After He Called Me Trouble, I Quit Him

Chapter 3

"What?" Hailey stopped, certain she'd misheard.

Julian leaned back and regarded her coolly. "You've never accomplished anything. You have no particular abilities. You married me so you could keep living off someone else and spend the rest of your life in wealth and comfort. I've given you that. In return, leave me alone."

Hailey went ice-cold, as if every drop of blood in her veins had turned to ice.

She hadn't imagined it. Julian really did dislike her. He saw nothing worthwhile in her. He wouldn't even spare her another glance, much less love her.

"You've given me that?" She straightened, her hands clenched and her voice hoarse. "Then what do you get out of it?"

Under her gaze, with its last flicker of hope, Julian answered indifferently.

"Hailey, this was an arranged marriage. The day I married you 8 years ago, I acquired Blake Group."

She'd never imagined that was the truth behind their marriage.

She had memories of the last 10 years, but there were gaps. How they'd come to marry was one of them.

Now that she knew, she felt like a complete fool.

She inhaled deeply, struggling to contain her disappointment. "So all these years I've spent trying to be a good wife and mother meant nothing to you?"

"The housekeeper takes care of the house. Mimi has teachers. There's really nothing you need to do."

Hailey dug her nails into her palms. "Am I worth less to you than something pretty to put on a shelf?"

Julian didn't answer. He simply looked at her.

But she had her answer. She was.

Anything more would only humiliate her further.

She looked at the soup she'd brought with such care. Her heart ached in a way she couldn't put into words.

She picked up the container, dumped it straight into the trash, and walked out.

Soup splashed onto Julian's pant leg. He frowned and looked up, but all he saw was her retreating back.

Back at the house, Hailey sat on the bed with her arms around herself, remembering their first meeting.

She'd been riding her motorcycle alone along a mountain road when it started raining. Her tires slipped, sending her down a slope where no one noticed her.

Only Julian had found her. Holding a large black umbrella, he'd appeared as if out of nowhere and rescued her.

Through the rain blurring her vision, she'd seen his sculpted face and caught the scent of cedar mingled with rain. After that day, she couldn't get him out of her mind.

She'd looked forward to seeing him again. She'd never imagined their next meeting would be like this.

Hailey buried her face in her arms, overwhelmed by disappointment.

Julian stayed away for the next several days, and she didn't contact him again.

Then, on the weekend, he called.

"Get ready. We're taking Mimi to my parents' for dinner tonight."

His voice was as detached as ever.

Hailey wasn't ready to face him, but she knew she couldn't refuse a family gathering.

At 6 p.m., his car stopped outside the house. When she and Mia got in, he was in the back seat reading documents.

With his deep-set eyes and handsome, composed face, he was as pleasing to look at as a painting.

Sitting beside him, Hailey found her anger easing.

'We might not have married for love, but feelings can grow. He won't be indifferent to me forever. Maybe we just need more time together.'

While she was lost in thought, they arrived at the Bennett Estate.

In her memories, Julian's mother had always liked her. Having lost her own mother so young, Hailey craved that affection.

She went straight over and affectionately linked arms with her.

"Mom, how have you and Dad been?"

Julian's mother paused, then discreetly withdrew her arm. "Very well. Don't worry about us."

Everyone noticed Hailey's breach of their usual reserve, but no one said anything.

Mia looked up at Julian. "Father, I'd like to find some books in Grandfather's study. Will you come with me?"

He nodded, and they went upstairs together.

Hailey stayed in the living room, talking with his parents.

Dinner was soon ready. She asked them to go ahead to the dining room and went to fetch Julian and Mia.

She reached the study and was about to knock when Mia's young but remarkably composed voice came through the door.

"Father, what did you think of Mother's behavior just now?"

Hailey's hand stopped. She didn't understand what Mia meant.

"What are you trying to say?" Julian asked.

Mia's answer was perfectly calm.

"Father, I think Ms. Mercer would make a better wife for you and a better mother for me."