Chapter 245
–Luke–
It’s the eve of Christmas. After much pleading and convincing, Julie has agreed to come to Colombia with me.
I’m excited for her to meet my parents. I wish we could visit hers as well, but Julie threatened to hang me the day I suggested it. Being from Colombia, I never understood the idea of estranged families. Your sister could literally be on TV as a wanted serial killer, and you’d let her hide in your basement from the police.
ཚན་ༀ་ཚེ
So the entire Julie and her family’ fallout affair seemed strange to me at first.
But I understand now.
And if we’re being fair, Julie’s mother tried to kill her. Then there’s that trial thing that ended recently. Elaine Jenkins got five years of probation, mandatory mental health treatment, 100 hours of community service, and anger management classes. Of course, there’s the most important one: no contact with the victim without court approval.
I know every detail about that trial because Julie followed the entire case. She seemed disappointed with the results.
And now, she has a new interest. Ryan, Emily, and Paragon Jewels.
“That girl is so shameless,” Julie says as we drive to the airport.
“What girl?” I ask, though I already know where this is going.
“Emily.” She’s staring at her phone. “Her lawyer’s asking for 10 million.”
“Seems greedy. Didn’t she lie about Ryan being the father of her unborn child?”
“Yeah. Which is why I said she’s shameless. On one hand, I want her to lose. On the other hand, I want Ryan to lose. Does that make me a bad person?”
“Nah, it just means you’re human. Or maybe you need a new hobby. Ever thought about watching soap operas?”
She snorts. “Why would I watch those when this is way more dramatic?”
Fair point. This whole Ryan O’Brien and Emily Cohen mess has turned into a real-life soap opera, and Julie is hooked. Emily sued Ryan and Paragon Jewels for sexual harassment, wrongful termination, retaliation, hostile work environment, discrimination, assault and battery, emotional distress, and a host of other things. I’m not exaggerating when I say their faces are everywhere. You can’t open a news app or scroll through social media without seeing Emily’s teary-eyed press conference or Ryan looking like he’s been run over by a truck.
A video surfaced of Ryan pinning Emily against a wall and then flinging her aside. Since then, the internet has been dragging Paragon Jewels through the mud.
Several movements are involved. #MeToo; Survivors of Domestic Abuse Groups; Workplace Rights and Labor Groups; Feminist Movement.
And the entire affair would be interesting if it didn’t involve me and Julie. Stories have been dug up. So many media groups
have contacted us for interviews.
And I just wish for it to be over.
Julie’s making the most of it, reading every article and watching every conspiracy video. She’s having the time of her life. On the other hand, I’ve had to hire security because of all the media attention, and Julie thinks it’s overkill. Maybe she’s right,
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Chapter 245
but I’m not taking chances. Not with her.
“Look at this,” Julie says, holding her phone up to me. “Ryan’s been fired as CEO. Adeline really did it. She axed her own
son.”
I glance at the headline. “Damn. That’s cold.”
“Cold? It’s nuclear. She’s ruthless.”
I keep my eyes on the road, though I’m not the one driving. Since we got bodyguards, I’ve been feeling useless.
“Maybe this trip to Colombia will be good for you,” I say. “You’ll have too much on your plate to keep up with this madness.”
“You really think I’m going to ignore this just because we’re in a different country?”
I chuckle. “A man can dream.”
She leans back in her seat, crossing her arms. “It’s not just about the drama. It’s about justice. Emily’s out here playing the victim, Ryan’s an idiot, and Adeline’s power-hungry. Someone needs to call them out.”
“And you think you’re that someone?”
“Me? Hell no. But I’ll be watching.”
I laugh, the sound filling the car. “I almost forgot. How’s your Spanish?”
She tilts her head, eyes dancing with mischief. “Oui?”
“That’s French.”
“Oh.”
We both burst out laughing.
“Maybe let me do most of the talking,” I say.
“Gladly,” she says, holding up her phone. “I’ve got the internet to keep me busy.”
I roll my eyes just as the airport comes into view.
By evening, we’re stepping out of José María Córdova International Airport into the warm, humid air of Medellín. The scent of rain mingles with roasted coffee and fried street food, filling my lungs with memories of home. Julie clutches my arm, wide-eyed, soaking in every detail.
“Our car’s here,” I say, guiding her toward the black SUV waiting at the curb.
