Julian was sitting in his study, the faint glow of his desk lamp illuminating the stack of documents he was reviewing. He had just started making some progress when his phone buzzed on the desk. He glanced at the screen, recognizing the name instantly: Ethan. Ethan was one of his oldest friends, someone he had managed to stay in touch with despite his busy life. But Ethan wasn’t the type to call for small talk. Julian sighed and picked up the phone. “What do you want, Ethan?” “Julian! Is that any way to greet an old friend?” Ethan’s voice boomed through the line, full of energy and excitement. Julian pinched the bridge of his nose. “I’m busy. Get to the point.” “Well, Mr. Busy CEO, I’m back in the country!” Ethan declared. Julian raised an eyebrow. “You’re back? What happened to that extended stay in Europe?” “Got bored. Anyway, everyone’s meeting at the usual spot tonight—the bar. You’re coming.” Julian leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temple. “I don’t have time
“Oh, please,” Ethan jumped in, grinning like a Cheshire cat. “You’ve got the charm of a brick wall. Tell me you’ve at least gone on a date this decade.” Julian leaned back in his seat, unamused. “I’ve been busy running a company. Some of us don’t have the luxury of endless vacations and pointless parties.” “Translation: he has no game,” Liam interjected, earning a round of chuckles. Matt leaned forward. “You know what they say about guys like you? All power and no romance. You’re going to end up dying alone in a penthouse full of spreadsheets.” Julian rolled his eyes, swirling his drink lazily. “And you’ll end up broke, trying to fund your next bad idea.” “Deflection,” Ethan declared dramatically, pointing at Julian. “Classic move from someone with no love life to speak of. Come on, man, just admit it. When’s the last time you even looked at a woman?” Julian’s jaw tightened, but his smirk didn’t waver. “Unlike you lot, I don’t feel the need to broadcast my personal li
The hum of the car engine barely registered as Julian’s grip on the steering wheel tightened, his knuckles white. His mind was a whirlwind of frustration, confusion, and an emotion he refused to name. Why hadn’t Selena told him about the accident? Why did she keep hiding things? And Ethan—the so-called lovesick fool carrying around her earring—was now at the center of this tangled mess. Julian’s phone buzzed, pulling him from his spiraling thoughts. He glanced at the screen and saw a message from his private investigator. Opening it, he was met with a series of photos. The first showed Selena walking down a quiet street, wearing her hat, sunglasses, and mask. The second captured the exact moment she collided with a bike. A man wearing a helmet was caught mid-action, reaching out to steady her. The third showed her walking away, while the man stared after her, something shiny in his hand. Julian’s jaw clenched as his eyes darted between the photos. His mind pieced the story t
Selena woke up to the gentle sound of birds chirping and the faint rustling of servants outside her door. The sun filtered in through the curtains, casting a warm glow across her room.Despite the beautiful morning, her mood was far from sunny. Memories of Julian’s taunts, his arrogance, and his infuriating smirk from yesterday lingered in her mind. She groaned, tossing off the blanket as she got ready for breakfast. When she entered the dining room, she was greeted by the sight of Julian already seated at the head of the table. He looked every bit the composed CEO—crisp suit, perfectly styled hair, and an iPad in hand as he scanned his schedule. The servants were bustling around, refilling his coffee and placing her breakfast in front of her. Selena, still sticking to her silent treatment, quietly sat down and began eating. Julian didn’t seem to notice her lack of conversation—or perhaps he didn’t care. He remained engrossed in his work, his eyes never leaving the screen as he si
Julian was reviewing contracts in his office when his phone rang. Seeing Ethan’s name flash on the screen, he sighed heavily, already anticipating chaos. Reluctantly, he answered. “What now?” Julian asked, rubbing his temples. “Where are you?” Ethan’s voice was casual but persistent. “I’m at the office,” Julian replied curtly. “Why?” “Well,” Ethan began slowly, “since I’m on holiday, I thought, why waste money on a hotel when I can stay in your massive mansion instead? It’s got more than enough room.” Julian froze, his pen slipping from his fingers. His eyes widened in alarm as the implications sank in. “Absolutely not,” he said firmly. “What? Why not?” Ethan’s tone was laced with disbelief. “What kind of friend are you? I let you crash at my place whenever you wanted, but now you’re rejecting me?” Julian sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Why can’t you stay with Matt or Liam?” “Matt’s got some weird girlfriend situation, and Liam’s family is visiting. So that
Julian returned to his home after leaving Ethan at his private resort, his head pounding from the endless meetings and the confrontation with Ethan at the resort. All he wanted was some peace, but the sharp sound of Selena’s voice cut through the silence like a knife.“I said no! For the last time, stop calling me about this documentary! If you don’t leave me alone, I’ll report you!”Her tone was sharp and aggressive, but Julian could hear the tension underlying it. He frowned, his footsteps quickening as he headed toward her room.Selena stood by the window, her shoulders stiff and her phone clenched tightly in her hand. She tossed it onto the bed with an exasperated sigh.“What’s going on?” Julian asked, leaning against the doorframe.She turned to face him, startled. “Why are you here? Shouldn’t you be at work?”He crossed his arms. “I asked first.”“It’s nothing,” she said softly, brushing past him to grab a glass of water. “Just some annoying calls. I’ve dealt with it.”“Annoying
