Chapter 5
1038 Words
Victor's face went pale the second he saw the divorce papers in my hand.
"Lily, is it the backlash? Did they get to you? I will shut it all down. Every last post. And I already got rid of our father. He will not bother you again.
"I know you have loved Julian for years. Please do not do anything rash..."
I shook my head and forced a smile that probably looked more like a grimace.
"Victor, I overheard you and Julian just now. I know about the bet. I know he never married me because he wanted to..."
Victor went white as a sheet. He stammered, "Lily, I am so sorry. I..."
I smiled and shook my head again, but the smile cracked, and the tears spilled over before I could stop them.
"Victor, I'd never blame you. You were just trying to protect me.
"But I have to end this. Julian does not love me. And I... I do not want to end up like Mom."
My brother's expression shifted. Then he pulled me into a tight hug.
After a long pause, he let out a heavy sigh. "Okay. I will take care of everything for you."
I left my brother's office and went back to the house one last time.
I grabbed my documents and moved out to the Kay estate.
I had someone catalog everything Gia had destroyed and made a list. I was going to bill her for every last cent.
Those five vivid pink diamonds alone were worth over a hundred million.
If Gia could not pay up, she could rot in prison for all I cared.
I had not been back at the estate long when a text came in from my brother.
Victor: Julian signed the papers. After the mandatory wait, it's over. You'll get your decree.
I blinked in surprise. Julian had refused to sign just earlier. What changed?
But honestly, it did not matter. Walking away was the only thing that felt like relief now.
Julian had become a rotting wound in my chest. The only way to heal was to cut him out.
I thought I would not have to see Julian again before I left the country.
Then my short drama script sold.
I was invited to be the on-set writer.
And of course, the first day I showed up, I ran straight into Julian and Gia.
Gia had been riding Julian's coattails for days. She had gained millions of followers overnight, so it made sense she landed the lead role in the drama.
But Julian? An Oscar-winning actor slumming it as the male lead in a low-budget web series?
I thought he had lost his mind.
Then I remembered. I was about to divorce him. His life was no longer my problem.
I had nothing to say to either of them.
I nodded in their direction and went straight to my trailer to rest.
Of course, Gia followed me.
"Lily, does it burn you up inside that I am playing the lead in your script?
"You are such a loser.
"All I have to do is snap my fingers, and your husband comes running to be my leading man. I trashed your house, and you did not even dare to say a thing."
Her taunts were cheap, but they still got under my skin.
I cut her off, bored.
"Rather than wasting time provoking me, you would do better to expedite the compensation. Everything you destroyed in my bedroom is worth over a hundred million. If you cannot cover it, start getting comfortable with the idea of prison."
"Excuse me?"
Julian had just walked over. His brow was furrowed as he looked at me.
"Director wants to go over the shots with you. Just passing on the message."
Gia's eyes welled up instantly. "Julian, Lily is mad that I redecorated the house. She wants me to pay for it."
Julian shot me a cold glance. His eyes were dark and hard as ice.
"I told Gia to redecorate. If you have a problem with it, I will cover the cost."
Then he wrapped an arm around Gia and walked off.
The man had lost all sense of right and wrong when it came to her.
My chest tightened. The nausea crept up my throat again.
My temple throbbed. I had a bad feeling about being anywhere near Gia.
I went straight to the director and handed in my resignation. He did not dare push back, not with my brother's name hanging over him.
I barely made it past the studio gate when someone shoved me from behind.
Bang!
I tumbled down a flight of ten stone steps. Pain exploded through me, and my vision blurred instantly. Through the ringing in my ears, I heard screaming.
"Lily, you shameless homewrecker!
"You stole Gia's place as the heiress, you stole her man, and now you came to the set to bully her? Just die!"
The words cut through me like glass, and the pain in my belly tore through every nerve in my body.
The pain knocked me out cold.
I did not know how long I was out.
When I came to, I was in a hospital bed. My brother was at my side.
He had been crying. His eyes were swollen red.
The moment he saw me open my eyes, he grabbed me, trembling. "Lily! You are awake! I was truly frightened!
"Do you have any idea what it was like seeing you covered in blood? I... this is my fault. I failed to protect you. I could not save the baby..."
My heart clenched. My hand went to my stomach, shaking.
I wanted to tell him not to worry, but my throat closed up. I could not get the words out.
My brother held me tighter. His grief curdled into something darker.
"Lily, I found out who did this. Gia sent one of her fans after you.
"She is just as vile as her mother. I will blacklist her. I will make her pay for what she did!"
Before he even finished, a cold voice cut through from the doorway.
"No."
I looked up at the tall figure standing there.
Julian. Late, as always.
- Writer
