Chapter 22
Vincent nodded along, his chin resting lazily on top of Julia’s head. The air between them was so easy, so natural, it was clear this wasn’t some act.
And of course, it wasn’t.
Vincent’s emerald eyes shifted to Nathan, filled with open challenge and dripping with disdain.}
Julia’s right, Mr. Haskins. You don’t get to make demands of her. I’m her boyfriend now, remember?” He smirked. “If anything, I should be telling you to back off and stop acting like there’s still something between you two.“>
Wathan felt like someone had punched a hole through his chest. His heart ached and jealousy burned through him, sharp and raw.
His eyes rimmed red as he stared at Julia, his voice hoarse. “Julia, are you for real with him? Don’t say something just to hurt me. I need you to be honest.”
“The truth is right in front of you, Nathan. I am with him. I mean it.” Julia’s tone was calm, steady. She turned and kissed Vincent, simple as that.
Nathan looked like he was about to lose it.
He’d spent all night running through every possible scenario. Maybe she still hated him–maybe she’d yell or even hit him. Maybe, just maybe, she’d forgiven him, and they could start over. Or maybe she’d just give him the cold shoulder, pretend he didn’t exist. But never, not once, did he think Julia would be with someone else.
He shook his head, a crooked, miserable smile twisting his lips. “No, Julia. You’re just doing this to get back at me, right? You’ve made your point. I get it. I won’t hold it against you.“}
The people who hurt you have all paid for it. I’m the only one left. Let me make it up to you–come home with me. Whatever you want me to do, I’ll do it. Please?”
He pleaded, reaching for her hand again.
But Vincent was faster. He slapped Nathan’s hand away, the
armth gone from his face, replaced by a cold, dangerous edge.} “Mr. Haskins, I guess I’ve been too polite. That’s why you keep trying your luck with my girlfriend.”
“If you can’t control your hands, maybe I should just take care of them
There was nothing but icy threat in Vincent’s voice,
> not even a
for you.”
that this was Nathan’s home ground.
At his signal, a few of Vincent’s bodyguards stepped forward, ready for trouble.
Nathan wasn’t about to back down, not here. With a wave, his own security team closed in.
Suddenly, the two sides were squaring off
Julia’s expression was pure storm cloud.
thick enough to choke on. People in the crowd shrank back, some of them shaking.
And then, somewhere in the chaos, Vincent and Nathan were throwing punches. They weren’t holding back–every hit was vicious, each aiming for the other’s weak spots, like they wanted to settle everything right then and there.
It didn’t take long before both of them were battered and bruised.
Julia looked furious, her face dark as a thunderstorm. “Enough! Stop it! You’re not teenagers–how long are you planning to make a public spectacle?”
Her shout made both men freeze for a second.
But the pause didn’t last. No one even saw who moved first–they were fighting again, tangled up in anger.
Julia didn’t try to break them up herself. She just pulled out her phone and called the police.
