After Dumping My Uncle, I Married His Rival

Chapter 2

I no longer remembered when I finally fell asleep last night. All I knew was that when I woke this morning, my face was still wet with tears.

The moment I drew back the curtains, my phone screen was already flooded with unread messages Julian had sent in the dead of night.

Julian: I'll be waiting for you at the door tomorrow morning.

Julian: Don't keep me waiting too long.

Remembering that my dad was still at home, I quickly pulled myself together and hurried downstairs.

I had barely found my footing before Julian's interrogation came barreling straight at me.

"I waited for you at the bar all night yesterday. Why didn't you show up? You didn't reply to any of my messages. Your phone was off. You've really gotten bold, haven't you?"

Julian had put on the exact same domineering air he used when dressing down his subordinates.

"I wasn't feeling well yesterday, so I went to bed very early." It was the first time I had ever lied to him, and it was obvious he didn't quite believe me.

But seeing how deathly pale my face was, he swallowed the accusations that had been rising in his throat. Then he scooped me into his car and drove me to a restaurant.

Julian walked ahead of me, gripping my hand tightly in his.

I struggled against his hold. Then he turned back with a look of pure confusion.

"Aren't you afraid someone might see us?"

"Why should I? We're not related by blood. It's not like we're in some shameful, secret relationship."

In the past, those words would have sent me over the moon. But now, all I felt was a deep, instinctive resistance.

Julian didn't notice anything off about my mood in the slightest. He was entirely absorbed in getting me to try the signature dishes he had personally picked out.

He said I would love them once I tried them.

But the moment the menu was brought out, my entire body froze rigid in place.

A table full of seafood.

I lied to myself over and over in my head. It had to be a coincidence. It was just what happened to be the restaurant's specialty, nothing more.

Across from me, Julian kept up an enthusiastic stream of introductions to every dish.

And then, the next second, the words that fell so casually from his mouth plunged me into a frozen abyss.

"These are all your favorites. Hurry up and try some."

Julian cracked open a crab and placed the meat onto my plate.

My hands curled into fists, so tight I could barely breathe.

The one who loved seafood was Vivian, his first love. It was never me.

I used to think Julian was just busy with work, that he simply didn't understand a woman's heart well enough. No matter how many times I told him I was allergic to seafood, he never remembered.

However, at that moment, I could no longer lie to myself.

"Eat up," Julian urged.

I couldn't hold it in anymore, pushing the plate aside.

Julian froze for a few seconds.

When he recovered, he let out a cold, harsh laugh aimed right at me.

"Scarlett, I have spoiled and indulged you for all these years, and this is how you repay me? Your temper's getting worse by the day!"

Right there, in front of all the surrounding customers, Julian pulled out that scolding, lecturing authority and bellowed at me until I was utterly mortified, frozen in my seat.

The very next second, he stood up and walked out.

"I brought you here out of the goodness of my heart, and you threw a princess tantrum at me? Get home on your own!"

I was left abandoned in the restaurant.

Under the prying stares of the waitstaff, I had no choice but to offer back a small, apologetic, deeply embarrassed smile.

I hadn't expected that before I could even step outside, it would start pouring rain.

My phone suddenly rang. It was Julian calling.

"Apologize to me, and I'll come back to pick you up."

Before I could answer, a faint female voice drifted through from the other end of the line.

"Julian, I just got my period. It hurts so much. Could you please help me massage..."

I said nothing. I simply, quietly, hung up the phone on my own.

That woman—she was probably Vivian.

Only I never imagined that, while I was being abandoned in some restaurant, Vivian was already comfortably tucked away inside Julian's apartment.