Julia’s POV“What have you done?” Alex’s voice cut through so loud and aggressively as he approached me, his cold gaze locked into mine.“You did this,” he spat, his eyes burning with fury. “You attacked Celeste. Just as you tried to kill my grandfather a few minutes ago. I saw you!” “Alex…”My words barely had time to settle before he grabbed me. His hand closed around my throat in a vice grip, shoving my back against the cold wall. I gasped, my fingers clawing at his wrist, but he didn’t show any hint of emotions. His grip tightened, his face only inches from mine, seething with unrestrained anger.“If anything happens to Celeste,” he growled, “you will suffer the same fate.”The hatred in his voice sent a shiver down my spine, but I refused to let fear consume me. My pulse pounded against his fingers as I fought against his hold.“You don’t even know what happened!” I choked out, my nails digging into his skin to free my neck. “You have no right to accuse me! Mr. Sterling saw ever
Julia’s POVI stepped forward, standing a few feet away as I crossed my hands on my chest. “I’ll reach out to the doctor about it.” I added, still staring at her.Celeste looked at me in horror only I could see, her eyes betrayed her. She was nervous. She realized that she couldn’t let Alex know she had been so vicious as to drug me because she always played the naive and innocent girl in front of Alex. So, she could only settle for something harmless, something that wouldn’t stain her hands in his eyes.“I… I guess I didn’t prepare the congee well,” she finally broke the silence. “Maybe I messed up the ingredients. I…. I just wanted to make something for Julia, to help her feel better.”Her fingers clutched the edge of the hospital sleeve, twisting the fabric as she lowered her head in sadness as if feeling guilty. I wasn’t so shocked seeing tears already rolling down her eyes. “I didn’t mean for this to happen. I was only trying to be nice to her,” she sobbed. “I thought if she h
Julia’s POVI looked up to see who it was. “Lucas.” I called out, giving a welcoming face.“Julia.” He called out and with a smile, he continued. “It’s nice to see you again even though you almost knocked me off a few minutes ago.” He teased. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I was only trying to put in my phone inside my purse and I didn’t notice you coming. I’m really sorry.” I apologized with a smile. “Nice to meet you too.” I added. But then, his mood changed and was replaced with concern as his brows furrowed in a rare display of worry. His eyes scanned me before breaking the silence.“How are you feeling now? I see you’ve come for some checkup.” He said and I smiled. Lucas thought I had come to the hospital for some check up. “How is your wound? Are they getting better? Did you see the doctor already? Are there any new complications?” His questions came after one another as if he was really worried about me and I wondered as to why he was being too concerned. It was as if resisting the urg
Julia’s POVI took out the box, a black little box in a square shape. and held it out to Mr. Samuel as I took a few steps forward. “I don’t want your gift,” he said gruffly, waving a dismissive hand. His voice held the same coldness he had kept between us for a while now.“Please,” I pleaded, gripping the box tightly.The silence stretched for what felt like some seconds and finally, he stepped closer, standing right in front of me.He went ahead to take the box and then he opened the box. The moment his gaze landed on the object inside, it was a watch, his mood changed into something sad. The watch had a polished gold case with a deep blue surface face, written in Roman numerals, and gold hands. Its leather strap was smooth, still looking like a new watch. His eyes turned sober. I could see the recognition in his eyes and sadness in his eyes. He touched it, caressing the surface as if trying to remember his past moments. “This…” His voice was barely above a whisper. His fingers tr
Julia’s POVI could see the surprise in Mr. Samuel’s gaze as it shifted between I and then to Lucas who had just walked in with a smile as he embraced Mr. Samuel into a hug. “I was really shocked when you received an investment from Lynwood. But I never could have imagined that you knew Lucas. Come on, tell me quickly, how did you two get to know each other?”I barely had a second to react before Lucas opened his mouth, the hint of a smirk tugging at his lips.“Oh, yeah we met at a club…”“At the summit,” I cut in swiftly as I shot Lucas a glance who understood I didn’t want him to tell Mr. Samuel exactly how he met me.Lucas nodded firmly. Yes, she’s right.” But I caught sight of a subtle curve on his mouth.“At the submit, huh?” He questioned, staring at Lucas and I nodded.Mr. Samuel smiled and then nodded, “that’s good.” He placed an arm on Lucas’s shoulders as he spoke again. “Good to have you here, my child.” “Thank you.” Lucas and Mr. Samuel walked towards the couch and he o
Julia’s POVI had always been a woman of status, part of one of the wealthiest and most powerful families. But now? Now I am seated on the cold, damp floor of this filthy prison cell, stripped of everything I once was.Suddenly, there was an approaching footsteps and just immediately, I saw a man approaching. He reached out to the prison door and creaks it open with a key. Seeing this man again, the jailer, my heart clenched as fear gripped me. Afraid of what he would do to me this time. His presence always causes me nothing but pain. Whenever he comes in here, I knew he was here to afflict on me one pain or the other.Now standing in front of me emotionlessly, he bent towards me as he held up my chin to make me look up to his face.Giving a smirk that didn’t reach his eyes, his deep and emotionless voice broke the silence. “Not quite the luxury you’re used to, is it?” he taunts, his voice thick with amusement.I shot him a glare, but my body betrayed me. I’m weak. Broken. He noticed.
