Chapter 23
Julia’s POV
After the incident at the hotel, I threw myself completely into the company’s affairs, shutting out everything and everyone that didn’t concern Julison Technology Enterprise. It wasn’t just a distraction; it was a necessity. Every ounce of my focus was needed to put things back in order.
The company had suffered losses, and after reviewing reports, I found contracts mishandled, deals sabotaged, and suspicious renegotiations, all leading back to Alex.
I stared at the official statement from Lynwood Company International Limited, rereading the words that confirmed their $900 million investment into Julison Technology Enterprise. It was not just a staggering amount but one that had the power to not only stabilize the company but propel it forward. More than the money I expected.
With this investment, I had the resources to undo the damage, reclaim lost partnerships, and take Julison to heights even my father hadn’t imagined.
I wasted no time. The first step was securing key contracts that had been slipping away due to uncertainty, With Emily’s help, I restructured deals that had been delayed and reopened negotiations that Alex had previously sabotaged. Our research and development team, which had been struggling under budget cuts, was given full funding to resume work on our most promising technology projects,
I worked late into the nights, going through files, reanalyzing projects, and ensuring that we regained contro). I cut off communication with almost everyone, including Alex, who had been calling me relentlessly. I ignored his messages, his emails. The only person I spoke to was Emily, my assistant, who had been my silent pillar of support.
One afternoon, as I was reviewing a proposal in my office, Emily knocked on the door and peered in.
“Someone’s here to see you,” she said.
I sighed. “If it’s Alex again, tell him…”
Before I could finish, a voice rang from the doorway.
“Julia!” That was a young voice.
Not Alex.
ེ ཝ Ê ཇི :
Then a boy in sportswear came bouncing up to the door of my office.
My brother Jake,
“Let him in.” I ordered with a smile and she nodded.
He stood there, holding a paper bag in one hand. His eyes studied me with worry, and for a moment.
“Jake,” I said, my voice soft and welcoming.
Emily hesitated before stepping out to give us privacy,
“You haven’t been home in days,” Jake said, walking inside and setting the bag on my desk. “Emily told me you’ve been staying at the company.”
“Yeah, I had a lot to do.” I replied.
“You are overworking.” He said, handing me the bag.
I glanced at the bag, curious about what was inside.
“I brought you food. I made it myself,” he said simply. “I figured you haven’t been eating properly.”
A small smile ghosted my lips, but I didn’t maintain it for long. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“Yes, I did.” He crossed his arms. “You might not care about yourself, but I do.”
Jake never smiled at me in my previous life.
It feels strange to see him looking at me with kindness instead of indifference. I’m not used to this version of him, the one who speaks gently and treats me with kindness. In my past memories, he was always distant, cold, never sparing me a second glance. He always minds his business.
I exhaled, leaning back in my chair. “I’m trying to keep the company in order.”
Chapter 23
“I can see that.” He hesitated before adding, “But that’s not the only thing, is it?”
I didn’t answer.
+25 Bonus
He ran a hand through his hair and sat down across from me. “You know… ever since the wedding, you’ve been like a completely different person.” He paused and then continued. “At first, I didn’t know what to think,” he admitted. “But now, I’m really happy for you. Before, it was painful to watch you suffer so much over Alex. He wasn’t worth it, Julia. I hated seeing you chase after someone who didn’t deserve you.”
I swallowed, my fingers tightening around the pen I had been holding and then I let out a smile.
Jake wasn’t wrong. The old me had been desperate for Alex’s love, enduring humiliation after humiliation just to hold onto a relationship that had been rotting from the inside. I had been blind to the truth, but not anymore.
What amazes me was that Jake didn’t show concern about me in my previous life.
At least, not after he grew up to be a teenager.
When he was a kid, he used to follow me around, tugging at my sleeve, laughing at my jokes even when they weren’t funny. He adored me in that innocent, unshakable way little brothers did. But something changed when he became a teenager. The same time I fell for Alex.
At the same time I started pushing Jake aside without even realizing it.
He never stopped loving me, I knew that now. But I had been too blinded by my desperate pursuit of Alex’s affection to see it. And when I needed him the most, I had already built too much distance between us.
Now, in this life, everything was different.
“I don’t know what changed,” Jake continued, “but I’m glad it did. And… I just want you to know, no matter what happens, if you ever need to talk, you can come to me.”
I looked at him.
Since the wedding, Jake had always tried to be protective of me in his own way, but this was different. He wasn’t just a kid but also made me feel the kind of love my father would have offered to me if he was still alive. I felt like someone was looking out for me without an ulterior motive.
I nodded. “Thank you, Jake.”
He smiled, but before either of us could say anything else, the office door opened slightly, and Emily peeked in.
“Ma’am,” she said, looking apologetic. “Alex is calling again saying it’s very important. I’m afraid that you need to answer it.”
My stomach twisted.
Jake’s expression darkened, but he didn’t say anything. I hesitated, then reached for the phone.
I put it on speaker. “What do you want, Alex?”
There was a brief silence before his voice came through. “You finally decided to pick up.” He said.
“What do you want?” I questioned again, my voice sounding more serious.
“My grandfather… he’s in bad condition. He wants to see you,” Alex said.
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