The Ex Who Loved Too Late

I spent seven years by Tristan's side. I drank until my stomach bled to protect him. I attended social events until I was worn down by the filth of that world.

Yet he found me dirty, kept a pure college student as his mistress, and forced me to kneel and polish that woman's shoes.

I slit my wrists to give back the life I thought I owed him. Then I walked away and married Lucas Ashford, a man rumored to be blind and ruthless.

Tristan went mad, kneeling in the snow clutching my shattered cello, begging me to come back.

I sneered and took Lucas's arm, ready to leave.

Suddenly, Lucas removed the silk blindfold from his eyes and bent down to kiss my forehead.

Those supposedly blind eyes looked down at Tristan kneeling on the ground, filled with mockery.

"Get lost. Don't appear before my wife again."

Selena's POV

The moment I pushed open the private room door, a wave of thick smoke and alcohol hit me in the face.

Inside, the lights were dim, the deafening bass making my heart pound.

I stood in the doorway, still wearing the black business suit I hadn't had time to change out of, clutching an urgent acquisition contract.

"Mr. Vale, the documents you requested..."

Before I could finish, I froze.

In the center of the sofa, Tristan lounged lazily.

His long legs crossed, his shirt collar slightly open, revealing his sharply defined collarbones.

Those usually unfathomable eyes now held traces of amusement.

He wasn't looking at me.

His gaze was entirely fixed on the girl beside him.

The girl wore a pure white cotton dress, her long straight black hair falling over her shoulders, her face free of makeup.

She seemed very uncomfortable in this setting, like a frightened deer, clutching tightly at Tristan's sleeve.

"Mr. Vale, I... I want to go back to campus."

The girl's voice was thin, carrying a tremor of fear.

Tristan chuckled softly.

He raised his hand, his slender fingers ruffling the girl's hair with a gentleness I'd never seen before.

"What's there to be afraid of? I'm here. No one dares touch you."

The group of wealthy heirs around them immediately started whooping.

"Where'd you find this innocent little thing? Protecting her so closely!"

"She's so pure! That's a rare commodity in our circle!"

"Your taste changed pretty fast, didn't it? Didn't you used to prefer the sexy type?"

As they spoke, someone noticed me.

The private room fell silent for a few seconds.

Countless gazes landed on me, filled with scrutiny, mockery, and undisguised derision.

My name is Selena Hart. I'm Tristan Vale's executive assistant.

I was also the "assistant" who'd been with him for seven years. Everyone in our circle knew me, but I'd never had any official status.

Tristan finally lifted his eyelids and glanced at me.

A flash of faint annoyance crossed his eyes.

"Put it on the table."

His tone was cold, as if instructing an insignificant servant.

I walked over and set down the documents.

My gaze inadvertently met the girl's.

She looked at me with innocent eyes, a hint of shame in them.

Just like me seven years ago.

"Aren't you going to introduce her?"

Someone nearby drawled, cigarette dangling, grinning with ill intent.

Tristan picked up his glass and took a sip.

"Summer Lynn, sophomore at the Music Conservatory."

He only introduced her, not me.

Perhaps in his eyes, I wasn't even worthy of being mentioned alongside this clean little innocent.

Someone deliberately stirred trouble, pointing at me and asking Summer.

"Do you know who this is?"

Summer shook her head, glancing at me timidly.

"Is... is she Mr. Vale's sister?"

The private room erupted in roaring laughter.

"Sister? You're hilarious!"

"This is his most capable person. She'll do any dirty work. Her methods are ruthless."

"Right, Selena?"

Those venomous words pierced me like needles.

I dug my nails into my palms, forcing myself to maintain a polite smile.

I looked at Tristan.

Hoping he'd speak up for me like before. Even just one word.

But he didn't.

He just toyed with his lighter, the blue flame flickering on and off, illuminating his coldly handsome face.

"Enough."

After a long moment, he spoke lazily,

"Don't scare her."

He was protecting Summer Lynn.

I lowered my eyes, feeling like my heart was being squeezed by an invisible hand, so painful I could barely breathe.

"Mr. Vale, if there's nothing else, I'll be leaving."

I said.

"Wait."

Tristan stopped me.

He took the documents from the table, flipped through them casually, then tossed them back to me.

