He Protected My Double, I Chose His Rival

For once, Julian came home before nine.

He noticed the cancellation notice from the family clinic and frowned.

"We booked that fertility consultation together. You should have told me before canceling it."

"We don't need it anymore," I said calmly.

He put down his phone and looked at me. "Because of Mia's photo? Vivian, don't take this out on me. She's pregnant. Taking care of her is basic decency."

I was about to tell him that I was pregnant too, but he raised a hand and cut me off.

Then he handed me a black gift box.

"This is from Mia. She knows you're upset. She wanted to apologize in person, but she was afraid you wouldn't see her."

He opened the box, revealing a fitted black Chanel dress.

It had clearly been worn. The waist was stretched out.

"She can't fit into it now that she's pregnant. You're about the same size, so she thought it would suit you. It's her favorite dress. Giving it to you is her way of making peace. Take it."

I couldn't help but laugh.

Half an hour before Julian came home, Mia had posted a photo of an entire rack of new clothes he'd bought her.

"None of my old dresses fit anymore. Luckily, someone remembers that a pregnant girl still wants to look pretty."

When I made no move to take the box, Julian pushed it closer.

"She's trying to make peace, Vivian. When they grabbed her, thinking she was you, she never complained once. Do you really have to give her such a hard time over a dress?"

I pushed the box back. "I'm not the one who put her in danger. I have nothing to forgive her for, and I don't want the dress."

He caught the box, his expression hardening.

"Do whatever you want with it. But you're taking it today."

He tossed the box toward me.

I instinctively turned away, but the corner hit me in the forehead.

I gasped and covered my forehead as tears sprang to my eyes.

Julian was beside me in an instant.

"I didn't mean to hit you. Move your hand. Let me see."

I pulled away from his hand. "I'm fine."

He grabbed my wrist and peeled my fingers away one by one. His lips tightened when he saw the swelling.

"Don't move. I'll get an ice pack."

Before I could stop him, his phone rang.

The name Bambi flashed across the screen.

"Julian..."

Mia's voice was thick with tears. Julian answered immediately, "What's wrong? Take your time."

She said through sobs, "My stomach started hurting, so I took a cab to the address you sent me. The driver said there wasn't a hospital anywhere nearby, so he dropped me off at an intersection and left. I can't find the entrance."

Julian frowned.

"Who told you to go alone? You don't give the family hospital's address to a stranger. Where are you now? What's around you?"

Mia hesitated.

"I'm sorry. I already upset Vivian today. I didn't want your driver to pick me up, too. She'd think I called you away on purpose."

Julian said in a low voice, "Don't worry about her. You're alone on the street. If anyone watching the Morettis recognizes you, do you know what could happen to you? Find a public place, get inside, and send me your location."

"Please don't. You should be with Vivian tonight. Aren't you two trying for a baby? Stay with her. I can find the entrance myself."

Julian cut her off. "Mia. Stay where you are. Send me your location. Now."

He hung up and grabbed his keys.

"She's out in the open. I have to get her safely inside first. The ice packs are in the kitchen. I'll take care of your forehead when I get back."

He headed for the door.

"Julian, wait."

He stopped, one hand on the door handle, and looked back at me.

"Don't try to stop me, Vivi. She's appearing in public as my wife. If someone takes her and realizes she's the wrong woman, you're next."

I didn't argue.

Instead, I went to the closet and pulled a black card from the pocket of a coat he'd worn a few days ago.

"The hospital access card. Don't forget it."

Mia couldn't get through the security door to the underground clinic without it.

Julian looked at me for a long moment without taking the card.

Finally, he reached for it.

"Thank you."

He seemed about to say something else, but I spoke first. "Drive safely."

I reached up and straightened his collar.

I'd always done this whenever family business called him out late at night.

But this time, grief washed over me as my fingers brushed his collar.

I knew there wouldn't be a next time.

He caught my hand and studied me for a moment before pulling me into his arms.

"I'll be back soon. Wait for me, Vivi."