Chapter 16
Seeing this, Julian’s father stopped striking him and left in disgust.
Julian recovered while simultaneously taking back control of the Hayes business. As the family’s most talented member who had once brought Hayes to its peak, he didn’t consider the current problems significant.
After familiarizing himself with operations, he began pursuing Lydia, sending her a bouquet of roses daily and even hiring people to take turns playing his confession videos outside her villa.
In the videos, a well-groomed Julian smiled at the camera. “Lydia, I didn’t understand my own heart before. I love you most. Give me another chance-we’ll be so happy together.”
Lydia, thoroughly annoyed, had security chase them away, but new faces soon appeared.
As security was removing them again, Julian himself arrived, driving the Hayes family’s last Rolls-Royce and carrying an enormous bouquet of roses.
“Lydia, I’ve come to take you home. We’ll go stargazing at the observatory tonight, take a cruise tomorrow, see the Aurora the day after… I’ll make up for everything I never did with you before.”
“I’ve applied to restore my identity. Once my death certificate is invalidated, our marriage will continue. You’ll always be my wife.” Julian’s tone was gentle but carried an undercurrent of threat.
Lydia frowned, uncertain whether Julian was telling the truth.
Just then, Blake appeared behind her, gently wrapping an arm around her waist as they stepped outside.
“That’s assuming you can actually restore your identity,” Blake said mockingly to Julian. “You really think the Hayes empire can rise from the ashes?”
“Blake Winters, this is between me and my wife. You have no right to interfere. A despicable coward like you could only attack Hayes while I was gone. Now that I’m back, I’ll reclaim everything-both my company and Lydia.”
3
“Don’t worry, Lydia. With me here, I promise you’ll come home.” Julian gazed at Lydia with unwavering determination.
Lydia laughed softly, reassuringly patting Blake’s arm before deliberately walking up to Julian and taking the flowers from his hand.
Julian’s eyes lit up with hope-he knew Lydia still loved him.
SLAP!
Lydia threw the flowers in Julian’s face, the thorns scratching his cheek as petals scattered everywhere.
“I never liked roses. Vera was the one who loved roses.”
“I stopped loving you long ago, each time you hurt me for Vera’s sake. Whatever feelings I had for you from our childhood were completely drained.”
“Being with Blake was my choice-the best choice I’ve ever made in my life.”
“You killed my father. You deserve to die for that. As for your talk about our marriage continuing-let’s see if you have what it takes to reclaim your identity!”
Lydia’s expression was ice-cold, her eyes filled with hatred. Her cutting words pierced Julian’s heart like a sharp blade, leaving it bleeding and raw.
Julian had never seen such a fierce Lydia before. He instinctively stepped back. “No, I didn’t kill him. I was just trying to scare you both.”
SLAP!
Lydia raised her hand and struck him hard across the face. “Stop bothering me. All that’s left between us is hatred-a fight to the death.”
Julian stared at her in disbelief, unable to accept that Lydia could hate him so deeply.
“No, you still love me. No matter when I turned back, you were always by my side. You’re just angry, right? Tell me what I need to do for your forgiveness.”
“Even if you died, I wouldn’t forgive you.”
With that, Lydia took Blake’s hand and walked away.
Julian stood rooted to the spot, staring at her retreating figure, muttering, “I don’t believe you. You’re lying to me.”