"This contract has problems. Redo it tonight, submit it to me tomorrow morning."

I was stunned.

"But Mr. Vale, you personally confirmed this yesterday..."

"I'm saying it has problems now."

Tristan cut me off, his gaze sharp,

"Selena, you've been getting careless with your work lately."

I stood there, cold all over.

I knew the contract was fine.

He was just using this method to warn me, to put me in my place.

Because when I entered earlier, my eyes looking at Summer Lynn accidentally revealed a trace of emotion.

He was blaming me for disturbing his little deer.

"Alright, I understand."

I picked up the documents and turned to leave.

As I neared the door, I heard Summer's soft voice.

"Mr. Vale, she looks so scary..."

Tristan chuckled lightly, his voice carrying undisguised mockery.

"Ignore her."

"That woman has nothing but schemes left."

My footsteps stopped abruptly.

My eyes stung with tears, but I didn't turn back. I pushed open the door and walked into the bitterly cold winter night.

Selena's POV

At 3 AM, I typed the last word.

I sent the revised contract to Tristan's email.

I leaned back in my chair, looking at London's desolate night view through the floor-to-ceiling windows, exhausted to the bone.

Seven years.

I'd been with Tristan since I was twenty.

Back then, I was the principal cellist at the Music Conservatory.

Back then, my heart and eyes were full of the cello and my future.

Tristan had pursued me.

He'd wait downstairs with the hardest-to-find lemon cake when I rehearsed until late at night.

He'd furrow his brow in distress over a tiny scratch on my finger, applying medicine himself.

He said. "Selena, your hands are for playing the cello, not for suffering."

He said. "Selena, after graduation, let's get married."

I believed him.

I fell in love with him completely, even giving up my opportunity to study abroad for him.

But what happened after?

The Hart family went bankrupt. My father became addicted to gambling, racking up loan shark debts.

Debt collectors cornered me in an alley and nearly destroyed my hands.

Tristan saved me, paid off my debts.

But from that moment on, everything changed.

He became my creditor, my benefactor, the only lifeline I could grasp.

To be worthy of him, to help him secure his position in the Vale family.

I took off my white dresses and put on rigid business suits.

I learned to drink, learned to schmooze, learned to smile at those greasy old men.

I even drank until I had stomach bleeding, just to shield him from alcohol.

To secure a project for him, I stood in the snow for three hours.

I became smooth, worldly, only caring about money.

I personally killed the Selena who played the cello and turned myself into a blade that cleared the path for Tristan.

But he found this blade covered in blood, found this blade no longer clean.

My phone suddenly vibrated.

It was the nursing home calling.

My heart tightened. I answered immediately.

"Ms. Hart, your brother had another episode today and broke quite a few things. We've already administered sedatives."

"Also, this month's fees are due. Could you..."

I took a deep breath, suppressing the sob in my throat.

"I understand. I'll transfer the money first thing tomorrow morning. Please take good care of him."

After hanging up, I opened my bank account.

The balance was nearly depleted.

Over the years, I'd earned quite a bit, but almost all of it went to filling the Hart family's bottomless pit and my brother's medical expenses.

As for Tristan, he did pay me well, but he never gave me extra money.

He used this method to control me precisely.

Making it impossible for me to leave him, making me cling to him like a dog.

The door lock clicked.

Tristan was back.

He walked into the living room carrying a chill and the faint scent of gardenias.

That was Summer Lynn's scent.

I stood up and walked over to take his coat.

"How much did you drink? I'll get you some medicine."

I habitually reached out to loosen his tie.

He suddenly stepped back, avoiding my hand.

"Don't touch me."

He frowned, his eyes carrying obvious disgust.

My hand froze in mid-air.

"You reek of cheap perfume and cigarettes. It's nauseating."

He pulled off his tie and tossed it carelessly on the sofa.

I looked down at myself.

Tonight, for that contract, I had attended a social event and been forced to drink quite a bit.

"Sorry, I'll take a shower."

I said softly.

"No need."

Tristan walked to the floor-to-ceiling window and lit a cigarette.

"Selena, we need to talk."

My heart sank.

Instinct told me that what he was about to say would drag me completely into hell.

"Summer is a good girl."

