Chapter 341

"Have you seen the trending news?" Jasmine Keane strode into the living room in stilettos, her phone screen glowing coldly in her grip.

Julian Valdemar was hunched over the coffee table revising his portfolio. The pencil scratched against paper as he worked. "Had three interviews today. Didn't check my phone."

Paint stains dotted the cuffs of his white shirt. His tie hung loosely around his neck. Since leaving the Valdemar estate, the former young master had to iron his own clothes.

"Guess who I saw today?" Jasmine thrust her phone at him. "Sophia Laurent just acquired a Van Gogh 'Sunflowers' replica at the charity gala. The whole internet's praising the Valdemar heiress's exquisite taste."

The pencil tip snapped. Julian stared at his sketch, voice flat. "She represents Valdemar Holdings now. Standard social obligation." He sharpened the pencil. "Stop calling her sister-in-law. I'm no longer part of that family."

Jasmine's manicured fingers clenched.

"You're joking." Her voice spiked before dropping to a hiss. "That's the Valdemar empire! Did your parents approve this?"

"They'd prefer me gone." Julian's lips twisted. "The Patriarch froze my trust fund." His gaze suddenly burned bright. "But I got a callback from miHoYo today. Concept artist position."

Jasmine recoiled as if hearing nonsense.

"Eight thousand during probation. Double after." Julian caught her trembling hand, smearing pencil dust on her fresh manicure. "Enough for a small flat near the Bund."

"Have you lost your mind?" She jerked free. "Eight thousand won't even buy one of your old watch straps!" Her Chanel earrings shimmered violently with each heaving breath.

Julian watched her calmly. Behind him towered stacks of rejected resumes, the top sheet bearing "Shanghai Institute of Visual Arts - Honors Graduate."

"Jasmine." His whisper barely carried. "When Sophia struck me from the family registry, these hands became all I have left."

Her lips trembled. Last month's maxed-out credit card at Plaza 66 flashed through her mind. The walk-up apartment with its broken elevator.

Beyond the window, the neon skyline of Lujiazui glittered like liquid gold. All those once-touchable splendors now mere reflections in glass.