It's easy to get used to luxury;

it's far harder to return to a life of simplicity.

How was Julian supposed to accept that?

Dalton, understanding full well how hard it was for Julian to handle such a fall from grace, opened the passenger door and said quietly, "Come on, let's get in the car."

Julian moved mechanically, lifting his foot and getting in, his expression blank.

Dalton settled into the driver's seat. They rode in silence, the weight of the moment pressing in on them.

Before long, the car pulled up outside Chandler Manor.

The entrance to the manor was sealed off with red tape from the authorities. Under the supervision of court officials, Vida Winslow and Veronica Winslow were carrying boxes from the house-just the bare essentials, since anything of real value was being confiscated. All they were allowed to take were a few personal belongings.

Dalton switched off the engine and, for a moment, just sat there. Then he asked, "Julian, do you regret it?"

Julian didn't have time to answer before Dalton pressed on, "Do you regret divorcing Caitlin? If you hadn't left her, the Chandler family wouldn't be where it is now."

Julian's eyes narrowed. A sudden glimmer lit up in his gaze as he turned to Dalton. "Caitlin! Did she get in touch with you? Has she been asking about me?"

All this time, Julian had convinced himself that Caitlin had moved on, that she'd forgotten him. But if she was asking Dalton about him, maybe she still cared!

The thought sent a surge of excitement through him.

But just as quickly, his expression soured, bitterness overtaking the hope in his eyes. "Hmph! Go tell Caitlin this: if she wants me back, she should buy out the Chandler Group and hand over all her shares in Apex Game Studios to me. Otherwise, I'll never take her back. Never!"

If Caitlin was still seeking him out, it meant she couldn't let him go. Clearly, she couldn't live without him.

Dalton shook his head, frowning. "Julian, you're overthinking things. Caitlin hasn't contacted me. I asked because I wanted to know if you regret what you did. Caitlin loved you, Julian. She would have done anything for you. But you betrayed her and kicked her out of your home."

Julian eyed him suspiciously. "You're sure Caitlin didn't put you up to this?"

"Absolutely sure," Dalton replied, his voice slow and deliberate.

The hope in Julian's eyes faded again. He looked away, jaw tight. "No, I don't regret divorcing Caitlin for Sophie. Not now, not ever."

Dalton studied him for a moment, then spoke again. "You really don't regret it? Ever since you left Caitlin for Sophie, the Chandler family's been falling apart, while Caitlin's been thriving. Now the Chandlers are bankrupt and you're left with nothing. Do you really think Sophie will stick around?"

Julian's eyes hardened with conviction. "Sophie's a good person. No matter what happens to my family, she'll stay by my side!"

Dalton's brow creased in concern. "Julian, have you forgotten why Sophie left you in the first place?"

Back then, Julian and Sophie Barrett were madly in love. But then the Chandler Group hit a devastating financial crisis. Rumors spread that the family fortune would be lost. Right at the height of their relationship, Sophie abruptly announced she was leaving the country for grad school and broke things off with Julian, just like that.

It was the most painful time of his life. Sophie became the one that got away, the perfect girl he could never have.

Caitlin married Julian after that. In time, the Chandler Group clawed its way back to the top; Julian became the financial world's rising star. When Jarvis died, Sophie rushed back from overseas for the funeral, and she and Julian picked up right where they'd left off. Julian, without a second thought, kicked Caitlin to the curb.

Julian scowled, cutting off Dalton's line of questioning. "You don't know Sophie at all! She's kind, far better than Caitlin ever was. She never cared about my status or my money. She left for her studies, not because my family was ruined. She loves me for who I am, and I know she'll stand by me as I rebuild everything from scratch!"