He exhaled a smoke ring, his voice calm yet cruel.

"I really like her."

"She's clean. Simple minded. Nothing like you are now. You're full of schemes, willing to do anything for money."

My fingers trembled.

"So?"

"So I plan to support her through college, then marry her."

Tristan turned around, looking down at me.

"You've been with me for seven years. Even without merit, you've worked hard."

"At the company, you'll still be my chief secretary."

"But in private, know your place. Don't provoke her. She's timid and easily frightened."

My heart felt like it was thrown into a meat grinder, shredded, bloody and mangled.

He was going to marry someone else, because he found me dirty.

But who had I become dirty for?

"Tristan."

I heard my hoarse voice,

"What if I don't agree?"

Tristan paused, then laughed as if he'd heard the joke of the century.

He stubbed out his cigarette, walked up to me, reached out and gripped my chin, squeezing hard.

"Don't agree?"

"Selena, on what grounds would you not agree?"

"Do you think you're still that celebrated cellist from seven years ago?"

"You're nothing but a notorious social butterfly now! Everyone in London knows you, Selena Hart, will use any underhanded means to climb up!"

"That gambling addict father of yours racked up another ten million last week. That mentally ill brother of yours costs hundreds of thousands in medical expenses every month."

He leaned close to my ear, his voice as gentle as a demon's whisper.

"Leave me, and what will you live on? Hmm?"

My tears fell onto the back of his hand.

He jerked his hand away in disgust and pulled out a wet wipe to clean it.

"Put away those tears. So ugly."

"Remember what I said. Don't touch Summer. Otherwise, I'll show you what it truly means to wish you were dead."

He turned and went into the bathroom.

Water started running.

I collapsed onto the cold floor, covering my mouth, not even daring to cry out loud.

Selena's POV

Tristan began openly bringing Summer Lynn around.

He didn't avoid anyone, including me.

Rumors about me spread like wildfire through the company.

"Did you hear? Selena's fallen out of favor."

"She should have fallen out of favor ages ago. Always putting on that cold face, acting all high and mighty. Compared to Summer, she's like a weathered old woman."

"Mr. Vale only kept her around because she's useful. Did she really think she could marry him?"

I stood outside the break room door holding coffee, hearing every word clearly.

If this were before, I definitely would have stormed in and thrown hot coffee in their faces.

But now, I didn't even have the energy to be angry.

I turned and went back to my office, continuing to process the mountain of documents on my desk.

At 3 PM, Tristan's intercom rang.

"Bring up the materials for the Starlight Bay project."

I carried the materials upstairs and pushed open the CEO's office door.

Sunlight streamed through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows.

Tristan sat on the sofa with a cello resting on his lap.

Summer Lynn sat beside him, awkwardly fumbling with the strings.

"No, don't be so stiff with your fingers. Relax them."

Tristan embraced Summer from behind, holding her hands, teaching her bit by bit how to pluck the strings.

They were extremely close, their posture intimately entwined.

My footsteps froze in place, all the blood in my body flowing backward in an instant.

That cello...

The body had extremely rare flame patterns, the scroll carved with a delicate iris flower.

That was the cello Tristan had spent a fortune bidding on from overseas for my nineteenth birthday!

That was MY cello!

"Tristan..."

My voice trembled.

The two on the sofa looked over simultaneously.

Summer jumped in fright, quickly pulling away from Tristan's embrace, her cheeks flushing red.

"Ms... Ms. Hart..."

Tristan's expression darkened.

"Don't you know to knock before entering? Where did all your manners go?"

I stared fixedly at that cello.

"You gave my cello to her?"

Tristan frowned, his tone matter-of-fact.

"It's just a cello that was collecting dust anyway. Summer happens to need a good cello for a competition, so I lent it to her for practice."

Just a cello.

He knew perfectly well what that cello meant to me.

That was my last shred of dignity, proof that I once had everything.

Five years ago, while protecting him from a car sent by his enemies, my right hand was crushed in a comminuted fracture.

The doctor said I'd never be able to play the cello again in this lifetime.

That cello became an untouchable scar in my heart.

And now, he personally tore open that scar and even stomped on it twice.

"Give it back to me."

I walked forward step by step, trembling all over.

