Chapter 3

Jules frowned, hoping she'd heard wrong. “What?" She said softly and stepped forward, but Nolan stepped back.

The crowd fell uncomfortably silent.

“Nolan?" Jules's heart thumped loudly in her ears. “I didn't want to tell you, so I figured I'd show you. You're going to be a father.”

"And I say that's impossible.” His voice was louder this time.

Cameras flashed.

Jules scoffed in confusion and disbelief. "What's going on?” her voice shook.

Nolan swallowed hard, his gaze darting to the crowd before returning to her. “I can’t have kids, Jules. I’m infertile,” he spat.

Her heart skipped a beat. "What? That’s not possible."

“I found out four days ago, Jules. But I didn’t tell you because I was scared you’d leave me. But now?” His voice cracked with rage. “Now I know you’re a cheat!”

“Nolan—” Jules managed to breathe, trembling. “There has to be a mistake. I’d never cheat on you.” She begged.

But Nolan was unshaken. "Then how do you explain the child in your womb when I can't have kids, huh?”

“It's not possible, it's not possible.’ Jules' head whispered repeatedly as she searched her mind for words to say.

Never in her life had she imagined seeing Nolan like this—angry, cruel. His tone wasn’t just cold—it was venomous.

Her husband was fuming. The guests were making videos also trying to grasp what was going on.

The event was still live.

The walls suddenly caved in and Jules struggled to speak.

Nolan clenched his fists, his eyes red with fury. “You've been seeing other men, haven't you?”

Tears spilled down her cheeks. “I swear, I’d never do such a thing, Nolan. You have to believe me—I’m carrying your child.”

She shook her head. “I’ve never been with anyone else since I met you. You know that. I don’t understand what’s going on.”

Nolan gritted his teeth. “You don’t believe me?” He reached into his pocket, pulled out a folded piece of paper, and threw it at her.

It landed on the ground.

Still too shaken to pick it up, Cassie reached forward, picked it up and unfolded it. As she read through, she swallowed. “He can't have kids, Jules." She muttered.

The walls caved in on Jules and she fell to her knees, crawling to Nolan's feet as more tears flowed.

"Nolan, you have to—”

Ding, ding, ding, ding…

All eyes went to their phones, and after a couple of seconds, their eyes flew up again with a different look in them.

Not pity—disgust.

Jules turned to the crowd, more confused than ever where she knelt. “What's going on?" She asked, turning to Cassie. “Cassie, what the hell is going on?"

Cassie fumbled with her phone just as Kai slowly edged closer to Nolan with his hands raised cautiously.

“Nolan, give me your phone." He said calmly, keeping his gaze on his friend.

Nolan turned to his friend, trying to not get more pissed than he already was. “What’s going on? What are they staring at?” he sounded even more angry.

Kai moved closer. “Calm down, Nolan. Just hand me your phone. We'll send everyone home, and we'll figure out a way to fix this.”

But it was too late.

Cassie’s eyes widened just as Jules turned to her. Jules yanked the phone from Cassie’s hand.

Ceasing the chance, Nolan pulled out his phone, and Kai was too slow to stop him from looking at the picture message from the unknown number.

Black hair, hazel eyes.

That was unmistakably Jules—in the arms of another man. Their lips locked in what looked like tasty passion.

“What the fuck?" Both Jules and Nolan exclaimed with more shock as they stared at the image in horror.

Nolan was the first to snap out of it, his eyes darkening.

“So you really are cheating on me, Jules?” He seethed. “Who the hell is that man?"

Jules' lips trembled as the phone fell from her hand. Luckily, Cassie was quick to save it.

Jules rushed towards Nolan, tears in her eyes. “I’m being framed, Nolan. I swear that's not me. I've never seen that man in my entire life!”

“Liar!” someone yelled from the crowd.

But Jules ignored it and got even closer to Nolan, grabbing his hand. “Nolan, you have to believe me. I've never lied to you. I'd never cheat on you." She pleaded.

She was sure she'd never seen that man before—or had she?

‘No never!’ she swore.

Nolan's head was a mess. The evidence was in his hand and everyone else could see it.

That was Jules. He'd recognize her even if he went blind.

How could she do that to him after everything he'd done for her? He'd gone against his aunt—his only surviving guardian to be with her.

And hell, he had to belittle and humiliate a friend just because he was blinded by the affection Jules showed him.

Turns out it's all a lie.

If she’d been acting this whole time, she was brilliant at it.

He looked away, pain and anger on his face. “You disgust me, Juliette."

‘Juliette?’ Jules' mind screamed.

She clung tighter to his arm. "Nolan, don't you see? Someone is trying to pull us apart. People didn't approve of our relationship, remember?” She begged. "It could be one of your enemies, it could—”

“Let go of me, slut." Nolan suddenly yanked off his hand hard from her grip and moved away, making her stagger forward and fall on her face.

Gasps erupted from every corner of the garden.

A flicker of panic crossed Nolan’s face—but only for a second.

“Oh my God, Jules!” her mother cried, rushing forward with Cassie. They helped her up and into a chair.

But as Jules stood, she doubled over. “Shit." She swore, clutching her stomach, struggling to keep herself in a sitting position.

Then—someone screamed.

“She's bleeding!”

Panic set in the garden, and every camera was turned off.

Jules was too dazed, too hurt, too stunned to speak.

Nolan just stared, gritting his teeth, his mind racing.

“Somebody call an ambulance!” Jules' mom yelled, holding her daughter.

Suddenly, Cassie stepped closer, her eyes already moist. She shoved Nolan hard on his chest. “Look what you've done, you asshole!" She yelled.

Nolan just stepped back, locking eyes with her. “Not my child, not my problem." He said coldly.

“But she's your wife!" She yelled, clenching her fists.

Nolan stared down at Jules, clutching her stomach in pain. "Not anymore.” He paused. "I want a divorce.”

‘I want a divorce.’ the words echoed in Jules’ mind.

She raised her eyes to meet Nolan's, but all she could see was a heartless, unreasonable stranger.

“Seriously?" She asked, almost forgetting she was in pain.

Nolan's gaze didn't waver. “I can't spend the rest of my life with a whore."

Jules' eyes reddened, and a tear slipped out.

All she could feel at this point was anger and disbelief, that the one man she'd given her all to didn't trust her at all.

She watched him turn towards the exit, a part of her hoping someone would just step out and say this was some kind of sick joke.

Frankly, she'd forgive them.

But it wasn't happening, and Nolan wasn't turning around.

“Nolan.” she called.

He turned and met her gaze.

They stared at each other for a while, memories flashing in her mind. Then she muttered.

“Fuck you.”