Chapter 10
Julian didn’t leave right away.
He stood in the middle of the room, eyes fixed on the luggage still stacked by the door–untouched, but clearly packed. His pulse quickened.
“Why is there luggage? Where were they planning to go?”
Delilah walked over, casually sweeping her gaze across the suitcases. A flicker of emotion passed through her eyes, but her tone stayed light.
“Probably just trying to put on a show,” she said with a small laugh.
She slipped her hand into the crook of Julian’s arm, voice laced with syrup and smugness. “Even if she did try wouldn’t find her. You always do.”
run, it’s not like you!
She tilted her head, lips curling. “And let’s be real- -Savannah may act tough, but she’s never walked away from Julian’s tense jaw finally eased a little.
She was right. Savannah had loved him for years. She wouldn’t just walk away.
“Let’s go,” he said finally.
But he only took two steps before glancing back.
you.
Not for real.
”
“Tell that mother and son to keep it in check,” he told his assistant coldly. “She’s still mine. No one touches her without my say. The assistant nodded and stepped aside.
”
Delilah stood nearby, silent. A flicker of something bitter curled in her expression–too brief to name. She looked down just as her phone buzzed in her clutch.
Her hand tensed slightly.
Julian didn’t seem to notice. Or if he did, he said nothing. He walked her out to the car, expression unreadable.
Later, after Julian dropped her off at the Monroe estate and drove away, the sweet smile she’d worn all day instantly faded.
She locked the front door behind her, grabbed her phone, and dialed.
か
The moment the line connected, her voice turned sharp. “I told you not to call me like this. Are you trying to get us both killed? Julian was literally standing next to me.”
On the other end of the line, the man stammered, terrified.
“I–I’m sorry, Miss Monroe. I didn’t know what else to do. That woman’s insane. She found a way to jump out of the damn car and ran off.”
Delilah’s pupils contracted.
For a beat, she was dead silent. Then she grabbed the nearest glass and nearly shattered it in her grip–but remembered the maids still in the house and barely held herself together.
“Are you kidding me?” she hissed. “You had one job.”
“I know! I know, I messed up!” the man nearly sobbed. “And now one of Mr. Ford’s men just came by and said if she’s not back in two weeks, Mr. Ford’s gonna bring her back himself –whether she agrees or not.”
“What if I can’t find her? What the hell am I supposed to do then?” he cried. “This was your plan! You’re the one who said we should go make a scene and claim her as my fiancée. You said she’d be handed over to me, and now Julian won’t even let me near her!”
Delilah’s temples throbbed. The man’s whining felt like nails scraping the inside of her skull.
Chapter 10
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She pressed a hand to her forehead, then forced herself to stay calm.
“Panicking won’t help,” she said coldly. “I’ll stall Julian as long as I can. But you’d better find her before he does.”
“She thinks this whole thing was Julian’s idea. That’s the only reason she hasn’t come back. Use that. But if you do find her–make sure she doesn’t come back at all.”
“If you can’t, fine. I’ll make sure I have a backup excuse.‘
The man mumbled a yes and finally hung up.
“}
Delilah set her phone down with a long, shaky breath. Then she gently placed a hand calculation.
She needed to get pregnant.
Fast. Within the next two weeks, preferably.
Because once there was a baby–everything would change.
over
lower abdomen,
eyes dark with
આ
Meanwhile, back at Ford International, Julian sat in his office with a multi–million dollar contract open on his desk.
But his vision blurred. The words on the page refused to settle into focus.
With a frustrated growl, he shoved the papers aside.
“I swear, I’m surrounded by idiots,” he muttered. “You’re all useless–and now I have to deal with your damn lawsuits too?”
Chapter 19
