CHAPTER 019 OLIVIASPOV IgottothediningroomandsawJulianalreadyhavingbreakfast.His eyeslandedonme,andIgavehimasmallsmile.
Yourefinallyawake.Comejoinme,hesaid,gesturingtowardthechairbesidehim.
Inoddedandtookaseatnexttohimasoneofthemaidspromptlyplacedaplateoffoodinfrontofmebread,eggs,andbacon.Thearomaalonemademystomachgrumble.
Howsyourarm?Iasked,glancingatthebandagewrappedaroundit.
Julianlookedathisinjured arm,flexing hisfingersslightlybeforegivingmeareassuringnod.Itsgettingbetter.
Iwasrelievedtohearthat.Seeinghimbleed likethatinmydreamhadshakenmemorethanI leton.It wasntjustthesightofhimbeinghurtit wastherealizationthat,forthefirsttime,myproblemswereaffectingsomeoneelse directly.ThelastthingIwantedwastodrag Julianintomymess,butherehewas,standingbymeregardless.
Ipickedupmyforkandtookasmallbiteof theeggs.Theyweresurprisinglywell-seasonedandcookedjust right.Isippedmycoffee,enjoyingthewarmthasitspreadthroughmy body.ButjustasIwasgettingcomfortable,my stomachsuddenlyclenched.Awaveof nauseawashedoverme,makingmythroattighten.IfeltlikeIwassecondsawayfromvomitingalloverthetable.
Idroppedmy fork,pressingmypalmagainstmy stomachas myfacetwistedindiscomfort.
Areyouokay?Juliansvoicewasfilled withconcern.
Ididntanswerright away,tryingtofocuson mybreathing.Sensingmy distress,Julianquicklyturnedto oneofthe maids.
Bring hersomewarmwater.Now.
Within seconds,amaidrushedoverwithaglassofwarmwater.I grabbeditwithslightlyshakyhandsandtooksmallsips,lettingthewarmth settleinmy stomach.Aquietburpescapedmylips,andthenauseaslowlybegantofade.Iexhaled,relievedthatthediscomfortwaspassing.

Better?Julianasked,studyingmyface.
Inodded,placing theemptyglassonthetable.Yeah.Just felt likevomitingforasecond.
Was itthefood? Successfully unlocked! No,thefoodisgreat.Itjust happenssometimes,Isaid,thoughIwasntconvincedmyself.Thiswasntnormalfor me.
1/4 CHAPTER019 Juliangavemeaskepticallookbutdidntpressfurther.Istareddownatmyplate,debatingwhethertotakeanotherbite.I didntwanttorisk feelingsickagain,butmystomachstillgrowledin hunger.Hesitantly,Ipickedup apieceofbreadandtookasmall,carefulbite.
Thistime,thenauseadidntreturn.
Afterfinishingourmeal,Julianwipedhismouthwithanapkin,andIdidthesame.Iknewthiswastheperfecttimetoaskhimwhathadbeenonmymindsincelastnight.
Doyouhaveamoment?Iasked,pushingmyplateaway.
Sure.
Westeppedoutsideandtookastrollthroughhisgarden.Thefreshairhelpedclearmy mind.
So,whatdidyouwanttotalkabout?Julianaskedaswewalkedsidebyside.
Ihesitatedfora secondbeforespeaking.Thisisallstillnewto me.Wevebeenfriendsforyearsnow,andyetImonly justfinding outabout…allthis.Igesturedvaguelytowardhisestate.
It makes mefeellikeahorriblefriend,honestly.

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Julianchuckled,shaking hishead.Like Isaidyesterday,itsalongstory.Andyourenotahorriblefriend.Ijustnevertalkedaboutmylifemuch.
Donttrytomakemefeelbetter.Thetruthis,Ineverreallyasked.Iwassocaughtupinmyownproblems thatIbarelypaidattention toyou.
Itsreallyfine,Liv.ItsnotlikeIwasdyingtosharemylifestory.
Well,Iwanttochangethat.So,makethelong storyshort,Isaid,givinghimapointedlook.
Julianraisedaneyebrow,amused.Yousure? Inodded.Yeah.Iwanttoheareverything.Starting withhowyouhaveallthis.
Heexhaled,rubbingthebackofhisneck.Alright.HaveyoueverheardofZenithSolutions? Thenamesoundedfamiliar.Iwasnever tooinvolved inbusinessmatters,butIddefinitely heardAdrianmentionitbefore.
Yeah,Ithinkso,Isaid.
Well,myparentsownit.
I blinked.Wait,what? Juliannodded.Yep.
It took me a secondtoprocess.Thatexplainseverything.Ilaughed,shaking my head.AndhereIwas,thinking youwerejustsomeaverageJoe Forgettingabouthisinjury,Iplayfullypunchedhisarm,onlytorealizemymistakewhenhewincedinpain.
2/4 CHAPTER019 Oh mygod,Im sorry!Igasped,coveringmymouth.
Julian chuckled,brushingoffthepain.Itsfine.Ivebeenthroughworse,remember? Igavehimasheepishsmileaswecontinued walking.So,letmegetthisstraightyourparentsarebillionaires,yetyoudrivearound inanaveragecar andlivelikeanormalguy? Julianshrugged.Frommyperspective,Iamanaverageguy.

Whatdo youmean? Sure,myparentsarerich.Buttheirwealthistheirs.Theybuilt Zenith Solutionsfromthegroundup.Thatstheirlegacy,notmine.
So,youwanttobuildyourownlegacy? Exactly,hesaidwithanod.
Doyourparentsknowaboutyourdecision? Notyet.
Whynot? Juliansighed,shovinghis handsintohispockets.Itsjust…notthe righttime.And onestly,Iwant tobesurebeforeImakethat kindofdecision.
iltedmyhead.Youreafraidof howtheyllreact?Like…theymighttakeawaythemansionorsomething? Hesmirked.Somethinglikethat.
Igavehimaknowinglook.Youwannahear myopinion? Go ahead.
Theresnobesttimetotellthem.You could callthemrightnowifyouwantedto.Iftheyloveyou ,theyll respect yourdecisionandIhighlydoubttheydkickyououtortakeallthisaway.Igestured towardtheluxuriousestate.
Julianwasquietfora momentbeforesighing.The thingis…Imtheonlyheirtothecompany.
I blinked,processinghiswords.Oh.Well…thatchangesalotofthings,Isaidjokingly,nudging hisside.
Julianletoutadrylaugh,butIcouldtell thiswas somethingthatweighedheavilyonhim.Then,athoughtcrossed mymind.
Wait…whataboutyoursister?Iasked,rememberingwhathehadsaidyesterday.
Juliansexpression shiftedslightly,hisjawtighteningforamomentbeforeheresponded.
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