Free Web NovelChapter 61: Fake honeymoon
She walked into her apartment and went straight to the kitchen.
She stopped when she saw the counter. She remembered Julian sitting right there with her, laughing and talking.
A sharp pain hit her chest as she realized that spot was now empty, just like her heart.
She opened the fridge, grabbed a bottle of wine, and poured herself a glass. The liquid burned as it went down, but it was a distraction from the pain.
She downed the rest of the wine and collapsed onto the couch, the darkness closing in around her.
Meanwhile, Marco pulled up to a café near Lyvana’s building. His face was grim as he hit speed dial.
The line rang once before it connected.
"Hello?" Lily responded.
"Lily," he said, lowering his voice. "What is going on?"
A pause.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
Marco leaned against the steering wheel.
"Ms. Lyvana said the boss is married," he said slowly. "I don’t understand. Is it true?"
For a moment, there was nothing but silence on the line.
Then Lily spoke again. But this time, she sounded confused herself.
"Who informed her?"
Marco’s stomach tightened. "I don’t know."
"Marco, the boss is married."
Marco straightened. "No, thats messed up. She didn’t deserve that."
"I didn’t know anything about it."
Marco’s grip on the phone tightened. "Something’s off. Can you find out what’s going on."
"Marco, what you’re asking..."
Marco nodded, though Lily couldn’t see him. "I know. But we know the boss, better than anyone. We know what that missy meant to him."
Lily sighed. "I’ll dig into it. You keep an eye on our girl."
Marco nodded, a plan forming in his mind. "Got it. I’ll make sure she’s safe."
The line went dead. Marco sat there, thinking. He didn’t believe Julian would do this to Lyvana. Something wasn’t adding up.
As he looked up, he noticed a man watching Lyvana’s apartment from across the street.
Marco’s eyes narrowed.
....
Lyvana opened her eyes. The room was dark, and the sun had already gone down. She was surprised to find herself lying in bed. She didn’t remember how she got there. When she turned her head, she saw Emily sleeping quietly beside her. Lyvana felt a small spark of comfort and smiled.
She rolled onto her back and stared at the ceiling. She tried to keep her mind blank, forcing herself not to think about Julian. Thinking about him hurt too much, and she couldn’t handle it anymore.
What she couldn’t understand was the cruelty of fate. Why was the universe so determined to push her back into Mark’s arms?
If Julian was gone — if he was no longer her shield or her weapon against the man who wanted to ruin her — then so be it. She had lived and died once already. She wouldn’t let Mark win a second time. If she had to get rid of him herself, she would.
....
Early the next morning, Julian stood at the hotel balcony wearing a sharp suit. fɾēewebnσveℓ.com
"Get ready," he was saying on the phone. "I Just got a call from the investors. We’re going to their hotel now."
Catalina walked up behind him. She was wearing a see-through nightgown. She wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned against him.
"My love, where are you going?" she asked. "We are on our honeymoon."
Julian turned slowly. He pulled her hands off him as if they were trash.
"Don’t do that again," he said flatly.
Catalina pouted her lips, trying to look hurt.
"You’re so cold this morning, Julian. Last night you were so quiet, but I thought it was because you were tired. Don’t I look beautiful to you?"
She twirled in her nightgown, letting it flutter. "Most men would kill to be in this room with me."
Julian didn’t even look at her body. He just looked at his watch.
"Most men are fools. I have an appointment, and right now, you are a distraction I don’t have time for."
"Is that all I am to you? A distraction?" she snapped, her eyes flashing with anger. "We just got married yesterday! You should be with me, not going for... appointments."
Julian stepped closer, his shadow falling over her, but there was no warmth in his eyes.
"Let me make something perfectly clear to you," he said coldly. "I will never love you, Catalina. This marriage is just to please my father. If I were you, I would find another way to enjoy this fake honeymoon."
Catalina laughed. "You didn’t say that while you were on top of me last night."
"Nothing happened between us last night," Julian replied.
"You were drunk," she smirked. "How would you know?"
"I wasn’t that drunk. I just didn’t want to talk to you. Also, there is a camera in this room. I checked the video this morning, just to be sure."
Catalina’s face fell. "You’re crazy, Julian."
"I know," he said with a dry smile. He walked past her toward the door.
She grabbed his arm, looking desperate.
"Even if you don’t want me, give me a child! I want to carry your baby, Julian."
"Even if you drugged me, I would never sleep with you," he snapped. "Not even by mistake. I know who you really are Catalina."
There was a loud knock at the door.
Julian looked down at her hand with total disgust.
"Let go of me," he said. His voice was quiet, but it was so cold that she pulled her hand away.
The door opened, and Ethan stood there, looking back and forth between the two of them. He could almost feel the tension in the air.
"Car is downstairs," he said, clearing his throat.
"Good. Let’s go," Julian said.
He walked out of the room without looking back once, leaving an angry Catalina standing alone in the middle of the hotel room, shaking with rage.
As soon as they got into the car, Ethan turned to him.
"Yo bro, what happened? I thought you weren’t going to marry the bitch."
"I had to," Julian said, looking out the window. "I made a deal with father to marry her for just one year. She signed a prenup. It’s just business."
"Just business?" Ethan asked, confused. "But... what about Lyvana?"
Julian frowned. "Who?"
"Lyvana!" Ethan stared at him. "The supposed love of your life."
Julian’s frown deepened. He looked completely serious. "I don’t know any Lyvana. I’ve never heard that name in my life."