"Give the cello back to me!"

I reached out to grab it.

Summer screamed and backed away repeatedly.

Tristan shot up, shoving me away hard.

"Selena, what are you going crazy about!"

I was pushed off guard, my entire body slamming heavily into the coffee table.

A sharp pain shot through my waist. A glass shattered, shards embedding themselves in my palm.

Blood immediately gushed out.

I gasped in pain and looked up at him.

Tristan looked down at me, not a trace of concern in his eyes, only coldness and warning.

"How long are you going to keep this up?"

"I said Summer needs it for a competition. She's borrowing the cello for a few days. What's the problem? What use is such a fine cello to a cripple who can't even hold a bow?"

Cripple.

That word, like a poisoned blade, stabbed viciously into my heart.

I looked at my blood-soaked right hand.

Whose fault was it that this hand became crippled?!

Summer looked at the blood on the floor, her eyes reddening.

"Mr. Vale, don't blame Selena. It's my fault. I shouldn't have wanted this cello... I'll give it back to her."

She bit her lip grievously, tears streaming down her face.

Tristan immediately softened, pulling her into his arms and coaxing her gently.

"It's not your fault. She's just being unreasonable."

"I said I'm giving you this cello, and it's yours. No one can take it away."

He turned his head, looking at me coldly.

"Get out. Stop being an eyesore here."

I looked at the couple before me. I suddenly felt disgusted. Really, sick to my stomach.

I braced myself against the coffee table and shakily stood up.

Blood dripped from my hand onto the carpet, blooming into alarmingly red flowers.

I didn't make a scene anymore, didn't say another word.

Just turned around and walked out of the office step by step.

Back at my desk, my phone rang.

It was my father calling.

"Selena, my luck's been bad lately. Lost a bit more... transfer me another five million."

I closed my eyes, my voice so calm it scared even me.

"I have no money."

"No money? How could you have no money! Tristan's loaded. You've been with him for years and he won't even give you five million? If you don't give it to me, I'll go to the hospital and pull your brother's life support myself!"

I hung up the phone.

Blocked his number.

Looking at the dried blood on my palm, I suddenly started laughing.

Laughing until tears streamed down uncontrollably.

Selena, you're truly pathetic.

Seven years. You gave up everything, and in the end all you got was being called a "cripple."

Enough.

Really, enough.

Selena's POV

A week later, London's most elite charity gala.

Tristan brought Summer Lynn.

But he brought me too.

Summer Lynn, as his companion, held his arm, wearing a million-pound haute couture gown like a proud little princess.

While I wore a rigid black suit, holding a schedule in my hand, following behind them.

Like a complete lackey.

"Mr. Vale, at tonight's auction, the 'Tears of the Deep' sapphire necklace you had your eye on earlier will be the finale piece."

I reported to him.

Tristan gave a faint "mm."

That necklace he'd promised me a month ago, saying it was to celebrate our seven years together.

I didn't actually care about any necklace. I just wanted proof that he still cared about me.

But now, I knew it was impossible.

The gala was filled with elegant guests in fine attire.

Tristan brought Summer Lynn around to network with business tycoons.

I was stationed in a shadowy corner, ready to attend to him at any moment.

Halfway through the event, I got up to use the restroom.

The corridor lighting was dim.

Passing a VIP lounge, the door was ajar, and low conversation came from inside.

I glanced inadvertently.

A man sat inside.

He wore an impeccably tailored dark suit, his posture upright, broad-shouldered and long-legged.

His coldly defined jawline looked particularly imposing in the half-light.

Even with his eyes closed, the aura of someone in power couldn't be ignored.

Most striking was the black cane he idly twirled in his hands.

The head of the Ashford family, Lucas.

London's most mysterious and most feared figure.

Rumor had it that he'd been in a car accident a year ago and lost his sight. But even so, under his iron-fisted methods, the Ashford family remained powerful.

He was truly ruthless.

I didn't want to stare, and was about to leave.

The deep gray handkerchief in his hand suddenly slipped, falling near the doorway.

My steps paused. Inexplicably, I walked over, bent down, and picked up the handkerchief.

Just as I was about to hand it to him.

A slender, powerful hand with prominent knuckles suddenly reached out and gripped my wrist.

