Everyone thought I was Silicon Valley king Julian Croft's obedient little canary. He professed his love in the gentlest tones while systematically destroying me in the cruelest ways. When he demanded once again, "What do I need to do for you to believe me?" I finally abandoned my hysteria and began my "peaceful withdrawal"—slow-cooking my heart, cooling the passion that had boiled for him for seven years. I thought I'd finally escaped that gilded cage, but he chased me from Silicon Valley to Paris, shielding me with his body during a car crash, even using his entire business empire to build an "atonement" foundation for me. As he lay in the ICU, I leaned down and told him: "Julian, we can't go back. But... your future is subject to my reassessment." [Obsessive CEO's desperate pursuit × Rational heroine's calculated withdrawal]