Julia’s POVAlex was furious. His eyes, cold and sharp, glinted with the kind of rage that only comes from having one’s ego bruised. The tendons on his neck tightened, and his jaw clenched so hard I could almost hear his teeth grinding. His nostrils flared slightly as he glared at me, struggling to comprehend how I had the audacity to throw a cake at him. A bead of icing slid down his pristine suit jacket and his hands curled into fists at his sides. The anger in his expression burned with one question: How dare she?But I dared, and I didn’t regret it.Before Alex could spit out whatever venomous words he had brewing, my stepmother, Scarlett’s fingers latched onto my arm, dragging me out of the hall. Her grip was firm, desperate. I could see the alarm in her eyes as she led me down a quiet corridor, away from the horrified murmurs of the gathered guests.“Are you out of your mind?” she hissed, her voice trembling with barely contained panic. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done?”I
Julia’s POVOn that day, the news was plastered with headlines about the scandal. Every channel, every gossip column, every blog—everyone was obsessing over the same topic: the broken marriage. The speculations were as wild as they were entertaining. Some said the reason I had called it off was because I’d discovered my ex-husband was a psychopath. Others claimed he was secretly gay. The most ridiculous one was that he had some kind of… well, “problem” in the bedroom.I sat cross-legged on my bed, clutching a tub of popcorn in one hand and my glass of cold orange juice in the other. I couldn’t stop laughing as they paraded expert opinions and anonymous “sources” on screen. If they only knew the truth. My ex-husband was no psychopath. The fact that the whole city had turned it into a soap opera was just the cherry on top.As I was savoring the absurdity of it all, my phone buzzed on the bedside table. It was Isabella, my best friend and the only person who’d been in my corner through t
Julia’s POVI could see the surprise in Mr. Samuel’s gaze as it shifted between I and then to Lucas who had just walked in with a smile as he embraced Mr. Samuel into a hug. “I was really shocked when you received an investment from Lynwood. But I never could have imagined that you knew Lucas. Come on, tell me quickly, how did you two get to know each other?”I barely had a second to react before Lucas opened his mouth, the hint of a smirk tugging at his lips.“Oh, yeah we met at a club…”“At the summit,” I cut in swiftly as I shot Lucas a glance who understood I didn’t want him to tell Mr. Samuel exactly how he met me.Lucas nodded firmly. Yes, she’s right.” But I caught sight of a subtle curve on his mouth.“At the submit, huh?” He questioned, staring at Lucas and I nodded.Mr. Samuel smiled and then nodded, “that’s good.” He placed an arm on Lucas’s shoulders as he spoke again. “Good to have you here, my child.” “Thank you.” Lucas and Mr. Samuel walked towards the couch and he o
Julia’s POVI took out the box, a black little box in a square shape. and held it out to Mr. Samuel as I took a few steps forward. “I don’t want your gift,” he said gruffly, waving a dismissive hand. His voice held the same coldness he had kept between us for a while now.“Please,” I pleaded, gripping the box tightly.The silence stretched for what felt like some seconds and finally, he stepped closer, standing right in front of me.He went ahead to take the box and then he opened the box. The moment his gaze landed on the object inside, it was a watch, his mood changed into something sad. The watch had a polished gold case with a deep blue surface face, written in Roman numerals, and gold hands. Its leather strap was smooth, still looking like a new watch. His eyes turned sober. I could see the recognition in his eyes and sadness in his eyes. He touched it, caressing the surface as if trying to remember his past moments. “This…” His voice was barely above a whisper. His fingers tr
Julia’s POVI looked up to see who it was. “Lucas.” I called out, giving a welcoming face.“Julia.” He called out and with a smile, he continued. “It’s nice to see you again even though you almost knocked me off a few minutes ago.” He teased. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I was only trying to put in my phone inside my purse and I didn’t notice you coming. I’m really sorry.” I apologized with a smile. “Nice to meet you too.” I added. But then, his mood changed and was replaced with concern as his brows furrowed in a rare display of worry. His eyes scanned me before breaking the silence.“How are you feeling now? I see you’ve come for some checkup.” He said and I smiled. Lucas thought I had come to the hospital for some check up. “How is your wound? Are they getting better? Did you see the doctor already? Are there any new complications?” His questions came after one another as if he was really worried about me and I wondered as to why he was being too concerned. It was as if resisting the urg
