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Chapter 97 – Julian’s Ambush and a Slanderous Accusation
I watched Bianca stand there with her credit card, practically vibrating with smug satisfaction. In that moment, I realized just how little power she actually had over me. After everything I’d been through – Julian’s betrayal, my father’s crimes, building my business from the ground up – Bianca’s petty attempt to embarrass me felt almost laughable.
“How generous of you,” I said, flashing her my brightest smile. “Thanks for the treat, Bianca. I’ve always said you had a kind heart beneath all that… well, everything else.
Clara nearly choked on her drink, covering her mouth to hide her smile.
Bianca’s triumphant expression faltered, clearly thrown by my lack of outrage. “I… well,
of course. I know times must be tough for you now.”
“Oh, they’re not tough at all,” I replied cheerfully. “But free food always tastes better, doesn’t it? Like when we were students and you used to hang around hoping someone would buy you lunch.”
Her face flushed crimson. “I never-
“The duck is excellent,” I continued, gesturing to our plates. “You should try it. sometime when you’re not busy standing over other people’s tables.”
Clara couldn’t contain her snort of laughter this time, and several nearby diners were watching with undisguised amusement.
Bianca’s nostrils flared. She shoved her credit card back into her designer purse with jerky movements. “You haven’t changed at all, Hazel. Still the same ungrateful-”
“Actually, I’ve changed quite a lot,” I interrupted smoothly. “Which is why I cant sincerely thank you for your offer and wish you a lovely evening
With one last venomous glare, Bianca spun around and stalked off, her heels clicking aggressively against the marble floor.
Once she was out of earshot, Clara burst into full laughter. “That was brilliant! Did you see her face?”
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I grinned, feeling a strange sort of liberation. Six months ago, an encounter like that would have devastated me. Now it barely registered as an inconvenience.
“Some people never grow up,” I said, taking a sip of my tea. “Now, where were we before Hurricane Bianca arrived?”
The next morning, I was reviewing fabric samples in my apartment when my doorbell rang. The courier handed me a thick envelope marked “URGENT: LEGAL
DOCUMENTS.”
My stomach dropped as I recognized the return address of Julian’s law firm. Inside were the divorce papers, officially stamped and ready for my signature. Despite everything, seeing the word “DISSOLUTION” in bold black letters across the top made my throat tighten.
Six years of my life, reduced to twenty pages of legalese.
I was halfway through signing when my phone lit up with Julian’s name. I hesitated, then answered.
“What is it, Julian?” I tried to keep my voice neutral.
“You got the papers?” He sounded strange tired, maybe even emotional.
“Yes, I’m signing them now.”
A long pause. “Hazel, I… I need to talk to you about something.”
“The papers look straightforward. If there’s an issue-
“It’s not about the papers. It’s about Giselle.”
I stiffened. Giselle, Julian’s younger sister, had been implicated in my father’s fraud case. The evidence I’d turned over to the authorities had included transactions linking her to the scheme.
“What about her?” I asked cautiously.
“The prosecutors are pushing for jail time. His voice cracked. “She’s only twenty–four, Hazel. She made a mistake. Would you really let her go to prison?”
The emotional manipulation was so transparent it made me angry. “I didn’t ‘let‘ her do
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anything, Julian. She made her choices.”
“She was influenced by your father! She’s not like him-”
“Neither am I, I cut in sharply. “And yet you had no problem abandoning me for my sister. Fur
Funny how family loyalty only matters when it’s your family.”
He exhaled heavily. “That’s not fair.”
“No, what’s not fair is you calling to make me feel guilty about something that has nothing to do with me. The evidence speaks for itself.”
“Hazel, please…” His voice softened. “Remember how it was between us? Before everything went wrong?”
A strange, hollow feeling opened in my chest. There had been good times – moments of genuine happiness – but they seemed to belong to another lifetime now.
“Why are you really calling, Julian?”
