Julia’s POV
At first, there was silence, just a brief pause. Then, she stuttered. “You’re… you are going to the company? Today?” Acting shocked and surprised, maybe even afraid.
“Yes.” I responded.
I could picture her right then.
She inhaled sharply before speaking again, this time more carefully. “Are you sure that’s necessary?” She took a step forward. “I mean, there’s really no need to stress yourself now… No need to rush into anything.”
I could feel the nervous energy in her voice, the way she was trying desperately to steer me away. But I wasn’t having it.
In my previous life, I had been blind to Scarlett’s true nature. While I was busy chasing after Alex, she was busy embezzling funds from my father’s company, slowly draining it dry. By the time I realized what she was doing, it was too late. She tried to control the company so that her son could have it. She was too greedy to see me control the company all by myself. Also, Scarlett worked hand in hand with Alex to see that everything is taken from me.
This time, things would be different. I wouldn’t let her have her way. I would protect my father’s legacy.
Scarlet quickly stepped forward, her voice sharp with surprise. “You’ve never understood business matters. You are still young and I advise you to stay out of it.”
I could hear the arrogance in her words, the same arrogance that had allowed her to steal from my company without a second thought. But today, I wasn’t the naïve daughter she had taken advantage of.
I met her gaze without flinching. “Actually, I majored in finance, both in undergrad and graduate school. So, I’m more than qualified to be there. You have nothing to worry about.”
Her words caught in her throat. She blinked, opening her mouth to respond but failing to find anything to say. The smugness faltered on her face, replaced by confusion and, perhaps, a hint of fear.
I didn’t give her a chance. I simply turned on my heel.
Now, things would be different.
I entered Julison Technology Enterprises again, dressed in a pink trouser suit and a black heel and my hair packed in a ponytail with my little makeup that made me look even more beautiful. My father has named this company using the four first letter of my name “Juli” and the three last letters of his name “son”. His name was Wilson.
When I stepped off the elevator and walked into the executive lobby, a few employees shot me curious looks, some whispering under their breath.
“She’s finally here.” Said one of them.
“I wonder what she’s here for. She never cares about her family business” Said another.
“She lost everything including her marriage.”
“She’s left with nothing now.”
I didn’t care.
I was here to take it all back.
But as I reached the door, I froze. There he was, Alex, standing by the window with that same smug look on his face. I wonder why he is here.
“Look at who we have here.” He mocked, stepping toward me.
His words hit me harder than I expected.
Then I heard my name.
“Julia.” With a smirk, he strolled towards me.
He is now standing a few feet away, dressed in his tailored black suit, his tie slightly loosened like he’s just come from a meeting..
“Our brave queen is here,” he said, voice laced with mockery. Then, with a slow, deliberate tilt of his head, “Why are you here for me?” He added.
I clenched my fists.
He let out a low chuckle, stepping closer. “Finally realized your mistake, huh? So, what is it? A heartfelt apology? Begging for a second chance?”
I met his gaze, steady without saying a word to him.
“Now you finally realized I am the air you breath?”
I was beginning to feel irritated by his words “Stop it already, you really think I’d come all this way for you? Enough of your imagination.”
My answer is immediate, firm. “I have work to do here.”
I didn’t bother explaining myself. I don’t owe him that. Instead, I glance down at my phone, checking the time. “I don’t have time for this,” I said.
“You should leave." I requested. He smirked, folding his both arm across each other before giving me a reply.
“Leave huh?” A short mocking laugh escaped his lips.
“Seems you’ve forgotten. My family is part of the shareholders in this company.”
We stayed silent for a few seconds. Not ready to listen to any more of his cruel words, I excused myself, heading towards my office face.
I glanced past him at the chaotic office space. Piles of papers littered my desk. Ignoring Alex, I turned to one of the assistants nearby. “Please clean up my office. Get it ready for me.”
Alex raised an eyebrow in surprise. “What, are you planning? To stay here?” he scoffed, clearly perplexed by my confidence.
I didn’t even spare him a glance as I replied, “I don’t need to waste my time around trash anymore. Now that I have plenty of time, I intend to take care of this company. So, if you’ll excuse me…”
Before I could finish, he stepped forward, “that’s the funniest joke I have ever heard.”
But before he could continue, his phone rang, cutting him off mid-sentence. I could see the frustration in his eyes as he glanced at the screen. Without saying another word, he picked up the call, turning away from me to answer it.
“Celeste,” he muttered under his breathe while walking away as his gaze was fixed on me, perhaps he couldn’t believe what I had just told him.
I rolled my eyes as he walked out of the office, leaving me alone. I turned back to the assistant. She looks young, probably in her early twenties, with shoulder-length brown hair tucked neatly behind her ears. Her blue blouse is crisp, and she looked tense, as if still adjusting to the formality of the place. When she noticed my gaze towards her, she offered a polite but slightly hesitant smile.
“You must be new here,” I asked, returning the smile.
“Yes, I just started this week,” she replied.
I nodded, studying her for a moment. “What’s your name?”
“Oh—” She straightened a little more. “Emily. Emily Marcus.”
“Well, Emily, let's hope you’re good at keeping up. This place moves fast. Bring me the latest work documents, please.”
She nodded and quickly went to retrieve them, while I surveyed the office. It didn’t take long before she returned, placing a thick folder in front of me. I flipped it open and glanced at the top document. The words “The Fifth entrepreneur project submit” caught my eye.
