Silence. A few seconds, then—

"You have to admit, overseas is tougher. It's normal that Nadine beat me. Same as five years ago when I came back and beat you—you'd never lost. If you're not good enough, you accept it."

I squeezed my phone, nails biting into my palm. "So what? She beat you once, not me. You gonna marry her for that?"

"Clara! I've never thought that." He reined it in, voice heavy. "But I made that promise publicly. If I don't follow through, it makes Nadine look bad. Let's stop here. We both need to cool off."

'Stop here.'

It hit like a slap.

The heat in my eyes finally broke. Tears slid down my cheeks.

So this was it. Five years. The wedding I waited for.

From start to finish, I was the only one in it.

I hung up and got in the car.

Everything I'd buried came rushing back, glitching through my head like broken code.

I met Julian seven years ago at the National Actuarial Case Competition.

I'd just turned eighteen—the actuarial world's golden girl, stacking wins back to back.

Eighteen years. I'd never lost.

I was the kid everyone compared their kid to. Perfect. Untouchable.

Then I met him in the finals.

Before that, he was just a name—"the guy who came back from overseas."

Then he sat across from me, running complex algorithms like it was nothing.

That's when I learned what it feels like to get completely outclassed.

He wasn't fast, but every move was exact, like a simulation.

Calm. In control.

I didn't get crushed.

But I lost. Clean.

After the match, he walked over and handed me a bottle of warm water. "Your model's creative, but too aggressive. Like a rushing river. You need more resilience in risk control."

It was the first time anyone had called out a flaw that precisely.

And the first time I felt that kind of curiosity about someone.

Later, I found out he was already known overseas as an actuarial genius.

From then on, I started showing up on purpose.

I used "asking for advice" as an excuse and followed him to every institute and library he visited.

He never turned me away. His explanations were clear, step by step.

Sometimes, he'd point out the spots I couldn't see.

"Clara, actuarial science isn't reckless projection. It's control. Like life—you have to know what to let go."

After that, we just... ended up together. The actuarial world's favorite duo.

People called us the perfect power couple. We even got named joint ambassadors.

In those five years, I gave him almost everything.

Back then, he was gentle. Patient.

When I stayed up late grinding algorithms, he'd show up with hot coffee.

When I lost, he'd ruffle my hair. "Win it back next time."

I thought that softness was just for me.

Later, I realized it wasn't. Just habit. Control.

We had a deal.

"As long as you beat me once, we'll get married."

I stupidly thought it was his way of pushing me. I kept waiting to beat him in a real match—and finally claim the wedding he promised.

But over the next twenty-six matches, I never won.

I told myself I just hadn't worked hard enough.

Now I get it. Start to finish, he only saw me as a junior to train.

A good challenge. Never a life partner.

All those "sweet moments" I clung to? Just a trap he built, piece by piece.

And I walked right in—five years gone, chasing a fantasy.

***

The next day, I went to the actuarial lab like usual.

I pushed the door open—Julian and Nadine were by the window, talking.

He saw me and stepped in front of her. "Clara, I already explained the match. You here to give Nadine a hard time?"

The way he shielded her was blinding.

"You're overthinking it. The lab's for everyone. I'm just grabbing some files."

Julian still didn't look convinced. "You're a great actuary, I'll give you that. But I already made a public promise. If I don't stand by Nadine, what are people gonna say about her? Marriage isn't like actuarial work. It's not just who wins on paper. And with her, it's easy. With you, it always feels like... we're competing."

His words sank in slowly, like a dull blade carving deep.

Easy?

So five years of effort, of being there—that was just "competition" to him?

I looked at him and laughed. "So everything I did to stand next to you turned into a burden? Then why make that promise at all?"

Julian looked away, voice tight with impatience. "The promise was real back then. But things change. The one who beat me wasn't you. You're outstanding—you deserve someone better. Stop fixating on me."

"Someone better..." I echoed. It sounded ridiculous.

Nadine leaned into him, voice soft. "Julian, don't be upset. Ms. Clermont probably just needs time."

"Clara, if you keep this up, we can't even be friends."

As I watched his double standard play out, the last bit of hope in me snapped.

He could be gentle with Nadine—patient, attentive.

With me, it was just blame and impatience.

He'd break rules he'd held for years for her.

But he wouldn't even give me a fair shot.

After that, I never reached out to Julian again.

But my accusation had already blown up the actuarial world.

Everyone was waiting to see how he'd respond.

To calm things down, the Actuarial Society set up an Open Challenge Match.

Julian would face anyone to prove himself.

The second the news dropped, I signed up.

I wasn't looking for proof.

I wanted closure. An answer for those five years I gave him.

The day of the match, the place was packed. Cameras flashing nonstop.

I sat across from Julian, staring at a face I knew too well.

No nerves. No flutter. Just calm.

The ref gave the signal—we both started running calculations.

His model was sharp as ever. Controlled.

But something felt off.

Every step was almost too perfect.

Like he could already see my next moves coming.

I frowned and forced myself to stay steady.

Five years of studying his logic—I leaned on all of it just to keep up.

Seconds ticked by. The screen got more intense.

Right when I felt myself slipping, Julian dropped a set of key data.

The numbers looked normal—nothing special.

But they flipped the entire risk model.

I stared at the screen, my mind spinning.

No matter how I tweaked the parameters, I couldn't turn it back.

In the end, the ref called it—Julian wins. The room exploded in applause.

He stood, gave a small nod to the crowd.

Then he looked at me, a faint smile pulling at his lips. "Clara, you still can't beat me. Maybe it's not about Nadine—maybe you're just not good enough."

Calm. Controlled. Like he was showing off.

The ref grabbed the mic.

"The result is in. Julian Vale wins. Any objections?"

All eyes snapped to me.

Julian looked too, a hint of mockery in his eyes—like he was waiting for me to fold.

I took a breath and stood.

Mic in hand, I met his gaze.

"I object. I think Julian used AI to cheat."