Lexi sighed. “At first, it was just a um…. A one-time thing. But then... something happened. We got involved. Like really involved. And I started falling for him. Then I found out—he was connected to what happened to my dad. His company. His deals. It was actually directly his fault, but... it’s his world that ruined everything.”
Rachel’s smile dropped. “Wait—your dad’s collapse?”
Lexi nodded slowly, her voice cracking. “Yeah. The stress. The downfall. The pressure. All of it traced back to Julian’s business empire. My dad trusted a company Julian had just acquired. And when they pulled out, it destroyed my dad’s whole operation.”
Rachel reached across and grabbed her hand. “Lex…”
“I hated him when I found out. I tried to walk away. But every time I try, it’s like—he finds a way back.