His strength was immense, brooking no resistance.

I gasped, jerking my head up.

Lucas had somehow already moved to the doorway.

His eyes were closed, his face slightly turned toward me, his nose seeming to twitch.

"Who?"

His voice was low and magnetic, like a cold, hard cello.

"Mr. Ashford, you dropped your handkerchief."

I suppressed the panic in my heart, trying to pull my hand back.

He didn't let go. Instead, his fingers tightened slightly, his fingertips brushing over the still-healing glass cut on my palm.

"Selena Hart?"

He called my name accurately.

I froze.

"You know me?"

The corner of Lucas's mouth curved into a faint arc.

"Tristan Vale's obedient little dog."

The words were too harsh.

I yanked my hand free forcefully.

"Mr. Ashford, please show some respect."

I shoved the handkerchief into his hand and turned to leave.

But as I turned, I collided into a cold embrace.

Tristan stood at the end of the corridor, I don't know since when.

He looked at me and Lucas, his eyes frighteningly sinister.

"Mr. Vale..."

Tristan jerked me behind him, his grip nearly crushing my wrist.

"Mr. Ashford, long time no see. What, interested in my people?"

Lucas held the handkerchief, casually straightening his cuff.

"Just a biting dog. If Mr. Vale can't control it, might as well throw it away early."

With that, he gripped his cane and, assisted by his aide, left calmly.

Tristan stared at his retreating figure until it disappeared, then violently released my hand.

"Selena, you really are shameless."

He ground his teeth,

"Lucas is blind, and you still throw yourself at him?"

I rubbed my reddened wrist, looking at him.

"I only picked up his handkerchief."

"Stop making excuses!"

Tristan's eyes were full of malice,

"Behave yourself and stop embarrassing me!"

With that, he turned and headed toward the auction hall.

The auction began.

The finale piece, "Tears of the Deep," was brought onto the display platform.

The brilliant sapphires sparkled dazzlingly under the lights.

Starting bid: fifty million.

Tristan raised his paddle without hesitation.

"Eighty million."

The entire hall gasped. No one dared compete with him anymore.

The auctioneer's gavel fell.

Tristan stood up, and under everyone's envious gazes, took the necklace in his hands.

Then, he walked past me and straight to Summer Lynn.

He personally placed that necklace-originally meant for me-around Summer Lynn's neck.

"Summer, do you like it?"

He smiled with tender affection.

Summer covered her mouth, so moved she was nearly in tears.

"I love it... but it's too expensive."

"As long as you like it, I could give you the entire family fortune."

Warm applause and cheers erupted around them.

I stood in the corner, watching this scene, the last pathetic shred of hope in my heart completely reduced to ashes.

After the gala ended, Tristan put Summer in the car, then turned to look at me.

"Tomorrow, give Mr. Cooper three points off the profit from the West District project. He helped Summer tonight."

He spoke as if it were the most ordinary thing.

I looked at him, suddenly finding this face terrifyingly unfamiliar.

"Tristan."

I called his name.

He frowned.

"What?"

"Let's break up."

The winter night wind was cold, cutting like a knife across my face.

Tristan froze.

Then he laughed mockingly, as if he'd heard the most absurd joke.

"Selena, what tantrum are you throwing now?"

"Because of that necklace? It's just a necklace. Tomorrow I'll have my assistant pick out something more expensive for you."

He looked down at me, his tone full of disdain.

"Don't threaten me with breaking up. Can you even leave me?"

"Your father's gambling debts, your brother's life-which one doesn't need me?"

"Put away those ridiculous tricks and obediently go back to work."

He finished speaking, turned, got in his car, and slammed the door shut.

The car sped away.

I stood there, watching the taillights disappear into the night.

He thought I was playing hard to get.

He thought I was a dog that would never leave.

But he was wrong.

Even a dog, when pushed to its limit, will bite through its chain.

Selena's POV

I returned to the apartment where Tristan and I had lived for five years.

I only took a twenty-inch suitcase.

I took a few sets of old clothes and an old photo my mother left me.

Everything else the designer bags, the haute couture jewelry, anything Tristan had ever given me I didn't take any of it.

I didn't take a single thing.

