Chapter 2
Lydia woke up to find herself in the hospital.
A nurse was trying to insert an IV, jabbing her arm seven or eight times before finally succeeding.
People at the doorway were peeking in, pointing and whispering about her:
“That’s her-that evil woman who used her wealth to bully others.”
“She’s the one who caused Julian’s grandma’s death and forced him to marry her.”
“So shameless. People like that should just die, not be saved.”
Lydia heard their comments and glanced at her bruised, swollen hand, guessing what had happened. A bitter smile tugged at her lips.
She checked her phone and immediately saw the trending notifications.
Vera had posted accusations online-“exposing” Lydia’s alleged crimes and painting her as a cruel heiress who knowingly slept with another woman’s boyfriend.
Lydia tried to hire someone to remove the posts, but no one dared accept the job.
Someone secretly informed her that Julian had ordered everyone not to delete the posts.
Seeing the curses and condemnations in the comments, Lydia felt a cold detachment settle over her. She closed her phone, refusing to engage further.
Just then, Vera called, demanding that Lydia bring clothes to her at Starview Observatory.
Lydia instinctively wanted to refuse but heard Vera’s scornful voice: “Don’t forget you need my help, Lydia. If you want me to take care of your dying husband, you’d better keep me happy.”
Lydia bit her lip and forced herself up from the hospital bed. “Fine.”
Following Vera’s instructions, she went to a boutique to buy the latest Chanel coat, then took a taxi to Starview Observatory.
The observatory had been built by Julian specifically for Vera’s twentieth birthday and wasn’t open to the public.
Lydia had once wanted to visit, but Julian always made excuses to avoid taking her there.
Gradually, she stopped asking.
Now, standing at the entrance, she felt nothing.
She calmly stepped inside and, beneath the artificial starlight, saw Vera and Julian embracing.
Vera, dressed in a pink strapless princess gown, leaned against Julian’s chest and said sweetly, “Julian, it feels so good to be with you again.”
“Do we really not need to delete those posts about her? I was just venting because she stole you from me for so many years. I never meant to actually hurt her.”
“It doesn’t matter. As long as you’re happy,” Julian replied tenderly, brushing a strand of hair from her face with a slight smile. “For me, she’ll endure any humiliation.”
“She’s so devoted to you. Do you really not love her at all?” Vera looked up, blinking with feigned seriousness,
“I love you,” Julian declared, pulling her closer. With one hand cradling the back of her head and the other around her waist, he bent down to kiss her lips. Desire ignited instantly, the temperature around them rising.
Vera let out a soft moan, her hands restlessly roaming Julian’s back, making him shiver before lifting her onto his lap.
Vera wrapped her arms around Julian’s neck, her eyes challenging Lydia as she stood in the shadows.
She’d done this deliberately-inviting Lydia here to witness her intimacy with Julian.
Chapter 2
Lydia’s face went pale as she met Vera’s gaze, her nails digging deep into her palms.
Even though she’d decided not to love him anymore, seeing this scene was still unbearable. Her heart felt like it was being sliced by a dull knife, the pain spreading throughout her body.
Julian pushed up Vera’s dress and thrust forcefully, a muffled groan escaping his lips. Vera’s body trembled violently as she smirked triumphantly at
Lydia.
“Julian, it hurts. Were you this rough with Miss Reed too?”
“Be good, Vera. Don’t mention her-it ruins the mood. Just enjoy what I’m giving you. Don’t talk about irrelevant people.”
Vera whimpered, burying her face against Julian’s shoulder.
The shopping bag fell to the floor with a thud as Lydia turned and fled. Her heel twisted, causing her to fall and cut her knee on the stone path.
Without hesitation, she got up and ran, seemingly numb to the pain. She ran far, but could still hear Julian’s low groans and Vera’s increasingly loud
moans.
Lydia ran for a long time before reaching the main road, falling countless times along the way. By the time she returned home, her clothes were covered in blood and dirt.
Instead of treating her wounds, she began gathering everything in the living room that reminded her of Julian.
A dying man’s possessions weren’t worth keeping anyway!
Th
