After He Protected His Mistress, I Found a Lover

Chapter 6

Ten minutes later, at a cafe outside the campus.

Selena and Gabriella sat across from each other.

Gabriella ordered a cappuccino, then smiled at Selena. "Ms. Arthur, Julian and I actually met in this very cafe. He used to come here often and always ordered a cappuccino. Since I've been with him, I've picked up the habit and now only drink this too."

Her bragging was completely unabashed.

Ignoring the provocation, Selena calmly placed her order with the waiter. "An iced coffee, please."

Seeing this, Gabriella's smile grew even sweeter.

"You know, I was working part-time here when I accidentally spilled coffee all over him. I thought I was done for, but he didn't mind at all. He even asked for my number. He was the one who pursued me. Every time I worked a shift, he'd show up for a coffee, bring me flowers, and whenever he went on a business trip, he'd bring back handpicked gifts for me..."

Selena's heart clenched, and she tightened her grip.

She had only agreed to come here because she thought she was prepared—that nothing Gabriella said could affect her. Yet, hearing these details still sent a sharp pang through her chest.

"I'm not interested in this," she interrupted coldly.

"Not interested?"

A mocking smile played on Gabriella's lips, dripping with smugness. "I bet Julian has never done any of this for you, has he?"

Selena's expression stiffened.

Seeing this, Gabriella giggled. "Don't be mad, Ms. Arthur. I just wanted to show you what Julian is like when he actually loves someone. You might hold the title of Mrs. Vance, but Julian will never love you.

"He even promised me that he would divorce you one day and marry me."

Selena looked up at Gabriella, recalling their previous encounters.

She could tell that Gabriella was actually quite a clever woman.

She knew how to play the victim, act cute, and put on a fake-nice act.

A sudden realization struck Selena. "So, you were the one who sent me that anonymous tip about you and Julian at the hot springs?"

Gabriella faltered for a fraction of a second before flashing a bright smile. "That's right. I was just trying to be helpful so you wouldn't be kept in the dark.

"And barging into Royal Gardens to have you beaten up? I did that on purpose, too! But with Julian protecting me, what can you possibly do to me?"

The woman's smug laughter stung Selena's eyes and pierced her heart, leaving a raw ache.

Selena took a sip of her iced coffee, letting the cold bitterness suppress her emotions.

"If you can actually get him to marry you, then good for you," she said flatly.

She didn't mention Julian divorcing her, because their divorce was inevitable anyway.

With that, Selena got up and walked away without waiting for Gabriella's reaction.

To her surprise, Julian returned home that very evening.

His opening words were accusatory. "You went to see her."

The "her" was, of course, Gabriella.

"She was the one who came looking for me," Selena replied calmly.

Julian's handsome face remained expressionless as he tossed a document onto the table in front of her. "Sign it."

The bold, capitalized words "DIVORCE PAPERS" stared back at Selena.

She could hardly believe her eyes.

Julian was actually demanding a divorce for Gabriella's sake.

For a moment, Selena felt like she was looking at some devoted, lovesick fool.

She stared straight at him and asked in a raspy voice, "Do you really love her that much?"

Julian returned her gaze, warning coldly, "If you don't want a divorce, you'd better behave yourself from now on."

Behave herself? She was his wife, and yet he was demanding she "behave"?

Selena felt as if those words were the biggest joke she had ever heard.

Selena watched as Julian walked away immediately after dropping the divorce papers, without another word.

After he left, Selena sat alone in the silence.

She stared at the divorce papers for a very long time.

*****

Private Room 01, The Obsidian Club.

The room was quiet, occupied by only a few people, with Julian sitting in the center.

Pouring him a drink, his friend asked incredulously, "Mr. Palmer said you had him draft divorce papers. You aren't actually planning to divorce Selena, are you?"

Julian took a sip of his drink, his Adam's apple bobbing. "It's just a warning to keep her hands off Gabriella."

His friend shook his head and couldn't help but ask, "Aren't you afraid Selena will actually go through with it?"

A barely perceptible smirk touched Julian's lips, filled with absolute certainty. "She won't."

His friend didn't catch the underlying meaning and simply nodded. "True. I heard she's in a fierce battle with that illegitimate child. Without your backing, she wouldn't even be able to secure her position. If she divorces you, she'll lose everything."

Julian remained silent, letting the assumption stand.

From that day on, Selena and Julian didn't see each other again.

In the blink of an eye, Selena's birthday arrived.

Selena canceled all her social engagements and went home to wait for Julian. No matter how busy they had been in the past, they had always had dinner together on this day.

This time, however, the only person who showed up was Julian's assistant.

Carrying several of the latest designer handbags and a birthday cake, the assistant said, "Ma'am, these are birthday gifts from Mr. Vance."

Selena glanced at the gifts and simply asked, "Where is he?"

The assistant's eyes darted away. "Mr. Vance is in a meeting."

Selena understood instantly. Julian was probably with Gabriella right now.

She let out a self-deprecating laugh.

She didn't even know why she had still held onto a shred of hope.

"Alright, I get it. You can go."

Not wanting to make things difficult for the assistant, Selena dismissed him.

Once the assistant left, Selena was completely alone. She lit a single candle and cut herself a slice of cake.

She could celebrate her birthday by herself. Her life didn't revolve around Julian.

But to her surprise, the doorbell rang.

Surprised, Selena went to open the door, only to find Marcus standing outside.

"Happy birthday, Selena."

Selena froze. She couldn't comprehend how Marcus knew it was her birthday.

She let him in.

In the middle of the night, just after Selena saw Marcus out, the front door swung open again.

Thinking it was Marcus returning, she turned around and asked, "Why are you still here?"

The moment the words left her mouth, Julian's deep voice replied, "Who were you expecting?"

Startled, Selena blurted out, "Why are you back?"

Julian frowned, sensing something off. "I'm not allowed back in my own home?"

As he stepped inside, the bright light caught a glaring red mark on Selena's neck, instantly drawing his attention.

Julian's eyes darkened. Grabbing her wrist, he demanded coldly, "What is that?"