“You have officially lost your mind,” Selena said, her voice sharp. “What exactly do you think you’re accomplishing by locking me in here?” He stopped pacing and turned to her, his expression unreadable but his tone laced with steel. “I’m accomplishing something you clearly need—a lesson in accountability.” She rolled her eyes, exhaling sharply. “Oh, please. You act like I’m some rebellious teenager sneaking out after curfew. Newsflash, Julian: I’m an adult. I don’t owe you an explanation for every little thing I do.” “You’re right,” he said, his voice low and dangerous. “You don’t owe me every explanation. But you sure as hell owe me honesty when something affects your safety.” Her eyes narrowed. “What are you even talking about? I didn’t do anything!” “Oh, really?” He stepped closer, his towering presence forcing her to look up at him. “So did you tell me about the accident that happened yesterday? And the phone calls? You keep things to yourself, pretending everything’s f
Selena clenched her fists, her jaw tightening as she swallowed the insults bubbling on her tongue. 'What is wrong with him?' She turned her attention to the room, her gaze darting over the rows of leather-bound books, the sleek wooden furniture, and the perfectly organized desk. Everything about the space screamed dark and gloomy, just like its owner. She groaned loudly, hoping to irritate him, but Julian didn’t even glance her way. 'What’s the point of having such a handsome face if he’s such an asshole?' she thought bitterly, her gaze involuntarily lingering on him. She hated that she couldn’t ignore his looks. His sharp jawline, the way his dark hair fell slightly over his forehead, the intensity in his eyes as he read—it was all infuriatingly perfect. But then, she reminded herself, his good looks were wasted on his devilish personality. 'How can someone who looks like that be so unreasonable?' she wondered, glaring at him. 'Does he think locking me up is going to make me
Selena’s hands trembled as she folded the last piece of clothing into her suitcase. The divorce papers lay abandoned on the bed, the inked words blurring in her tear-filled vision. She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, but the tears kept coming. This was really happening. Julian was releasing her. She had lost him. Not that she ever truly had him in the first place. Dragging her suitcase behind her, she stepped out of the room that had once been theirs. The hallways of Julian’s mansion felt colder, emptier than ever before. Every step away from this place felt like a dagger twisting deeper into her chest. She had thought she had found love. But all she had found was pain. The servants looked away, some whispering amongst themselves. No one stopped her. No one said a word. It was as if she had never belonged here. Julian had made sure of that. Outside, the driver stood waiting. His gaze was somber, but he didn’t question why she was leaving with nothing but
Selena sat on the cold floor of Julian’s study, her entire body trembling as silent sobs wracked her frame. The weight of his words still echoed in her mind, suffocating her. "Did you really think I fell in love with you? That I wanted you for anything other than revenge?" The man she had loved, the man she had foolishly given her heart to, had never once seen her as anything other than a target. A means to an end. Her chest ached, a deep, unbearable pain that wouldn’t go away. She wanted to tell him the truth. She wanted to scream that she wasn’t the one who had killed his parents. But she couldn’t. Because if she did, then Samantha— Her phone suddenly rang, the sharp sound cutting through the suffocating silence. With shaky hands, she reached for it, barely able to see the screen through her tear-filled eyes. Samantha. For a moment, Selena hesitated before answering. "S-Sam…" Her voice was broken, barely above a whisper. "Did you tell him?" Samantha’s voice c
Julian noticed something was off the moment Selena stepped into his study.Her face was pale, her hands trembled slightly as she clenched the fabric of her dress. She looked like she had seen a ghost.His brows furrowed."What’s wrong?" His voice was softer than usual, concern flickering in his dark eyes.Selena opened her mouth, but no words came out. Her throat was too dry.Julian stood up from his chair and slowly walked toward her. He placed a hand on her shoulder, his touch surprisingly gentle."Selena, say something." His concern deepened.Selena gulped, gathering her courage. I have to do this… for Samantha."I… I need to tell you something," she finally whispered.“Okay,” Julian’s gaze sharpened, sensing the weight of her words. "What is it?"She hesitated, her lips trembling. "It's about the accident," she forced out. "The accident of your parents."The air in the room changed instantly.Julian’s expression hardened, his grip on her shoulder tightening unconsciously."Go on,"
