Chapter 2

“What are you doing here? You’re not the one I called to pick me up,” she said to Julian as she settled into the shotgun seat.

She should have known that Julian was the owner of the Bugatti Voiture Noire. It retails for around eighteen million dollars, and if anyone could afford a car like that, it would be Julian Gray.

Julian drove in silence as she fastened her seatbelt. At this point, she had no choice but to ride in his car because the two black SUVs behind them were also his employees.

“If you’re going to gloat, just do it now. Because by tomorrow, the old Kya Byrd is back—and this Rylee Scott is dead.”

“Good.”

She furrowed her brow and looked at the man. How old is he now? It’s only been two years. Thirty-two? Thirty-three? Why does he seem even more handsome after two years? She glanced at herself in the mirror and frowned. He was six years older than her, if she wasn’t mistaken, but at this moment, they seemed to be the same age.

One of the reasons she didn’t want to marry him at the time was that she thought he was too old for her. Not only that—he was old-fashioned too! But now, he wasn’t wearing glasses anymore, and his wavy hair was slightly longer than the very short military cut he used to have.

“Take a picture. It lasts longer,” Julian said when he caught her staring.

“Before you get any ideas, I’m just making sure that you’re really Julian. What happened to you? Did you get plastic surgery?”

Of course, she was being her bratty self. She knew he wouldn’t go under the knife. He didn’t need to. Those high cheekbones and aristocratic nose, beautiful gray eyes, and thick eyebrows—not to mention his kissable lips—didn’t need alteration at all. She just didn’t want her parents to make decisions for her, especially when it came to marriage. Marriage is forever… but look where it got her.

She hated to admit it, but her parents were right. Sebastian was not the right man for her.

Instead of answering her, Julian remained silent. This silence had bothered her before. He didn’t react to her outbursts. She would be lucky if he even glanced at her in response to her silliness.

“This is not the way to my parents’ home.”

“They moved.” He only said two words.

“What? Why? What happened to our house?” she asked in shock.

Did her parents sell the house she grew up in? She was really looking forward to being in the comfort of her old bedroom. She hated leaving it when she decided to move in with Sebastian and his mother's small apartment.

“It’s being renovated. So they bought a new property in our neighborhood. That’s where we are heading now. When’s the last time you talked to them?”

She fell silent. When she left their home, their communication was cut off too. Her family was upset with her. It’s not like her sister Kate could take her place for the wedding either—Kate was only fourteen then.

She kept her mouth shut after that, and so did Julian. They drove in silence. She fell asleep on the way, and if it wasn’t for Julian’s gentle voice, she would have slept until the next day. It wasn’t just her body that was tired; her heart and mind were too.

Julian opened the door for her, and they both entered the large living room. The new house was about the same size but more modern in design.

“Kya?!” Kate exclaimed in surprise when she saw her sister. Once she recovered, she quickly walked over to her and hugged her. “I missed you!”

“I missed you too, kiddo.”

Kya and Kate had always been close, but when Sebastian came into her life, that man became the center of her world.

“Are Mom and Dad here?”

“They should be home shortly.” Kate frowned. “Why are you dressed like that?”

Kate noticed Kya’s cotton shirt and old pants. Even her sneakers were old and worn out. Kate touched her sister's hair and grimaced.

“Your hair is in poor health. And your skin is dry. What happened, Kya?”

“Life happened.”

Kate just nodded, though she didn’t fully understand what her sister meant.

“Well, this just means we have to go to the salon and do a lot of shopping. Lucky for you, I’m the best person to do that with you.”

Kya smiled. “Really now?” Kate moved her eyebrows up and down a few times. “Since when did you become an expert, Kate Reign?”

Her sister laughed, and before Kate could respond, her phone suddenly rang, so she quickly excused herself to answer the call. Kya just noticed Julian, who still hadn’t left. He was sitting on the couch and reading a business magazine.

Kya cleared her throat. “Are you waiting for my parents too?”

“Yes. They knew I was dropping you off, and I can’t just leave you here without saying a word to them.”

“I could just tell them that you picked me up and brought me here.”

“There are things to discuss.”

“Like what? Business? Merger? If that’s the case, then I’ll go ahead and rest in my bedroom.” 

Wherever that is, she would just find it. It shouldn’t be far from Kate’s anyway.

“The wedding.”

“Excuse me?” she asked, frowning at Julian.

“Our wedding. It’s still on.”

“Have you gone insane? I just signed my divorce papers today, and you want me to sign another marriage certificate?! That’s ludicrous!”

She rubbed her temples, and the fatigue she felt doubled. Her life was a freaking mess, and now it was about to go to hell.

“Don’t tell me you agreed to this?” He didn’t respond. “I really thought you’d be married to someone else by now. You’re not getting any younger.”

“That’s my problem, not yours.” He continued reading the magazine.

“You can’t possibly want to marry me.”

“Why not?” Julian scanned her from head to toe. She couldn’t read what he was thinking. “There’s nothing wrong with your clothes. You can dress however you like. But I want my woman to have a little bit of meat. You’re too skinny. Doesn’t your husband—”

“Ex-husband,” she corrected him.

“Doesn’t your ex-husband feed you? Why did you lose so much weight?” Julian repeated, this time emphasizing the word ‘ex’.

“That’s none of your business.” 

The truth was she didn’t have the appetite to eat because all she heard were complaints from her mother-in-law, Cecilia, at the dinner table. No matter how delicious the food was, she couldn’t swallow it, and she had no desire to eat anymore after having a small bite.