He paused. “The university anniversary is tomorrow. I thought… maybe we could go together. For old times‘ sake. Get some closure.”
I almost laughed at the absurdity. “Closure? You mean parade around our alma mater pretending we’re friends after you left me at the altar for my dying sister?”
“I know I hurt you-”
“No, you destroyed me. Or at least, you tried to.” I took a deep breath. “I’m going to the anniversary, Julian, but not with 1. I’ve moved on. You should too.”
“Is this about Sterling?” His voice hardened. “You’ve been seen with him all over town. People are talking.”
“My personal life is no longer your concern, I said coldly. “Goodbye, Julian. I’ll mail the papers today.”
I hung up before he could respond, my hand slightly shaking. The audacity of that mant never ceased to amaze me.
The next morning, I stood in front of my mirror, smoothing down the emerald green dress I’d designed specifically for the university anniversary. The silk hugged my
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curves elegantly, the color making my eyes pop. I’d paired it with simple gold accessories and swept my hair into a loose updo.
Damien was picking me up in fifteen minutes. We’d agreed to attend together after he mentioned he’d also been invited as a distinguished alumnus. The thought of seeing him sent a flutter through my stomach that I refused to analyze too closely.
I was just grabbing my clutch when my phone buzzed with a text from Damien saying he was five minutes away. Excitement coursed through me as I headed down to the lobby of my building. But when the elevator doors opened, my smile froze.
Julian stood in the lobby, dressed in an expensive suit, hair perfectly styled. His eyes lit up when he saw me.
“You look beautiful,” he said softly.
I stepped out of the elevator cautiously. “What are you doing here, Julian?”
“I came to take you to the anniversary.” He stepped closer. “We should arrive together. Show everyone we’re mature adults who can be civil.”
“I already told you I’m going with someone else.”
His jaw tightened. “Sterling? Hazel, what do you even know about him?”
“More than enough to know he’s twice the man you are,” I replied coldly. “Please leave.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” Julian moved to block my path. “You’re making a mistake getting involved with him. There are rumors about his family-”
“Stop. I held up my hand. “I’m not interested in your opinions or your jealousy.”
“It’s not jealousy, it’s concern! How quickly you jumped from our relationship into his
bed-”
The lobby doors opened and Damien walked in, tall and commanding in a midnight blue suit that emphasized his broad shoulders. He stopped short when he saw Julian, his expression darkening.
Julian whirled around, his face flushing with anger. “Sterling. Perfect timing. We were just discussing you.”
Damien’s eyes found mine, questioning. I moved toward him, but Julian stepped.
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between us.
“I assume you’re here to take my fiancée to our university anniversary?” Julian’s voice was cold.
“Ex–fiancée,” I corrected sharply.
Damien remained calm. “Hazel and I made plans to attend together, yes.
Julian let out a bitter laugh. “How convenient that you’ve been circling her like a vulture since our relationship hit a rough patch.”
“Julian, that’s enough!” I tried to move past him, but he blocked me again.
“No, I think Sterling needs to hear this.” Julian turned to face Damien fully. “Did you know she was still engaged to me when you started pursuing her? Is that the kind of woman you think she is?”
My face burned with humiliation and rage. “How dare
you-
“She told me herself,” Julian continued, his voice rising. “That night she got drunk at The Loft, she admitted she’d been sleeping with you before our wedding was even
called off!”
The accusation hung in the air like a thunderclap. My mouth fell open in shock.
“What?” I gasped. “I never said that! That’s a complete lie!”
Julian turned to me, his expression a perfect mask of injured innocence. “You don’t remember? You were pretty drunk that night. You told me everything about you and Sterling”
I looked from Julian’s face to Damien’s, my heart pounding. Damien’s expression remained unreadable, but I could see the tension in his jaw.
“Damien,” I said desperately, “he’s lying. I never said that. We hadn’t even properly met before my wedding was called off!”
The silence stretched between us as Julian stood there, smirking at the chaos he’d
created.
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