Julian’s car pulled into the driveway of the mansion, the soft hum of the engine cutting through the evening quiet. As the driver opened the door for him, he stepped out, loosening his tie. Selena followed behind, her heels clicking softly against the stone path. “I’m going to my room to freshen up,” she said curtly, not even glancing at him. Her tone was polite but distant, and before he could respond, she disappeared inside the house, heading straight for the stairs. Julian stood there for a moment, watching her retreating figure. *Freshen up?* he thought, narrowing his eyes. It wasn’t unusual for her to keep her distance, but something about the way she said it irked him. Shrugging it off, he entered the house and made his way to the dining hall. Dinner was already being set, the aroma of freshly cooked food wafting through the air. Julian took his seat at the head of the table, the same place he always sat. The long dining table stretched before him, but tonight, it felt esp
Julian pushed the door open, his sharp gaze falling on Selena. She flinched, startled, and instinctively kicked the fallen script under the nearby sofa. “Julian,” she stammered, her voice slightly higher than usual. “What… what are you doing here?” Julian’s brows furrowed. Her tone, the way she stiffened as though caught doing something wrong—it was suspicious. “I could ask you the same thing,” he said, stepping inside and shutting the door behind him. “I wasn’t doing anything,” Selena said quickly, her hands clasped tightly in front of her as if trying to shield herself. Julian’s sharp eyes swept the room. The way she was standing, the slight movement of her foot—it was too obvious. He smirked, his arms crossing over his chest. “Really? You’re that bad at lying?” “I’m not lying!” she insisted, her voice rising a little too much. Julian took a deliberate step toward her, his towering presence making her instinctively take a step back. “Move,” he ordered, his voice calm b
The following day, Selena walked into the office with her usual guarded expression, half expecting whispers or side glances about the script incident from the previous night. But to her surprise, the office was just as normal as ever. No one seemed to know or care. Julian hadn’t said a word to her all morning, treating her with the same distant professionalism as always.She spent most of the day by his side, following him to meetings and scribbling notes on her notepad. Though her mind was preoccupied with thoughts of last night, Julian was as composed as ever, his piercing gaze fixed on the presentations or the documents in his hand.Selena walked into the cafeteria with her tray, grateful for a quiet moment to herself. She found a corner table and sat down, savoring the first bite of her sandwich. It was one of the few peaceful moments she’d had all day. But, as fate would have it, her solitude didn’t last long. “Mind if I join you, Selena?” Clara’s overly cheerful voice cut thr
The boardroom was filled with tension as producers, directors, and various department heads from the drama production team gathered around the long table. Selena sat in a corner, quietly observing as papers shuffled and murmurs floated in the air. This was her first time attending a meeting of this magnitude. She had prepared to take notes for Julian, but she couldn’t shake the nervousness bubbling in her chest. Julian entered the room with his usual commanding presence, his sharp gaze sweeping across everyone as the murmurs ceased instantly. Selena clutched her pen tightly, shrinking into her seat. 'He doesn't even have to say anything. People just fall silent around him.' “Let’s begin,” Julian said coldly, settling into the chair at the head of the table. His deep voice sent shivers down her spine, and she instinctively glanced at him. He looked composed yet utterly intimidating. The head producer started the discussion, outlining the current progress of the drama. Everything
As Selena reached the elevator, she pressed the button and waited, her mind a chaotic swirl of thoughts. Julian liking her? The idea was laughable. The man seemed to take genuine pleasure in tormenting her. Every interaction with him felt like a battle, where she was always a step behind, fumbling for composure while he remained effortlessly in control. The elevator dinged, its arrival pulling her back to the present. She stepped inside, leaning heavily against the wall. Crossing her arms tightly over her chest, she exhaled sharply. “Maybe they’re just imagining things,” she muttered to herself, her voice barely above a whisper. “Julian is strict with everyone. He’s not... he doesn’t—” She cut herself off mid-sentence, shaking her head as if to dismiss the absurd notion entirely. The ride to the top floor felt longer than usual, every second dragging as she rehearsed a thousand possible scenarios in her head. Julian’s summons were never casual, and the knot in her stomach tighte
Selena rubbed her temples, trying to shake off the strange tension that clung to her. Why was she even thinking about Julian right now? This man, who spent half his time tormenting her and the other half confusing her with small, unexpected gestures of care, should have no power over her thoughts. Selena plopped down on her chair, staring at the ceiling. “What’s happening to me?” she whispered. Her mind drifted back to the little moments she had shared with Julian recently—the way he had silently handed her his jacket when she was shivering, the way his eyes softened ever so slightly when he caught her rehearsing that script, the fact that he defended her from those media people without a second thought. And then, there were his teasing remarks in the car earlier. And now in his office, he told her to come to him if she ever faced any problem. Almost like they were two people who cared about each other. She groaned, covering her face with her hands. “What is wrong with me? He’
The drive home was quiet at first. Selena kept fidgeting with the hem of her dress, stealing glances at Julian’s calm demeanor. He had one hand on the wheel, his eyes firmly on the road, as if he hadn’t a care in the world. But she couldn’t hold it in anymore. “How did you find out about the calls?” she finally asked, breaking the silence. Her voice was cautious, hesitant. Julian didn’t even glance at her. His jaw tightened slightly, and he responded in an even tone, “I put the pieces together.” Selena frowned. “What do you mean by that?” He sighed, still not looking at her. “You were constantly yelling at someone on the phone. And Clara mentioned those media people came to my office with some ridiculous proposition. It wasn’t hard to figure out.” Selena bit her lip, feeling embarrassed. She didn’t like the idea of him piecing together her problems, even if he had helped her in the end. “I…I didn’t want to bother you with it,” she admitted softly, staring down at her hands.
At dinner, the dining table was laid out as elegantly as ever, a variety of dishes carefully prepared by the staff. Selena sat beside Julian, as always, while Samantha and Grandma were seated across from them. The warm light from the chandelier above gave the room a cozy ambiance, but beneath it, a storm of emotions brewed.Grandma was the first to break the silence, her voice filled with genuine curiosity. “So, Samantha, tell me more about yourself. You two sisters are so different! What have you been up to?”Samantha’s lips curved into a sweet smile, one that made Selena relax. “Oh,” she began, her tone soft and modest, “I haven’t done much compared to Selena. She’s always been the star of our family.”Selena’s heart warmed at her sister’s words. She reached over and gently squeezed Samantha’s hand. “Don’t say that, Sam. You’ve been through so much, and you’re still so strong. I’ve always admired you for that.”Samantha tilted her head, her innocent facade firmly in place. “You’re t
Julian sat alone in his office, the dim glow of his desk lamp casting long, jagged shadows across his face. The room was silent, save for the faint hum of the city outside, but the quiet did nothing to soothe the tempest raging within him. His hands, clenched into tight fists, rested on the polished surface of his desk, the knuckles white with tension. His chest felt like it was being crushed under an invisible weight, each breath shallow and labored, as if the air itself had turned against him. The divorce papers lay in front of him, signed and finalized. She was gone. It was what he had wanted—wasn’t it? Then why did it feel like his entire world had just been ripped apart? He leaned back in his chair, his head falling heavily against the leather headrest. His eyes, bloodshot and weary, stared blankly at the ceiling. The room seemed to close in around him, the walls pressing closer with every passing second. His mind was a chaotic whirlwind of thoughts, each one sharper an
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