Julia’s POVThe car hummed softly as Declan drove me home, the city lights blurring into streaks of gold and white through the window. His hand rested on mine, warm and loving while we moved. I glanced at him, his face reflecting against the glow of the dashboard, his eyes soft whenever they flicked to me. My heart still raced from the church, from the weight of my choice of choosing him, from the way I’d run to him and left everything else behind. We pulled up to his family’s estate, a sprawling mansion nestled in a quiet corner of the city. The driveway was lined with cars, and my stomach fluttered with nerves. His family, though I’ve met them before but not quite sure if they will accept me as a bride. I was stepping into their world now, not as a guest, but as Declan’s fiancée, his wife, in his words. The thought sent a thrill through me, chased by doubt. Would they accept me after the chaos I’d caused?Declan squeezed my hand, his thumb brushing over my knuckles. “You ready?” he
Declan’s POVMy phone sat heavy in my hand, its screen dark and silent, mocking me with Julia’s absence. I’d called her a dozen times over the past two days, each unanswered ring twisting the knot in my stomach tighter. Her face flashed in my mind, those soft hazel eyes, the way her lips curved when she laughed, calling me “trouble” with that teasing lilt. I paced in my room, worried, my heart pounding with a mix of worry and frustration. Is she fine? Did Alex do anything to her? Why wasn’t she picking up?Had I pushed too far that night at Luxe Bistro, when we’d laughed over salmon and wine, her hand warm in mine? Or was it something else, something to do with that damn wedding she was being forced into?I sank onto the couch, running a hand through my hair, my jaw tight. The thought of Julia marrying Alex, a man whose cold indifference I’d seen firsthand, made my blood boil. I’d tried to stay out of it, to respect her choice, but every unanswered call felt like a door slamming shut.
Julia’s POVI snatched the phone from Isabella’s hand as I ended the call with a sharp tap. My heart pounded in my chest, a mix of anger and disbelief swirling in my gut. “What the hell, Iz?” I snapped, my voice rising as I glared at her. Her audacity to speak to Grandfather like that, like he was some villain in a cheap novel made my blood boil. “You can’t just talk to him that way! He’s my family! If you’re going to be aggressive with anyone, it should be Alex, not him!”Isabella’s eyes widened, her mouth parting slightly in disbelief. “Seriously?” She said.Then her expression hardened, her brown eyes blazing with a fire I rarely saw. She leaned forward, her hands balling into fists. “Are you serious right now, Julia? You’re defending that manipulative old man over me? Over yourself?” Her voice was sharp, cutting through the cozy warmth of her living room. She stood abruptly, her oversized sweater slipping further off her shoulder as she towered over me. “Wake up, Julia! You’re ab
Julia’s POVThe morning sun filtered through the gauzy curtains of my room. I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, my limbs heavy with a restlessness that had settled deep in my bones. Waking up used to excite me to begin my day but today, the thought of the approaching wedding, now just two days away only bothered me. I rolled onto my side, my mind replaying Grandfather’s words from last night, “Julia, you should move to Alex’s room. I only permit you both to share one room. Not some side chick.” His words left Celeste’s tight-lipped silence in the doorway.I sat up, running a hand through my tangled hair, and reached for my phone on the nightstand. The screen lit up with notifications, but none from Declan. My heart gave a small, traitorous lurch at the thought of him. I shook my head, trying to dislodge the image, and scrolled through my contacts until I landed on Isabella’s name. My thumb hovered over the call button for a moment before I pressed it, the phone ringing softly as I
Julia’s POVDeclan pulled up to the curb outside Alex’s house, the headlights casting a warm glow against the neatly trimmed hedges. I unbuckled my seatbelt as I glanced at him. The evening at Luxe Bistro still lingered in my mind, his teasing smile, the way he’d fed me a bite of salmon, his words when he’d called me beautiful. My heart gave a little lurch, and I pushed the thought away, forcing a smile as I opened the car door.“Thanks for tonight,” I said, my voice softer than I intended. “It was… really nice.”Declan’s eyes crinkled at the corners, his smile warm. “Anytime, princess.” He leaned back in his seat, one hand resting casually on the steering wheel. “Get some rest, okay? You’ve got that glow, but you still look like you could use it.”I rolled my eyes, but the laugh that escaped me was genuine. “Goodnight, Declan.” I stepped out, the cool night air brushing against my skin as I waved to him. His car pulled away, the taillights fading into the dark, and I stood there for
Julia’s POVDeclan cleared his throat, his voice breaking the spell that had woven itself around us in the quiet of the car. “Stop staring, Jules,” he said, a playful lilt in his tone.I blinked, my cheeks warming as a shy smile tugged at my lips. “I wasn’t staring,” I muttered, my voice barely above a whisper, the words tumbling out in a rush to cover the flutter in my chest. My fingers fidgeted, still resting on my lap, as I tried to steady myself in the moment.Declan’s smile widened. “Sure you weren’t,” he teased. He turned the key in the ignition and started the car as he pulled out of the parking lot. We drove in comfortable silence for a while. My mind was still reeling from the day, from how he’d made me feel. The thought of it only made me blush while I stared out the window. Though he didn’t notice my smiles. Sitting here, with Declan’s presence beside me, felt like it was slipping away, replaced by something softer, something that made my heart ache in a way I hadn’t let