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.”“You didn't tell me why you have so many writings on your arm, daddy,” Asher said in his tiny, curious voice, the hint of laughter tugging at his lips as he fumbled with one of Ethan’s fingers, laying on the bed.“Oh, these?" Ethan said with a raised brow, glancing at his tattoos.Asher nodded.“It's art." He replied. “You know, daddy used to like art when he was little." “Like me?" “Yeah, exactly like you. I’d draw on everything—my books, the walls, even my bed. And my mum? She’d beat me so hard.” He pulled a goofy face.Asher giggled."And when I became a man, I still drew everywhere until I drew on my body.”"Isn't that bad?" Ethan nodded. “Very. And if my mummy were here, she'd beat me till I pee on myself." Asher chuckled some more.Jules leaned against the doorway, arms folded, a soft smile playing at the corners of her lips.She had expected Ethan to be furious when he arrived at the hospital—instead, he’d said almost nothing about Asher’s condition and took it as a chance
The words hit Jules like someone had clapped a pair of cymbals against her ears.‘Before I get married to Evie.’It echoed, sharp and relentless.She stared at Nolan, unable to look away, her heartbeat pulsing through her ears. Her breathing shook. And she didn’t even know why.Did he have to dump the information on her like that? At this moment?“I made a promise.” He added, his voice low, his eyes unable to meet hers. “And I want to keep it.”Jules just swallowed and turned back to her fingers.“And after the wedding here, we'll move back to the city." She gritted her teeth, forcing her voice out steady. “When is the wedding?”“In about three weeks." He took a quick glance at her but couldn't catch her expression."Well, then…" she paused. “Good luck." But Nolan couldn't help but feel uneasy. The thought of getting married to Evie had died a long time ago, especially when he realized Jules had a son.But there was nothing he could do now because, out of his arrogance and thoughtle
Before Nolan could get to the parking lot, he could see her car zooming out of the premises, with her driver standing dazed by the curb.“Shit,” he muttered, rushing toward his own car and fumbling with his keys. There wasn’t time to ask where she was going.All that mattered was following her.And the moment he got into the car, he got on her tail in a hot chase.They hit the highway, and Nolan slowed a bit, trying not to cause a scene. But when Jules didn’t even stop for a truck as massive as a trailer, his brows lifted.She wasn’t just in a hurry. She was in panic mode.Nolan floored it. He wasn't about to miss her.He glided through cars and trucks and traffic lights that he almost felt like he was doing a stunt for some movie.Whatever was making Jules drive like that sounded like trouble.Finally, she slowed down and swerved into a parking lot.Nolan looked. “A hospital?" He wondered, giving her a head start. Before pulling into a free space away from hers. With the way she dro
Jules pulled open the drawer in her desk and took out the bottle of vodka, poured herself a shot and downed it in one gulp, all while keeping her eyes on the door in case anyone walked in.Then she quickly shut it back in the drawer and smoothened her blouse, taking deep breaths.Finally, she walked out towards the conference room where she'd called for a meeting with the board, the entire executive team, and, of course, Nolan.When she got there, almost everyone was ready and waiting, including Zee, standing at attention behind her chair—and of course Nolan was also present.Their eyes met briefly—only a second—but it was enough to send an unexplainable shiver down her spine.Why? She couldn't decipher.“Sorry for the delay." She said out loud, her voice cutting through the silence in the room. Then a small smile appeared on her lips. “Before I start, I'd like to say thank you to all of you for seeing that the company was still running in my absence." A few nodded. The rest just sta
The sound of Nolan’s heavy footsteps echoed through the house. It felt silent and hollow—just like his chest.It'd been two days since he confirmed Asher was getting a half sibling and he felt nothing less than foolish.‘Do I really act without my brain?’ he asked himself as he got up the hallway and turned towards his bedroom.It was dark out. Later than the time, he usually got off work. But for the last two days, he'd buried himself in more work and drank a little more booze.Evie hadn't spoken to him ever since, and he knew his aunt was lurking in the shadows, just waiting for the right time to bring up their marriage.He opened his room's door and walked in.He froze.“Evie,” he breathed, eyes locked on the figure sprawled across his bed.It was either Evie was lying on his bed, covered with the duvet, and scrolling through her phone, or the booze was playing with his head.“Evie?" He called again.This time, she only spared him a glance for a second and turned back to her phone.
“I’m just glad everything is finally going back to normal,” Jules said into the phone just as the car rolled to a stop in front of her company.“So just like that? The media are silent?" “Nah, not really,” she replied, stepping out of the car. "Some are still digging—wanting to know what's next after this. How Nolan's going to handle the aftermath of all.”"Me included, bitch.” Cassie quipped.Jules just smiled, her eye catching sight of Zee standing at the door, waiting. “Of course you do, Cassie." "Good morning, ma'am.” Zee greeted, her smile sharper than the gator on her pants.“I have to go, Cassie. Some of us have work to do.”Cassie gasped in the background. "Good one Jules." Jules just chuckled and ended the call. “Welcome back, ma'am. You've got—" “Don't tell me." Jules interrupted with a small wave and a smile. “I know I have a lot to do, and you can brief me when I'm in my chair." Zee smiled back and shrugged.She was greeted by the few employees she passed by, but th