Free Web NovelChapter 71: So Ethan had been right
"What in the—" Lily cut herself off, checking the door to make sure no one was listening. "Aurora? Why the hell will she go there?"
"She didn’t look like she was there for tea," Marco said. "Whatever she’s cooking up, it isn’t going to be good for the boss."
Lily stared at her screen. "She’s trying to scare her off before Julian remembers who she is. That’s petty. I didn’t take her for a desperate woman."
"What do you want me to do boss?" Marco asked.
"Get Victor to confirm If she gets back to the Grant estate. Then let me know."
Lily hung up the phone.
Catalina was dangerous when she was winning, but she was even worse when she was losing. If she was threatening Lyvana, it meant she was losing her grip on Julian. That made her a live wire—unpredictable and ready to snap.
Julian had always been cautious of Catalina. The moment Chairman Grant suggested the marriage, Julian had ordered a deep investigation into her life. He knew her secrets, but he also knew her temper.
He had even suspected she was the one who tried to kill Lyvana before his accident.
Maybe I should tell Marco about this, Lily thought. If Catalina really was the one behind the hit, then Lyvana was in more danger than ever.
A desperate woman is hard to predict, and a dangerous woman is hard to stop. Catalina was both. She was cornered, and that made her the most dangerous enemy Lyvana could have.
At that exact moment, Julian sat in the back of his Rolls-Royce Phantom. He had bought the car after the accident.
The tinted windows hid him from the world, but they couldn’t hide him from his own thoughts.
He scrolled through his phone. It was flooded with messages from family, business allies, and Syndicate members. To the world, this marriage was the union of two empires. To him, it was just a ticking clock — a one-year contract to keep his father quiet.
His mind drifted back to the day the deal was made.
He remembered the tension in his father’s study. For the first time in years, his mother had raised her voice. She was standing up to his father, her face pale but determined.
"Is this really the woman you want for our son?" she had demanded.
His father didn’t even look up from his desk. "She is ruthless. She is powerful. She knows how to handle an empire, Eleanor. That is what Julian needs."
"I am not ruthless, but I have handled your empire quite well. It’s not going to work. Julian will not marry her. I won’t allow it."
His father had been so shocked by her outburst that he finally backed down — slightly. He offered a compromise, a cold deal that Julian couldn’t refuse.
"One year," his father had said. "Julian marries her for one year. If he doesn’t see her as a true partner by then, they can divorce. But for twelve months, he would give her a chance."
"I refuse to accept that." Eleanor had insisted.
But Julian had accepted just to keep the peace between them.
Twelve months. He had barely survived less than a week. He reached up and rubbed his temple, where a dull ache was beginning to throb once more.
The scent of her jasmine perfume still seemed to cling to his skin, making him feel nauseous.
He dialed Lily’s number.
"Did you finish the report I asked for?"
"Yes, sir," Lily’s voice came through the speaker. "I was just waiting for your final confirmation before emailing it to you."
"Do that," Julian said. He made to end the call, but his hand stopped. "Lily..."
"Yes, sir?"
"Do you happen to know a Lyvana Montclair?"
There was a pause as the faint sound of typing stop.
"Yes, sir." Her voice sounded careful.
"Who is she?" he asked.
"Um... sir, she... um..." Lily hesitated, which was rare for her.
Julian’s brow furrowed. Lily was blunt and completely not afraid of him. He leaned back in his leather chair.
"I have always known you to be forward, Lily. Don’t start stuttering now."
"Yes, sir," Lily said, her tone snapping back to professional. "You dated her, sir."
"I dated a lot of girls, Lily. You know what I’m asking. Is this one different? Was she important to me?"
"She was very important to you, sir," Lily said. "She was with you at the penthouse and at the main house. You had me buy an entire wardrobe of clothes for her to keep at both locations."
Julian felt a strange chill. Ethan had been right. ƒгeewёbnovel.com
"After the accident," Lily continued, "your wife had the maids clear everything out. But I didn’t throw the clothes away, sir. I kept them in storage... just in case you ever needed them again."
"Tell me everything from beginning to end."
....
Back at Aurora, in the quiet of the studio, Emily slowly set the paper bag of snacks down. She looked at Lyvana’s tear-stained face.
"Liv... you’re white as a sheet," Emily whispered, stepping around the desk. "What’s wrong?"
Lyvana didn’t look up. She was staring at nothing.
"Julian’s... wife. She was here."
Emily froze. The air in the room felt heavy and cold. "What? When?"
"Just now," Lyvana whispered. She finally looked up, and her eyes were filled with a deep, hollow pain. freēwebnovel.com
Emily looked at the door, her face red with anger, then back at her friend.
"Oh my God, Lyv. I’m so sorry." Emily pulled her into a tight hug. "What did that woman say to you?"
"She offered me money," Lyvana whispered into Emily’s shoulder. "She told me never to contact Julian again."
Emily pulled back, her eyes flashing.
"That bitch! She already married him. What more does she want? If I had been here, I would have torn her eyes out!"
Lyvana gave a small laugh, then her gaze shifted to the desk. That was when she noticed the envelope. She picked it up.
"She offered me twenty million dollars," Lyvana said, her voice trembling. "Just to stay away from Julian."
"Oh, no she didn’t." Emily said, snatching the envelope from Lyvana’s hand. Then she pulled out her phone. "Does she really think your family is needy? Does she think you can be bought like a piece of fabric?"