Julia’s POVI stepped forward, standing a few feet away as I crossed my hands on my chest. “I’ll reach out to the doctor about it.” I added, still staring at her.Celeste looked at me in horror only I could see, her eyes betrayed her. She was nervous. She realized that she couldn’t let Alex know she had been so vicious as to drug me because she always played the naive and innocent girl in front of Alex. So, she could only settle for something harmless, something that wouldn’t stain her hands in his eyes.“I… I guess I didn’t prepare the congee well,” she finally broke the silence. “Maybe I messed up the ingredients. I…. I just wanted to make something for Julia, to help her feel better.”Her fingers clutched the edge of the hospital sleeve, twisting the fabric as she lowered her head in sadness as if feeling guilty. I wasn’t so shocked seeing tears already rolling down her eyes. “I didn’t mean for this to happen. I was only trying to be nice to her,” she sobbed. “I thought if she h
Julia’s POV“What have you done?” Alex’s voice cut through so loud and aggressively as he approached me, his cold gaze locked into mine.“You did this,” he spat, his eyes burning with fury. “You attacked Celeste. Just as you tried to kill my grandfather a few minutes ago. I saw you!” “Alex…”My words barely had time to settle before he grabbed me. His hand closed around my throat in a vice grip, shoving my back against the cold wall. I gasped, my fingers clawing at his wrist, but he didn’t show any hint of emotions. His grip tightened, his face only inches from mine, seething with unrestrained anger.“If anything happens to Celeste,” he growled, “you will suffer the same fate.”The hatred in his voice sent a shiver down my spine, but I refused to let fear consume me. My pulse pounded against his fingers as I fought against his hold.“You don’t even know what happened!” I choked out, my nails digging into his skin to free my neck. “You have no right to accuse me! Mr. Sterling saw ever
Julia’s POVI could feel the tension around Celeste was unbearable.“Huh?” Celeste blinked at me, feigning innocence, but her grip on the bowl tightened. “What did you say?”I smiled harmlessly. “Have a taste of it.”Her face switched. “No, it’s for you! I made it for you with good intentions. You have to believe me! It’s…”“It is specially made for me? Yeah I’ll surely take it but I want you to join me. You need it too.”She hesitated. “Yeah, I made it with so much love. It’s meant to rekindle things between us, and it will help you recover too. Just drink it and you will be fine.I refused, my voice firm. “If it’s harmless, then you should have no problem taking a sip. I took a few steps forward, now standing in front of her. “Congee is for women, you said. You aren’t a man, are you?” I questioned, playfully. “No, Julia. I’ll have a sip, that’s not a problem. I have enough in the kitchen and I’ll have it later.” She took a step forward, stretching out the bowl to hand it over to me
Julia’s POVMr. Sterling is ill and he wants to see me? What now? I didn’t want to go. After everything that had happened, stepping into that house again felt like reopening a wound that had barely begun to scab over. But when I thought about the possibility that Mr. Sterling’s health had been affected by this entire marriage withdrawing debacle, I felt guilty. I had truly pushed things so far that it had taken a toll on an old man’s health and didn’t know if I would really live with myself knowing that I had refused his request to see me.When I arrived at the Sterling estate, I was greeted at the entrance by a servant who led me inside. The moment I stepped inside, his frail appearance struck me like a blow. The moment I saw him, his face was pallid, his eyes sunken. Seeing him like this, I felt a deep sense of self-reproach rise within me. He didn’t look so lively like he used to be. He had grown thin now. “Child, you’ve come,” he said warmly, a weak smile spreading across his l
Julia’s POVAfter the incident at the hotel, I threw myself completely into the company’s affairs, shutting out everything and everyone that didn’t concern Julison Technology Enterprise. It wasn’t just a distraction; it was a necessity. Every ounce of my focus was needed to put things back in order.The company had suffered losses, and after reviewing reports, I found contracts mishandled, deals sabotaged, and suspicious renegotiations, all leading back to Alex. I stared at the official statement from Lynwood Company International Limited, rereading the words that confirmed their $900 million investment into Julison Technology Enterprise. It was not just a staggering amount but one that had the power to not only stabilize the company but propel it forward. More than the money I expected.With this investment, I had the resources to undo the damage, reclaim lost partnerships, and take Julison to heights even my father hadn’t imagined.I wasted no time. The first step was securing key
Alex’s POVAustra Grand Hotel? What’s happening there?After receiving a call from Lucas, I felt extremely puzzled as I wondered why he needed to see me. His voice had been sharp, furious, demanding that I show up at the hotel immediately. I grabbed my phone and dialled my secretary’s number, who's also my assistant. “Cornel, I need some information about the Austra Grand Hotel.” “Alright sir.” “Yes. Find out if something happened at that hotel recently.”Minutes later, he returned with a grim expression. “Sir, Julia Carter was there tonight.”A cold chill ran down my spine. Julia? At that hotel doing what and with who? My entire body tensed.The words slammed into me like a fist. A sharp, ugly jealousy twisted in my gut. Lucas had called and I was certain she was with Lucas. My jaw clenched as images I didn’t want to see flashed in my mind, her in his arms, his hands on her and maybe they even kissed.“Prepare the car,” I ordered, my voice cold. I needed to see for myself.And if