Chapter 5
Julian called back only after I’d left the police station.
The street was empty. I whispered, “I need to see you.”
Julian was quiet for a few seconds, then sent a car to take me to an apartment I’d never seen.
I learned he owned dozens of places like this. The “home” I’d cherished was just one of his
properties.
When I arrived, a crowd of people was leaving.
Julian looked like he’d just finished a long meeting.
In that luxurious living room, we stared at each other.
Julian was patient. He waited quietly while I said nothing.
Finally, I asked, “Aren’t you going to introduce yourself? Your real name?”
Julian frowned.
My heart sank.
On the way there, I’d had a hundred questions.
Why did you lie about who you are?
Why did you pursue me and hide everything?
When were you ever going to tell people about us?
In three years of lying, did you ever feel even a little guilty?
But all I could say was, “Were you lying from the start when you said you wanted to marry me?”
He seemed shocked by the question.
Julian went quiet for a long time.
Then he said, “I thought you understood.”
I stared at him. “Understood what?”
“Do I really have to say it plainly?”
Julian watched me, his silence shifting into cold, pitying rejection.
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“This is how our world works. Your background means you can never be my public wife.”
The room went dead silent. Then I laughed–once, twice, before the sound caught in my throat.
I closed my eyes, and a tear crashed onto my hand
Downstairs from the apartment, I ran into Chloe again.
She looked at my mess and spoke like she was doing me a favor.
Her words solved every old mystery.
That dinner interruption? It was Chloe calling.
Julian introducing me to his friends? Not out of pity for my tears–Chloe knew I existed and wanted
to see me.
He really was in the car on my birthday.
And he’d ignored my call that night on purpose. He wouldn’t come for someone he kept hidden.
All those little pieces wove into a suffocating net, squeezing me until I hurt.
Chloe said, “True feelings? He didn’t even tell you his real name.”
“People who have to stay in the dark just have to swallow their pain.”
I went back to the apartment we’d shared.
I packed in an hour, opened the door–and found Julian standing there.
“Where are you going?”
I didn’t answer. I pulled my suitcase toward the door, but he grabbed me.
“Lina, this is your home. It’s in your name.”
“Where do you think you’re going?”
I felt sick. I struggled and tried to hit him, but he caught my wrists.
“You’ve had it easy this far because I pulled strings for you.”
“Lina, I can take everything away just as easily.”
Julian held my hand tightly, forcing me to look at him.
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“You’ll never find anyone better than me. You can’t leave me.”
Memories washed over me like a dream. I snapped back to the present, only one line echoing in
my head–Julian’s final cruel words.
“Lina Moore, you’ll come crawling back to me.”