The driver opens the door, and we climb in. Another security detail rides shotgun, scanning the crowd like we’re celebrities. Julie leans into my side as the car pulls away, her head resting on my shoulder. The hum of the city surrounds us, vibrant and alive.
My phone buzzes.
“Your sister again?” Julie asks.
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Chapter 244
Ryan freezes. “What did you say?”
“I said a lot of things, Ryan.”
“No. About Emily’s baby.”
She crosses her arms. “It’s not yours. If I were a bad person, I’d let her keep running her little con on you. But even you deserve to know the truth before you die.”
Ryan feels the floor drop out from beneath him. “She lied to me?”
Julie shrugs. “Hate to break it to you, but lying is something people do.”
2
His head spins. His legs feel weak. He stumbles towards the door, his hand trembling as he grabs the handle.
“Ryan,” Julie calls out behind him.
He pauses, his back to her.
“I wish you good luck on your chemo.”
He turns his head slightly. “I’m not dying.”
“What?”
“I lied,” he says. “Just as you said, lying is something people do.”
He walks out, leaving Julie sitting there, her eyes wide with shock.
“Can’t you go any faster?” Ryan barks, his fingers drumming against the leather seat.
Justin, his chauffeur, meets Ryan’s glare in the rearview mirror. “We’re already pushing the speed limit, sir.”
“I don’t give a damn about the speed limit. I said faster.”
Justin sighs, the sound heavy with resignation, and presses the accelerator. The engine growls, and the car shoots forward, weaving through traffic.
Ryan barely notices. His mind is elsewhere.
‘It’s not yours. She lied to you.’
Julie has to be wrong. She’s bitter, vindictive, hell-bent on revenge. She wants to hurt him, destroy him. That’s all this is-a desperate, venomous lie designed to make him doubt everything. Emily wouldn’t… She couldn’t… But the seed of doubt is planted, its roots coiling tighter around his sanity with every passing second.
The building of Paragon Jewels looms ahead.
Ryan doesn’t wait for the car to fully stop. He flings the door open and steps out.
Karen, the ever-cheerful receptionist, lifts her head from her desk, her bright smile faltering. “Mr. O’Brien! Welcome back. Your mother mentioned you were—”
ཚ་ཚ་ས
He cuts past her without a glance, his pace relentless. His long strides carry him to the elevator bank, and he slams the
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Chapter 244
button with unnecessary force.
Karen’s voice trails after him. “Mr. O’Brien, your mother asked that you-”
The elevator arrives with a soft ding, mercifully cutting off her words. Ryan steps inside, jabbing the button for the top floor. His reflection stares back at him from the polished metal walls-face hard, eyes blazing. He doesn’t recognize the man staring back. This is someone else. Someone pushed to the edge.
The elevator hums its way up. When the doors finally part, he steps out onto the executive floor, every muscle coiled tight.
Emily sits at her desk outside his office, blonde hair pulled into a neat bun, fingers dancing across her keyboard. At the sound of his footsteps, she looks up, her blue eyes widening in surprise.
“Ryan? You shaved your head?”
He closes the distance in three strides, yanking her from her chair.
“Did you lie to me about the baby?” His voice is low, trembling with rage.
Emily gasps, struggling against him. “What? Ryan, let me go right now! You’re hurting me!”
He tightens his grip, his knuckles white. “You tried to pass off another man’s child as mine.”
“So what if I did? That’s what you wanted, wasn’t it? A baby? I got you one.”
He can’t believe this. “You bitch,” he hisses, pushing her some steps backwards and backing her up against the wall.
“Let me go, Ryan! You’re scaring me!”
“You used me! You made me believe-”
“Let her go, Ryan.”
The command stops him cold. Ryan turns, his chest heaving, to find his mother standing in her office doorway. Her gaze is icy.
“Let her go. Right. Now.”
“The baby isn’t mine,” Ryan says. “She lied.”
Adeline’s gaze remains steely. “I said, let her go.”
His hands tremble as he releases Emily with a shove. She crumples to the floor, sobbing..
“You’re fired,” Ryan says. “Pack your things and get the hell out. Don’t bother coming home for your stuff. I’ll burn them.”
“You’ll pay for this,” Emily spits. “I’ll bleed you dry for daring to put your hands on me.”
Ryan’s smile is bitter, devoid of warmth. “I’d like to see you try.”
