Free Web NovelChapter 42: Catalina’s game
Lyvana felt her heart sink. Fiancé? Julian has a fiancée?
"I am sorry, Julian didn’t mention he was engaged," she said.
The woman stepped further into the room, her eyes scanning the messy sheets with clear disgust.
"Julian doesn’t feel the need to discuss his private arrangements with every passing whim he brings to his bed. I am Catalina Windsor. Our engagement was arranged by our families years ago."
Lyvana stood frozen. The love they had made earlier, felt like a dream that was suddenly turning into a nightmare.
"Are you so shameless," Catalina continued, stepping closer, "that you leave your own fiancé just to sleep with mine? And yes, I know who you are, Lyvana Montclair."
Lyvana’s throat tightened.
"I didn’t know he was engaged," she repeated softly. Her voice trembled as tears threatened to fall.
Catalina’s lips curved into a thin smile.
"Oh, I’m sure you didn’t," she replied smoothly. "Girls like you never do."
Lyvana felt the sting of that insult.
"This is my husband-to-be’s home and you are not welcomed here," Catalina snapped.
Lyvana didn’t want to give this woman the satisfaction of seeing her cry, but her heart was breaking.
She turned back to the bed and picked up her phones and her handbag. Without saying a single word, she walked right past Catalina and out the door. Her heart was pounding, but she kept her head high.
Downstairs, Julian’s mother was standing in the hallway talking to Clara. She stopped mid-sentence when she saw Lyvana hurry past them.
She watched the door close behind the young woman, then turned to the housekeeper with a confused look.
"Who was that?"
Clara looked at the door, then back at Eleanor. She looked nervous.
"That is Miss Lyvana, ma’am," Clara whispered. "Mr. Blackwood brought her here. She was in his room."
Eleanor frowned. She knew her son, and something didn’t feel right.
"In his room?" she repeated. She turned to the front gates where Lyvana had disappeared. "And where is she going in such a hurry?"
Meanwhile, Outside the Gates
Lyvana kept walking. Her eyes were blurry with tears, but she refused to let them fall. Every step away from the house felt like a step away from the version of Julian she thought she knew.
She reached the end of the long driveway and pulled out her phone. Then she called Emily, who had spent the night at her parent’s house. ƒгeewёbnovel.com
Emily answered on the first ring.
"Liv, I was just about to—"
"Can you come pick me up?" Lyvana cut in. "I’m sending you the location."
A pause.
"What happened?"
"I’ll explain later."
The line went quiet for a second. "I’m already driving, I will be there soon."
Lyvana ended the call and wrapped her arms around herself. The morning air suddenly felt colder now.
Fiancée. freeωebnovēl.c૦m
The word echoed in her mind like a cruel joke.
She should never have given her heart to Julian. She would have spared herself from this terrible heartbreak.
Inside the house, Eleanor was confused.
She knew her son. Knew his habits and his carefully managed indiscretions.
But Julian had rules.
And one of them had always been clear: No woman was ever allowed into his private space.
Not in this house.
Not in any of his homes.
He kept his flings and his actual life completely separate.
She looked toward the stairs, where Catalina was now descending with a perfect composure, as if nothing unusual had happened.
"Catalina," Eleanor said. "I am so sorry about this. I will have to speak with Julian as soon as possible. I am sure there is a perfectly good explanation for this... misunderstanding."
"Its alright Eleanor," Catalina replied coolly. "Its not uncommon for most men to take up... distractions."
"Distractions are one thing, but bringing someone into this house is another," Eleanor said firmly. "Julian knows better."
Inwardly, Eleanor wasn’t so sure if this girl was just a distraction.
She turned to Clara. "We will wait a while, see if he will return."
Clara nodded quickly.
As soon as the front door closed behind them, Clara pulled out her phone and dialed Julian’s number.
....
Five minutes later, a car pulled up outside the gates.
Emily jumped out before the engine was fully off.
"What did he do?" she demanded, rushing toward Lyvana.
Lyvana shook her head. "He didn’t do anything."
"Then why do you look like someone just died?"
Lyvana blinked hard, fighting back tears. She couldn’t even explain the pain she was feeling in her heart.
"Let’s just get out of here," she whispered.
As they walked to the car, her phone buzzed. It was Julian’s private number. She stared at it for a second, then looked away and ignored it.
The moment they reached the apartment, the strength Lyvana had been holding onto disappeared.
She ran into the bathroom and sank to the floor, sliding down against the back of the door. She pulled her knees to her chest and finally let the tears fall.
After a few minutes, she forced herself to stand up. She took a long, hot shower, trying to wash away the memory of Julian from her skin.
She walked out and began to dress for work, moving like a robot. She was trying so hard to push Julian out of her mind, but he was all she could think of. She was sure work would distract her.
Her phone rang again — he had called several times now — but she refused to answer. She finished getting ready, picked up her bag, and headed for the kitchen.
Emily had prepared breakfast.
Lyvana sat down, but she didn’t touch the food. She looked at her phone, which was still vibrating every few minutes with calls she refused to answer.
"You need to eat something babe," Emily said gently, watching her friend. "Do you want to talk about it? Tell me what happened? I swear, if he hurt you..."
"There’s nothing to tell," Lyvana said, her voice sounding hollow even to her own ears. "Julian has a fiancée."
