Facebook Twitter WhatsApp Pinterest Telegram OLIVIASPOV IsawhowJuliansexpressionchangedthemomentImentionedAdriansname.Hisrelaxedposturestiffened,andheslowlyraisedabrow,settinghislaptopasideasheturnedhisattentionfullytome.
Adriancalledyou?heasked,histonelacedwithsuspicion.
Yeah,afewminutesago,Ireplied,shiftingslightlyunderhisgaze.
Andwhatdidhesay? Ihesitatedforabriefmoment,choosingmywordscarefully.Hesaidhewantstotalktome.
Julianseyesnarrowed.Allofasudden? Inodded.IwasshockedwhenIsawhiscalltoo.
Heleanedbackagainsthischair,crossinghisarms.Andwhatdidyoutellhim?Foramoment,IconsideredtellingJulianeverythinghowAdrianhadthreatenedtopull hisfundsfrommyparentscompanyifIdidntmeethim.ButIknewthatwouldonlymakethingsworse.JulianwouldneverletmegoifheknewthefullextentofAdriansmanipulation.
Soinstead,Istraightenedmyshouldersandsaid,Well,hesstillmyhusband,andIwanttohearwhat hehastosay.
Juliansexpressiondarkenedinstantly.Areyouserious? Yeah,Iam,Isaid,holdingmyground.
Thisisthesameguyyouvebeendoingeverythingtostayawayfrom,andnowyousuddenlywanttohearwhat hehastosay?Hisvoicehadanedgetoitnow,amixoffrustrationandconcern.
-Isighed.Iknowwhat Imdoing,Julian.Ihavemyreasons.
Hisjawtightened,andIcouldseehewasstrugglingtokeephisemotionsincheck.Liv,whatpossiblereasonscouldyouhaveforwillinglywalkingintoaconversationwithhim? Iglancedaway,trying tothinkofawaytoeasehisconcernswithoutrevealingtoomuch.Look,justtrustme,okay?IwouldntdothisifIdidntthinkitwasnecessary.
Julianstudiedmeinsilenceforafewmomentsbeforefinallyexhaling sharplyAlright.Ifyousayso.
Successfullyunlocked!i… ThatwaseasierthanIexpected.ughtcommyhimwouldtakelonger.Maybe herealizedtherewasnopointinarguingwithmeaboutit.

So , whenare yougoingtoseehim?heasked.
1/4 CHAPTER131 By7p.m.,Ireplied.
Julianfrowned.Tomorrow? No,Isaid,shakingmyhead.Tonight.
Hisgazesnappedtome.Tonight?Thatsinlessthananhour,Liv.
Inodded,checkingthe timeonmyphone.Ishouldprobablygetready.
Iwalkedovertomyroomandbroughtoutacasualtopandshortsjeans,andwhitesneakers I NotlikeIwastryingtoimpresshimoranything.
II About20minuteslaterIwasdone,IwalkeddowntoinformJulianIwasleaving.
Juliandidntsayanythingforafewseconds,butIcouldtellhewasthinking.Then,as!turnedtoleave,hespokeagain.
Mydriverwilltakeyouthere.
Ihesitated.Areyousurethatsagoodidea? Itssafer,hesaidfirmly.
Ihadntthoughtofitthatway,buthewasright.IfItookanUber,Idbecompletely aloneonceIarrived.WithJuliansdriver,at leastsomeonewouldbewaiting forme.
Okay,Iagreed.
Illescortyououtside,hesaid,closinghislaptopashestood.

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Aswemadeour wayoutside,IsawtheblackMercedesBenzalreadyparkedinfrontofthehouse,thedriverwaiting.JulianstoppedbesidemebeforeIcouldgetin.
Ifhetriesanything,mydriverwillcallme,hesaid,hisvoicelow.
Inodded,appreciatingtheconcern.Illbefine.
Julianseyessearchedmine foramomentbeforehefinallypulledmeintoabriefhug.Then,withoutanotherword,Islidintothecar,andthedriverstartedtheengine.The ridewasquiet.Ikeptmygazefixedonthewindow,watchingasthecitylights.blurredpast.Despitemyearlierconfidence,Icouldntshakethefeelingofuneasecreeping upmyspine.WhatdidAdrian reallywant?Wasthisjustaboutourmarriage,orwastheresomethingmore? BeforeIknewit,wearrivedatthelocationAdrianhadsentme.
Isteppedoutofthecarandtookinmysurroundings.ItwasoneofAdriansfavoritebars,aplaceheoftenvisitedwithJameswhenhewantedtodrinkandclearhishead.But somethingfelt…off, Thebarwasempty.
Usually,thisplacewaspacked,buzzingwiththesoundsofconversationandmusic.Buttonight,therewasnothing.
20 CHAPTEROOTT Iswallowedhard,myinstinctsscreamingthatsomethingwasntright.
AsIwalkedinside,myfootstepsechoedinthesilence.Myeyesscannedthespace,searchingforAdrian,andsureenough,hewasthereintheVIPlounge,seated comfortablyasifhehadallthetimeintheworld.
Thebouncerattheentrancegavemeabriefnodbeforesteppingaside,allowingmetopass.
AdrianlookedupasIapproached,hisdarkeyesunreadable.
Yourelate,hesaid.
Iglancedatmywatch.7:02p.m.
Itsjust… Twominutesisalotoftime,hecutmeoff,histonesharp.

Ibitbackaretort.Hehadntchanged.Stillobsessedwithcontrol,stillunwillingtoletanythingslipbeyondhisgrasp.
Heflickedhishand,andwithinseconds,the bouncerreturnedwithabottleofwine,pouringhimaglass before steppingawayagain.
Inoticedthes placeisempty,Isaid,crossingmyarms.
ThatsbecauseIrentedthewholeplace,hereplied,takingaslowsipfromhisglass.
Isuppressedashiver.Hedplannedthismeetingcarefully,ensuringnooneelsewouldbearound.
Goodtoknow,Isaid,keepingmyvoice steady.Now thatImhere,canyoutellmewhatyouwantedtotalkabout? Adriansethisglassdownandleaned forwardslightly.WhatelsewouldIwanttotalkaboutifnotourmarriage? Iscoffed.Ivetoldyoubefore…theresnothingleftbetweenus.
-Insteadofresponding,hereachedintohissuitandpulledoutatablet,placingitonthe tablebetweenus.Thescreenlitup,revealingaphoto.
Mybreathcaughtinmythroat.
ItwasapictureofJulianandme,standingoutsidehishousehugging.
Ifeltthecolordrainfrom myface.Thiswastakenjustearliertoday.
Howdidyougetthis?Iasked,myvoicebarelyaboveawhisper, Adriansmirked.Dontunderestimateme,Olivia.IhaveeyeswhereyouthinkIdont.
Acoldshiverrandownmyspine.
Washe behindthemenwhotriedtokidnapme?Didheluremeheretobaitme? Thiswasntgoodatall.