Chapter 4
1156 Words
The sheer resentment that gripped Julian Manchineel over the television broadcast was palpable, nearly choking the air in the room. Yet, he quickly regained control, drawing a sharp breath and tearing his gaze away from the screen that displayed the faces of Arinra Olyxton and Joy El Nostra. His violet eyes refocused on Eidelweiss Quinzel.
"I apologize," Julian stated, his voice flat again, though a tremor lingered beneath it. He used the excuse to deflect Eidelweiss’s possible question about his emotional reaction. "It’s getting late, Ms. Quinzel. Where will you go after this?"
The question struck Eidelweiss right at the core of her problem. She had just realized she hadn't just lost her assets, but her entire social network and her home.
"I..." Eidelweiss looked down, acknowledging her greatest vulnerability. "I don't know. I truly have nowhere to go."
Julian stood still for a moment, processing the confession. He looked at Eidelweiss, assessing the fragile woman before him—a former CEO who now possessed nothing but the clothes on her back.
"I don't know why you were detained, Ms. Quinzel, but I don't believe you are a criminal," Julian said. His decision was swift and certain. "I live in an apartment close by. There’s an empty guest room I usually use for storage. If you are willing, you can stay there for the time being, at least until you have a clearer destination."
The offer was an unexpected anchor in the middle of a storm. Eidelweiss was stunned, yet a powerful instinct told her she had to accept. Julian was the only stranger who had been kind to her and, coincidentally, had an intense emotional tie to the people who had destroyed her.
"I... I am extremely grateful, Mr. Julian," Eidelweiss replied, her voice filled with sincere, formal gratitude.
Julian nodded. He then gestured towards the kitten receiving the IV drip. "I'll move this little one to our warmer inpatient area. He needs intensive observation for the next few days. You don't need to worry about the cost. Not a cent."
After the kitten was stabilized in the inpatient room, Julian Manchineel urged Eidelweiss to come home with him immediately. He led Eidelweiss out of the Manchineel Veterinary Clinic and down several blocks of rain-soaked streets. Julian walked briskly under his umbrella, while Eidelweiss followed, her body still shivering.
Julian’s residence was not in the same building as his clinic. They arrived at a well-maintained, low-rise residential building. Julian guided Eidelweiss to his unit.
The apartment was a simple yet comfortable residence; not overly spacious for an established veterinarian, but not cramped either. The room was dominated by full bookshelves and a tidy desk, exuding an atmosphere of intellectual calm far removed from corporate bustle.
Julian stopped in front of a door.
"This is the room you can use," Julian said, opening the door. "I apologize, it doesn't compare to your previous residence, but it’s at least comfortable and quiet."
Eidelweiss looked inside. The room was small but clean, with a single bed and a wooden wardrobe. For someone who had just lost a luxury penthouse, the room felt like an invaluable blessing.
"This is more than enough, Mr. Julian. Thank you," Eidelweiss replied, her voice genuine.
Julian immediately went to his own room and returned a moment later. In his hands, he carried a neatly folded stack of clothes—a plain t-shirt and loose sweatpants, along with a soft bath towel.
"Your clothes are soaked," Julian said, handing her the items. "These are mine. They might be a bit too big, but they will at least keep you warm. You don't have to worry about replacing any of it."
Eidelweiss, accustomed to living by paying for everything, felt awkward about this generosity. "I will definitely—"
Julian smiled, a smile that finally reached his violet eyes and eased the tension. "No need, Ms. Quinzel. Consider it my small contribution to help you. Everyone deserves a second chance, especially after going through a rough time."
Julian pointed to a door. "The bathroom is right there. Please use it as long as you need. You must be exhausted."
"Thank you very much, Julian," Eidelweiss said, using his first name for the first time—a small sign of newly formed intimacy and trust. She hugged the clothes tightly to her chest and quickly hurried toward the bathroom.
**
Warm water washed over Eidelweiss Quinzel's body, cleansing the dust of the road and the heavy burden that had felt shackling for the past six months. She put on the clothes Julian gave her—the loose T-shirt and oversized sweatpants—but the warmth of the fabric, and the freshness after the shower, made her feel human again.
She returned to the guest room Julian Manchineel had provided. There, she sat on the edge of the bed, towel-drying her brown hair. Her hands moved slowly, her mind wandering.
As she dried the ends of her hair, her foot nudged something hard beneath the bed. A box. Curious, Eidelweiss knelt down and pulled out the worn cardboard carton. Dust clung to her fingers. The box wasn't sealed, and Eidelweiss, whose CEO instincts always pushed her to seek information, lifted the lid.
Inside, she found a medium-sized photo album with a faded velvet cover. On top of the album lay an envelope containing several letters and postcards.
Eidelweiss picked up the album, opening the first page. The pictures featured Julian, smiling in a way that was completely different from the composure he showed earlier. Julian looked cheerful, full of laughter, and most importantly, he wasn't alone.
Every photo was a scene of Julian sharing time with a blonde woman. They looked incredibly happy: picnicking in the park, celebrating birthdays, vacationing on the beach. The woman's face, with her wide smile and sparkling blue eyes, felt familiar.
On the last page, there was a photo taken in a flower garden. Julian and the woman were embracing, and Julian was gently kissing her forehead. Beneath the photo, written in neat handwriting, were the words: "Julian & Arinra, London, Summer 2021."
That name... Arinra Olyxton. Her ex-husband's future wife. The lawyer she believed was her savior, but who instead became part of her destruction.
Eidelweiss felt her blood run cold. Her heart pounded fiercely, and this extraordinary coincidence felt so surreal it was almost painful.
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
Julian appeared. His friendly smile froze on his face. His violet eyes immediately took in the scene before him: Eidelweiss sitting on the floor, a towel still around her neck, holding the photo album that displayed the sweet memories of Julian's past with Arin.
A deadly silence filled the room.
Eidelweiss slowly lifted her head, her hazel eyes staring straight at Julian, holding the album like a piece of evidence.
"You..." Eidelweiss began, her voice low and full of unresolved questions. "You know Arinra Olyxton?"
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