Selena sat curled up on the couch, her knees drawn tightly to her chest, as if the physical act of folding herself into a smaller shape could somehow shield her from the storm raging inside her. The morning light filtered through the blinds, casting long, jagged shadows across the room, but Selena barely noticed. Her mind was a whirlwind of fear, doubt, and betrayal, each thought colliding with the next until she felt like she might drown in the chaos.When her phone rang, the sound was like a gunshot in the silence. She flinched, her heart lurching painfully in her chest. The name on the screen—Samantha—sent a fresh wave of dread crashing over her. She hesitated, her finger hovering over the answer button, as if by ignoring the call she could somehow delay the inevitable. But she couldn’t. She never could.“Samantha?” Her voice was barely above a whisper, but it was enough to unleash the torrent on the other end of the line."Selena! Help me!" Samantha’s voice was raw, desperate, and
The moment she stepped inside, her face lit up with a practiced, dazzling smile.“Julian!” she exclaimed, her voice dripping with warmth.Before Selena could even greet her, Samantha had already thrown herself at Julian, wrapping her arms around his neck in a hug that lingered far too long to be considered appropriate.Julian stiffened instantly.His sharp gaze flickered with irritation as he felt Samantha pressing against him just a little too closely. He didn't return the hug, instead letting his arms hang by his sides, cold and unwelcoming.Selena, however, was used to her sister’s affectionate nature—or at least, that was what she had always believed.“Samantha,” Selena said gently, her voice laced with affection, “you didn’t tell me you were coming today.”Only then did Samantha finally acknowledge her. She turned and offered Selena a small, innocent smile, her eyes blinking as if she hadn’t just ignored her completely.“Oh, Selena! You know how much I missed you,” she cooed swee
The phone cracked against the wall, its shattered pieces scattered across the floor like her broken plans. Samantha Frost stood frozen in her penthouse, breathing heavily as she stared at the news article glaring back at her from the TV screen. ''"Julian Mathers, CEO of Grand Entertainment Inc., Publicly Announces His Marriage to Selena Frost."'' Her fingers curled into fists, her nails digging into her palms so hard they nearly drew blood. 'Married?' Julian Mathers—the ruthless, unattainable billionaire. The man every woman in the country wanted. And her perfect, golden sister had gotten him. Samantha let out a bitter, humorless laugh, but there was no amusement in her expression. Her eyes burned with pure rage. '"Again. Again, she takes everything from me."' Selena, the golden child. Selena, the perfect daughter. Selena, the one who had stolen their father’s love. And now, she had stolen Julian too. Samantha’s mind spun back to the past, to the years she spent locked a
The sound of keys jingling at the front door signaled Julian’s return from work. Selena glanced up from where she was setting the table, her hands still slightly wet from washing the last dish. She saw his tall frame enter the house, his sharp eyes scanning the room until they landed on an unexpected sight—Grandma, sitting at the dining table with a satisfied smile on her face.Julian arched a brow. “Grandma, what are you doing here?”Grandma scoffed. “What kind of greeting is that? Do I need a reason to visit my grandson?”Selena stifled a smile at the way Grandma always managed to put Julian in his place. He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck, before walking over to kiss Grandma’s cheek.“You’re always welcome here,” he said, before his gaze flickered to Selena. “But I didn’t expect you to cook.”Selena shrugged, feeling a bit self-conscious. “Grandma helped.”Grandma beamed proudly. “We made your favorite. Sit down, eat, and don’t complain.”Julian smirked, taking a seat at the h
The warm aroma of freshly brewed tea filled the air as Selena set the tray down on the coffee table. She smiled, feeling a rare moment of peace as she poured the tea into delicate porcelain cups. Across from her, Julian’s grandmother sat comfortably on the plush couch, her wrinkled hands resting on her lap as she observed Selena with warm, knowing eyes. Grandma had come specifically to visit her today, and Selena couldn't deny how happy that made her. She had always liked Grandma—her presence was soothing, her words wise, and despite the sharpness she sometimes directed at Julian, it was clear she loved him deeply. Selena settled down next to her, offering her a cup. “I’m so glad you came, Grandma. It’s been a while since we last saw you.” Grandma accepted the tea with a gentle nod. “Of course, dear. I had to see how you were doing.” She took a sip, her sharp gaze flicking over Selena’s face before she leaned in slightly, lowering her voice. “Now, tell me honestly, are you pregn
Selena’s face burned with heat as she pushed Julian’s chest, attempting to create some space between them. Her heart was pounding too fast, her breath uneven. 'What am I doing?' she thought, panic and desire warring within her. 'This is too much. Too fast. I need to go.' “I need to go,” she muttered, trying to rise from the couch.But Julian was quicker.Before she could escape, his strong arm snaked around her waist, pulling her back against him. Selena gasped as her back met the firm wall of his chest. 'Why does he have to feel so good?' she wondered, her mind spinning. 'Why does his touch make me forget every reason I should leave?'“Where do you think you’re going?” His voice was low, deep, teasing—but laced with something darker, something that made her pulse quicken. 'That tone. It’s like he knows exactly what he’s doing to me,' she thought, her resolve wavering.Selena turned her head slightly, intending to glare at him, but when she met his gaze, she faltered. His eyes burned