Emily wipes her tears, her hands trembling, and throws one last venomous glare at him before storming out, her heels. clicking furiously against the marble.
The silence that follows is deafening.
Adeline steps forward, her eyes narrowing. “What the hell were you thinking?”
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“What was I thinking? I was thinking I’ve been played, and I’m done with it.”
“You’ve lost control. You’re dragging this company’s name through the mud.”
Ryan whirls around, his finger jabbing the air. “Your company? Your name? What about me, Mom? That baby isn’t mine! Do you even care?”
“What I care about is salvaging our reputation. Leave. Now. Or you’ll be fucking fired too.”
Ryan’s jaw tightens, his gaze locked on hers for a tense, silent moment. Then, without another word, he turns and strides toward the elevator.
Before the doors close, he says, “You don’t love me. You never did.”
Chapter 243
Chapter 245
–Luke–
It’s the eve of Christmas. After much pleading and convincing, Julie has agreed to come to Colombia with me.
I’m excited for her to meet my parents. I wish we could visit hers as well, but Julie threatened to hang me the day I suggested it. Being from Colombia, I never understood the idea of estranged families. Your sister could literally be on TV as a wanted serial killer, and you’d let her hide in your basement from the police.
So the entire Julie and her family’ fallout affair seemed strange to me at first.
But I understand now.
And if we’re being fair, Julie’s mother tried to kill her. Then there’s that trial thing that ended recently. Elaine Jenkins got five years of probation, mandatory mental health treatment, 100 hours of community service, and anger management classes. Of course, there’s the most important one: no contact with the victim without court approval.
I know every detail about that trial because Julie followed the entire case. She seemed disappointed with the results.
And now, she has a new interest. Ryan, Emily, and Paragon Jewels.
“That girl is so shameless,” Julie says as we drive to the airport.
“What girl?” I ask, though I already know where this is going.
“Emily.” She’s staring at her phone. “Her lawyer’s asking for 10 million.”
“Seems greedy. Didn’t she lie about Ryan being the father of her unborn child?”
“Yeah. Which is why I said she’s shameless. On one hand, I want her to lose. On the other hand, I want Ryan to lose. Does that make me a bad person?”
“Nah, it just means you’re human. Or maybe you need a new hobby. Ever thought about watching soap operas?”
She snorts. “Why would I watch those when this is way more dramatic?”
Fair point. This whole Ryan O’Brien and Emily Cohen mess has turned into a real-life soap opera, and Julie is hooked. Emily sued Ryan and Paragon Jewels for sexual harassment, wrongful termination, retaliation, hostile work environment, discrimination, assault and battery, emotional distress, and a host of other things. I’m not exaggerating when I say their faces are everywhere. You can’t open a news app or scroll through social media without seeing Emily’s teary-eyed press conference or Ryan looking like he’s been run over by a truck.
A video surfaced of Ryan pinning Emily against a wall and then flinging her aside. Since then, the internet has been dragging Paragon Jewels through the mud.
Several movements are involved. #MeToo; Survivors of Domestic Abuse Groups; Workplace Rights and Labor Groups; Feminist Movement.
And the entire affair would be interesting if it didn’t involve me and Julie. Stories have been dug up. So many media groups have contacted us for interviews.
And I just wish for it to be over.
Julie’s making the most of it, reading every article and watching every conspiracy video. She’s having the time of her life. On the other hand, I’ve had to hire security because of all the media attention, and Julie thinks it’s overkill. Maybe she’s right,
1/4
1:14 pm
Chapter 245
but I’m not taking chances. Not with her.
“Look at this,” Julie says, holding her phone up to me. “Ryan’s been fired as CEO. Adeline really did it. She axed her own son.”
I glance at the headline. “Damn. That’s cold.”
“Cold? It’s nuclear. She’s ruthless.”
I keep my eyes on the road, though I’m not the one driving. Since we got bodyguards, I’ve been feeling useless.
“Maybe this trip to Colombia will be good for you,” I say. “You’ll have too much on your plate to keep up with this madness.”
“You really think I’m going to ignore this just because we’re in a different country?”
I chuckle. “A man can dream.”
She leans back in her seat, crossing her arms. “It’s not just about the drama. It’s about justice. Emily’s out here playing the victim, Ryan’s an idiot, and Adeline’s power-hungry. Someone needs to call them out.”
