“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
Jules felt like a sheep being led to slaughter even when Ethan grabbed her hand and tried to look into her eyes as they walked towards the car.“Do I really have to go?” she asked for the umpteenth time. “No one’s expecting me there.”“The media is, Jules,” Ethan replied calmly. “Showing up reduces the questions that’ll be thrown at you later.”But Jules wasn't buying that. But it didn't seem to matter because Ethan was holding her hand firmly and pulling her forward.If not that she knew she'd regret it if she came out looking ugly on camera, she wouldn't have put extra effort in styling her hair and make up.And she definitely wouldn't have gotten the crimson jacket and pants custom made for her.Ethan held the door open for her, but she just stood there and crossed her arms, turning her face away. “I should be with Asher." “Please.” Ethan begged, suppressing a smirk.Finally, she sighed and turned to him. “I know this is just so you can look good." “I love you too,” he replied wi
Evie adjusted her dark shades as she struggled to read the percentage of alcohol on the wine she was staring at.She normally wouldn't do this—go shopping on her own. But lately she just seemed so set off by everything and everyone.Maybe it was the baby, maybe it was Nolan's condescending attitude, or maybe it's the fact that three days ago she had to lie in a hospital bed, her eyes shut while a needle was shoved into her arm…on live TV.“You're okay." Nolan had repeated while she dug her nails into his hand, as the needle went in.‘Okay my foot,’ she thought bitterly. ‘He’s not the one being distrusted and dragged like a cheating slut by the entire fucking city.’None of this wouldn’t have happened if she'd left him a long time ago, when the red flags first waved. But she just couldn't bring herself to walk away.She'd been nursing the affection she felt for him since they were kids and she never got over it, even when she got with Colton, and every other man she'd tried to be with
"So you really went through with it.”Kai’s voice cut through the quiet, full of restrained disappointment.But Nolan didn't even look up at him. His eyes were glued to his phone's screen, which he scrolled on with one hand, and held a glass of almost finished wine in the other.“Did you even think about how much embarrassment you might have cost Evie?" "Please, Kai. Don't lecture me." He lifted his eyes. “Please." Kai scoffed, sinking deeper into the armchair. “Okay, so what now? The results come in—and then what?”“I'll act according to what it says.” "And what if it comes out as yours?" Kai asked, irritation in his voice. “You think you'll be able to look Evie in the eye the way you used to?" Nolan didn't look up."Nolan, buddy, I've asked several times how exactly you feel about Evie.” He shifted out of the chair and leaned forward. "Because that's not how you treat someone you give a shit about.”A frown graced Nolan's face, and he tried to keep his head down and not pay atte
Evie sat before the dresser mirror, her fingers working through her hair, trying to slick it into a perfect bun. But it wasn’t working—no matter how tight she pulled, it still felt messy. Everything did.She really didn't like what she was about to do, but it seemed she'd been robbed of her free will these days.The day she'd confronted Nolan for the umpteenth time, she'd packed all she needed and moved to one of the guest rooms.Not like he cared or stopped her.He was seriously hurting her, and she knew he knew it.I mean, she'd slept with Colton for him. To shut Colton up. To save their marriage, didn't she? He should have been grateful…right?Instead, he was putting a rope around her neck and pulling her to the hospital to have a needle shoved into her skin.A sob slipped out, and she shielded her mouth with hands to suppress the sounds. But then tipped her head back, hoping the tears would go back and not ruin the makeup she'd struggled to put on.‘It’s just not fair,’ she whispe
“Mom, I'm fine. I'm just really worried about you.” Jules said, one hand holding a barely touched popcorn bucket, the other pressing the phone to her ear.She was seated on the park bench, the late afternoon sun casting golden stripes through the trees, watching Asher lounged on the grass, half-melted ice cream in one hand and chatting quietly with Mitch.Jules tossed a handful of popcorn toward a couple of greedy birds. “Mom, everything’s okay. Colton’s a pain in the ass, but he’s not that bad a person.” She paused, then smirked. “He’s just a little stupid, that’s all.”“A little?" Jules chuckled.“Jules, that kid went on TV to announce he's been screwing the fiancee of a man as infamous as Nolan.” Her mom said. "What happened to meeting him like a man and telling him the truth?" Jules chuckled even more, and tossed some more popcorn, lifting her eyes to where Asher and his friend were now playing and running around with spray guns.She was thankful Mitch's mom had agreed to bring