2026-05-15 13:30:32
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Chapter Twenty Six
Colette sat in her car in the parking garage of Vivian's building, her hands gripping the steering wheel so hard her knuckles had turned white. The rain continued to hammer down outside, the sound monotonous and endless, matching the rhythm of her breathing.She'd been sitting there for ten minutes. Or maybe twenty. Time had stopped having meaning.Her face throbbed where Vivian had scratched her.She kept thinking about Julian's indifference and the way he'd looked at her—like she was nothing, like three years of marriage meant absolutely nothing and she was just another obstacle he'd pushed past on his way to somewhere better.She'd made him, shaped him, transformed him from nothing into something worth having, and he'd repaid her by crawling into another woman's bed the moment she wasn't watching.Her phone buzzed.Colette's heart lurched for just a second before she saw the caller ID.Sebastian.She answered immediately, her voice hoarse from screaming at Vivian. "Hello?""Colett
Chapter Twenty Five
Back in the apartment, Julian stood perfectly still for three seconds.Then he grabbed Vivian's wrist and pulled her arm away from his body with sharp force."You can drop the act," he said, his voice cold and flat.Vivian's expression shifted instantly. The manufactured affection dissolved like smoke, replaced by a raw, hungry look that made Julian's skin crawl."Finally," she breathed, her eyes glittering. "I've been waiting three years to have you look at me like that."Julian released her wrist and stepped back, creating distance between them."Three years ago," Vivian continued, moving toward him, "at Colette's housewarming party. Do you remember?"Julian said nothing."You were in the kitchen," Vivian said, her voice dropping to an intimate tone."Washing dishes. Your sleeves were rolled up. You were humming to yourself—I don't even think you knew anyone was watching.""I fell in love with you that moment," Vivian said as she smiled. "Just like that. Completely in love with you,
Chapter Twenty Four
The bedroom door opened.Julian walked out, shirtless, his hair disheveled, his expression completely flat.Vivian's face lit up instantly. She detached herself from Colette and moved toward him, wrapping her arms around his waist and pressing herself against his side.Julian didn't push her away.He simply stood there and looked at Colette.His eyes were dead – there was no anger or sadness in them. Just empty, like someone had reached inside him and removed everything that made him human."At last night's celebration dinner," he said, his voice quiet and measured, "everyone was saying I was Sebastian's replacement."Colette opened her mouth."So," Julian continued, his gaze never wavering from hers, "am I really just a placeholder to you?"The words landed like a physical blow.Outside, the rain hammered against the windows with relentless force. Water streamed down the glass in sheets, distorting the view of the city beyond.Colette stood frozen in the middle of the apartment, her
Chapter Twenty Three
The Lalique crystal vase shattered against the marble floor with a sound like breaking glass.Colette stood in the middle of her living room, her chest heaving, staring at the pieces scattered across the floor. The vase. The one he'd bought for their second anniversary, wrapped in silver paper with a ribbon, presented with that hopeful expression that now made her want to scream.She looked at her phone.The photo was burned into her retinas.A man with a bare chest, his body pressed against Vivian's, both of them wrapped around each other like lovers. Under the image, a caption: Some men are worth stealing.Colette's hands shook as she dialed again.She'd called seventeen times now and each time, his phone had rung and gone unanswered.She screamed and hurled her phone onto the sofa, then immediately grabbed it again and started typing.CALL ME BACK YOU COWARDHOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO MEI TRUSTED YOUHer fingers flew across the keyboard as she typed until the screen blurred through
Chapter Twenty Two
"I don't know," Julian said. "I was at Vivian's party. I was drugged. I'm at her apartment now. Gianna, Colette is sending me messages about pictures. I don't understand –""Send me your location," Gianna said. "I'm coming to get you."Julian texted her the address and sat on the edge of the bed, his head in his hands.His phone buzzed again.A text from Vivian: Enjoyed last night? You were incredibly vigorous. You're still sleeping soundly in my bed, by the way. So exhausted. Poor thing.Julian stared at the message.He hadn't slept with Vivian. He had no memory of anything after the duet.But Colette had pictures. He opened the messages from Colette again and scrolled up.There were photos attached.Images of a man—him—lying shirtless in bed, eyes closed, apparently unconscious.Another photo of two people in an embrace, half-naked, intimate.A video thumbnail labeled with a kiss emoji.Julian's stomach churned.This was a setup. A frame job and Colette had fallen for it completely.
Chapter Twenty One
The party was held at an upscale rooftop venue with panoramic views of the city.Vivian Holt greeted Julian warmly when he arrived, her hand lingering on his arm just a moment too long, her smile carrying something that made the back of his neck tingle with warning.He pushed the feeling aside. This was business.The evening progressed smoothly at first. Julian networked with other guests, answered questions about Apex's services, and tried to maintain professional distance from Vivian without being obvious about it.Then she appeared at his side with two glasses of champagne."You look tense," she said, handing him one. "Relax. It's my birthday. Let's have some fun."Julian accepted the glass out of courtesy and set it on a nearby table without drinking."Come on," Vivian said, grabbing his hand. "Drinking contest. A few of us are playing in the back room. You have to participate."Before he could decline, she was pulling him toward a private VIP area cordoned off from the main par
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