YOU OWN THE TITLE, I OWN THE MAN

006| DEFENCES

~EVELYN STERLING~

Julian’s head snapped up at once, his eyes turning possessive with a hint of dark jealousy in them.

I didn’t blink. I turned slowly to look at Melody, making sure my face showed the disdain I felt.

“It’s the scent of the private investigators I spent the night with, Melody. I figured if my husband was too busy to come home, I should spend my time and his money to ensure your ‘accident’ doesn’t become a front-page scandal.”

I turned to look at Julian, my eyes cold. “While you were playing nurse, I was protecting our names. Forgive me if I smell like a room full of men in suits, all because I am the only one in this marriage who actually cares about our future.”

Those words seemed to snap him back to reality. Julian’s face went pale.

He looked at Melody, then back at me, his hands trembling slightly as he spoke.

“Melody that’s enough. Leave now. I’ll see you at the office.”

Melody didn’t argue this time. She could tell she already lost this round, so she walked out of the room, not looking back again.

But as I turned to head upstairs, Julian followed me. It took everything in me not to snap at him.

Funny how just few seconds could change everything between us forever.

He followed me all the way into our bedroom, and closed the door behind him.

Only then did he finally speak.

“Evelyn, please wait,” he said, his voice a lot calmer than before. “About last night… it wasn’t what you think. I didn’t sleep with her. I would never… I just had to make sure she was okay. You know how much I value this marriage.”

His words sounded so sincere, so much that I would have made the mistake of believing him if I hadn’t seen the video.

I scoffed as I unzipped my dress without looking at him.

“Value it? You literally left me for a secretary, Julian.”

“I didn’t touch her!” he shouted, then immediately lowered his voice, and stepped closer to me.

His eyes were wide, with a desperate fear in them, a fear deeper than just a scandal with the Elders.

“You’re my wife, Eve. You’re a Sterling. This marriage was planned from when we were only children. We belong together.”

I didn’t bother to respond, but every word he said only made my chest tighten even more.

Seeing I wasn’t going to respond, he sighed audibly.

“Don’t forget the banquet tomorrow evening. Everyone who matters will be there. We need to be perfect.”

He placed his hand on my shoulder before I could move away, his grip a little tight.

“I promise you, Eve, I’ll make it up to you. I’ll give you anything you want. Just… don’t talk about divorce. Don’t ever say that word again.”

I pulled my shoulder away, feeling a chill go down my spine. He wasn’t acting like a man who had been caught; he was acting like a man who was terrified of a secret I didn’t even know yet.

“I’m tired, Julian. Get out.”

He lingered for a moment, saying something about having the maids prepare my outfit for tomorrow.

But then he said something that made my skin crawl.

“We’re going to be the envy of the city, Eve. I won’t let anyone take you away from me.”

Then, he left.

The scent of Adrian cross was still there, a ghost of the night that had changed me. Julian thought he was the predator. He had no idea I had just walked out of the den of the only man strong enough to burn his word down.

And suddenly, I liked the idea of it burning.

***

The ballroom of the Grand Astoria felt like a cage of gold and glass, filled with the kind of people who smiled casually with heart full of deception.

I kept my back straight, even though my blood was boiling. Julian stood beside me like a masterpiece of deception, his hand glued to the small of my back, his touch possessive.

“Smile, Eve,” he whispered quietly. “The board members are watching. We have to show them you are happy to be my wife.”

I gritted my teeth, fighting the urge to move away from him.

“I’m a Sterling, Julian. Obviously, a better actor than you’ll ever be.”

He stiffened, but before he could retort, he spotted someone in the crowd.

In an instant, his posture changed. He turned to a man desperate to impress.

“He’s here,” he muttered, almost to himself. “He actually came. Come on, Eve. We need to pay our respects.”

He led me through the sea of networkers in the banquet, leading me toward a figure standing near the balcony.

I didn’t know who to expect as the crowd parted for him instinctively.

The man exuded a raw power that made my heart hammer frantically against my ribs as we drew closer.

That back looked familiar, so much that I wanted to turn back and flee.

“Adrian,” Julian called out, his voice thin and eager. “I didn’t think you’d make it tonight.”

My heart stopped.