time was full of disgust for her, frowning as he called her noisy.

Said she was stupid, couldn't even make a cup of coffee properly, his face full of impatience as he wanted to fire her.

I watched Iris bow in apology with red-rimmed eyes and softened.

I tugged on Julian's arm, gently persuading him to give her a chance—everyone makes mistakes, as long as they learn from them.

At that time, I thought I was saving a girl full of dreams who just needed guidance.

That night, Julian pressed me against the floor-to-ceiling window and took me all night long.

He bit my shoulder, his voice domineering.

"You like putting women around me that much? Beg me, and I'll keep her."

I wrapped my arms around his neck, whimpering and begging for mercy as we moved, but my heart was so sweet.

Later, Iris began infiltrating our lives at every turn.

Gradually, Julian's assessment of her shifted from stupid and noisy to sunny and lively.

His indulgence of Iris gradually exceeded what he showed me.

On our anniversaries, she could always appear with complete justification, tilting her head to offer a casual apology.

Then sitting beside Julian without a care.

When we were alone, Julian's phone would ring at the worst times, the caller ID always showing Iris.

Then he'd turn away and tell me, "Work comes first. I'll be right back."

And then he could leave me behind with a clear conscience.

It wasn't like Julian had done anything terribly wrong.

At least I'd never caught them in bed together.

But looking at my diary, densely recording every single moment Iris intruded on our lives—once, twice, countless times...

The ignored emotions suddenly lodged in my chest, so stifling I couldn't breathe.