“And you think you’re that someone?”
“Me? Hell no. But I’ll be watching.”
I laugh, the sound filling the car. “I almost forgot. How’s your Spanish?”
She tilts her head, eyes dancing with mischief. “Oui?”
“That’s French.”
“Oh.”
We both burst out laughing.
“Maybe let me do most of the talking,” I say.
“Gladly,” she says, holding up her phone. “I’ve got the internet to keep me busy.”
I roll my eyes just as the airport comes into view.
By evening, we’re stepping out of José María Córdova International Airport into the warm, humid air of Medellín. The scent of rain mingles with roasted coffee and fried street food, filling my lungs with memories of home. Julie clutches my arm, wide-eyed, soaking in every detail.
“Our car’s here,” I say, guiding her toward the black SUV waiting at the curb.
The driver opens the door, and we climb in. Another security detail rides shotgun, scanning the crowd like we’re celebrities. Julie leans into my side as the car pulls away, her head resting on my shoulder. The hum of the city surrounds us, vibrant and alive.
My phone buzzes.
“Your sister again?” Julie asks.
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“My mom’s losing her mind over Christmas Eve dinner. Carolina is her mouthpiece.”
Julic sighs, shifting closer. “I’m starving, though.”
“You’re always starving.”
“Touché. The streets are beautiful. I didn’t think I liked Christmas until now.”
“Yeah, it’s a big thing here.”
The city rushes past us, a kaleidoscope of lights and color. Medellín during Christmas is pure magic. Every street is draped in twinkling lights-arches of gold and red overhead, glowing stars hanging from lampposts, entire buildings outlined in shimmering color. Families crowd the plazas, music and laughter blending into the festive hum. Vendors line the sidewalks, their voices rising over the crowd as they sell buñuelos and natilla.
We finally get to my parents house.
The car rolls up the long, winding driveway, and I can already see the welcoming committee gathered at the front door. The entire extended family is crammed into one frame, jostling for a better view. My mother is, of course, front and center. She’s waving, her wide grin visible even through the tinted windows. I glance at Julie, who’s sitting up straighter, her fingers nervously twisting the edge of her scarf.
“You ready for this?” I ask.
She shoots me a look that’s half excitement, half terror. “I think so?”
“Too late to back out now.”
The car comes to a stop, and before I can open my door, my mom has yanked it open herself. She practically drags me out of the car, pulling me into a bone-crushing hug that smells like cinnamon, perfume, and nostalgia. Her hands are everywhere-patting my back, cupping my face, smoothing my hair.
“Mi hijo! Look at you! So handsome, but too thin. Are you eating enough? No, of course not, you work too hard. Let me look at you!”
“Mami,” I choke out, laughing as she finally releases me. “I’m fine.”
She swats my shoulder. “Fine? You’re skin and bones!”
Before I can protest, she’s turned her attention to Julie. “¡Y tú debes ser Julie!”
Without waiting for a response, my mother pulls her into a hug that’s just as overwhelming, speaking rapid-fire Spanish into her ear. Julie stands frozen for a second, then pats my mom’s back, eyes wide.
“English, Mami,” I say, prying my mother off Julie. “Let her breathe.”
“Of course, of course!” My mother switches to English with a beaming smile. “Welcome, Julie! Come inside! Dinner is ready, and we have so much to talk about. You must be starving!”
Julie smiles. “I am, actually.”
My mother claps her hands, leading us into the house. The smell of roasted meat, fresh bread, and something sweet hits us immediately. The house is warm, loud, and alive. Cousins, aunts, uncles, and neighbors mill around, and the chatter is deafening. Julie’s eyes dart from one face to another, trying to keep up.
“Luke’s finally here!” Carolina shouts, bounding down the hallway. She gives me a quick hug before turning to Julie. “Julie,
welcome to our home.”
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Chapter 245
Juhe smiles. “Thank you, Carolina.”
Isabel and Sofia, the twins, appear next, both grinning from ear to ear. “We saved you a seat next to Luke,” Isabel says, grabbing Julie’s hand. “You’ll need it.”
“Why?” Julie asks, glancing at me.
“Because dinner is an event here,” Sofia explains with a dramatic eye roll. “You’ll need moral support.”
“Don’t listen to them,” I say, guiding Julie toward the dining room. “They’re just trying to scare you.”