I removed the plain ring I'd worn for seven years from my finger and left it on the shoe cabinet in the entryway.

Then I blocked all of Tristan's contact information.

And blocked everyone from the company too.

As I pushed open the door, I didn't look back.

4 AM.

I dragged my suitcase down the empty street.

I hadn't gone far when several dark figures suddenly emerged from the shadows, blocking my path.

It was David Hart, my gambling addict father.

He'd brought several vicious-looking debt collectors with him.

"Selena! You're finally out!"

David grabbed my arm, his eyes wild with desperation,

"Quick! Give me money! Ten million. If you don't pay up, they're going to chop off my hand today!"

I looked at him.

"I have no money."

"Bullshit! How could you have no money! Where's Tristan? Call him and tell him to bring money!"

"I broke up with him."

David froze, then his face contorted grotesquely.

"Broke up? You bitch! How dare you break up with him!"

He slapped me hard across the face.

The force was tremendous. I fell to the ground, tasting blood in my mouth.

The debt collectors grew impatient.

"David, can you pay or not? If you can't, we're taking your daughter as payment today! She's not bad looking. Sell her to a club and she'll bring in good money."

Two men stepped forward to drag me away.

I struggled desperately, my nails digging into the asphalt until my fingers were bloody.

Despair submerged me like a tide.

Just then, a blinding set of high beams suddenly shone over.

A black Rolls-Royce Phantom stopped at the curb.

The door opened.

Several well-trained bodyguards rushed out and kicked the debt collectors and David to the ground in moments.

I sat collapsed on the ground, trembling all over as I looked up.

The car window slowly lowered.

Lucas Ashford sat in the back seat, half his face hidden in shadow.

His eyes were closed, his hand still gripping that cane.

"Mr. Ashford..."

My voice was hoarse, looking at him like a drowning person grasping at a lifeline.

Lucas tilted his head slightly, as if identifying my location.

"Selena, you look quite pathetic."

His tone remained coldly aloof.

I bit down hard, crawled up regardless of everything, and rushed to the car window.

"Mr. Ashford, save me."

Lucas laughed lightly, his fingers tapping the cane rhythmically.

"Why should I save a dog someone else threw away?"

I clenched my fists so tightly my nails dug into my palms.

"I'm not a dog."

"Mr. Ashford, I know the predicament you currently face."

I forced myself to calm down and spoke rapidly.

"The Ashford family's branch members are making moves. You've lost your sight, and they're using this opportunity to pressure you into giving up power. They even want to force women on you through arranged marriages to control you."

Lucas's fingers stopped tapping the cane.

The air around us instantly dropped to freezing.

The bodyguards were too frightened to even breathe.

I endured the terrifying pressure emanating from him and continued.

"You need a shield. A wife with no background, a clean record, completely under your control."

"I can be that person."

"I've been by Tristan's side for seven years. I'm intimately familiar with the business battlefield. I can not only help you fend off those women, but I can also be your eyes, helping you clean up the company's mess."

Lucas said nothing.

He sat there quietly, like a perfect sculpture.

After a long while, he suddenly smiled.

That smile was extremely cold, carrying a bloodthirsty quality.

"Bold. Daring to negotiate with me."

He leaned slightly, turning toward my direction.

"What do you want?"

"Protection."

I said, "Pay off David's gambling debts for me, transfer my brother to a private hospital under the Ashford name. Then, help me escape from Tristan Vale."

"As long as you agree, I'm selling this life to the Ashford family."

The night wind howled.

I was so nervous my breathing stopped.

I don't know how much time passed.

Lucas slowly spoke, his low voice resonating in the darkness.

"Get in the car."

My taut nerves finally snapped, my body collapsing powerlessly against the car door.

I'd won.

After getting in, the car was filled with a faint scent of agarwood.

Lucas handed me a document.

I looked down.

"Marriage Agreement."

"Sign it."

Lucas leaned back in his seat, eyes closed,

"From today on, you are Mrs. Ashford."

"Since you're with me now, cut all ties with your past. All of it."

"If I discover you still have any connection with Tristan Vale..."

He didn't finish, but the chilling tone in his voice made me shudder.

"Don't worry, Mr. Ashford."

I signed my name without hesitation.

"Tristan Vale is already dead to me."