LOGINCLARA’s POV I sat on the soft sofa in my big apartment, looking at my phone on the glass table. It had been quiet for hours. Too quiet. I picked up my phone, unlocked the screen, and checked my messages again. There was nothing from Julian. No text, no missed call, nothing. I threw the phone on the sofa and leaned back with a loud groan. "Why is he not calling me back?" I said to myself, walking around the room. Ever since that bad scene at the airport, my whole plan had started to fall apart. I was supposed to be on that flight with him. I was supposed to stand next to him in London, go to all the big business events, and show everyone that I am the woman who belongs with Julian Vance. Instead, Julian left me at the airport like I was nothing. The memory of the airport still made me angry. I had tried to look weak and helpless. I called him crying, pretending to have a panic at
Julian's P.O.V “Listen to yourself,” Johan warned in a hushed tone. “You sound like a man who's losing his grip. You spent three years treating Nora like a dependent obligation while Clara ran circles around your life." "You left Nora alone at home during storms, you let Clara disrespect her in front of your friends, and now that Nora has finally had enough, you're shocked that she doesn't want you anymore?” “I gave her everything!” I argued, my voice tight with stubborn pride. “I paid her medical bills! I hired the best physical therapists in the country! I made sure she never had to worry about money or security!” “Money isn't love, Julian,” Johan said quietly, staring right into my eyes. “And security in a gold cage isn't a marriage.” I turned away from him, gripping the edge of the window sill. I refused to accept what he was saying. I wasn't a bad husband. I had done my duty. I stayed by her side afte
JULIAN’S POV I stood near the glass wall of the grand lobby, watching the heavy doors of the briefing room swing shut behind Nora, Marcus Hayes, and Maya. The click of the latch echoed in my ears like a loud slap. Around me, several high-profile executives and board members were whispering in low voices, casting sideways glances in my direction. I could feel their eyes burning into my back, but I kept my head held high, my jaw clenched so hard that my teeth ached. “Julian, we need to head to the executive lounge before the second session starts,” Johan said, stepping up beside me and lowering his voice. “People are staring. You shouldn't have confronted her right in the middle of the main hall.” “Let them stare,” I snapped, my eyes still fixed on the glass doors. “I don't care about their whispers.” Johan let out a quiet sigh, adjusting his tie. “You should care, Julian. Your firm's reputation is on the line. But more importantly, you just made yourself look desperate in front
Standing My Ground "Nora, wake up! You won't believe what just arrived at the front desk!" Maya shouted, bursting into my bedroom with a huge grin on her face. I rubbed my eyes and sat up slowly in bed, pulling the warm duvet up around my waist. Sunlight was streaming through the sheer curtains of our London apartment, filling the room with a bright, morning light. My bad leg felt a bit stiff, but after a good night's sleep, the dull pain from yesterday was fully gone. "What time is it?" I asked, yawning softly as I checked the bedside clock. "It's only eight in the morning, Maya." "It's time for you to see this!" Maya said, placing a huge, bright bouquet of white lilies and dark red roses right onto my lap, followed by a small silver tray holding a hot cup of coffee and a fresh croissant. I frowned, looking at the big bunch of flowers taking up the entire bottom half of my bed. White lilies were my favorite, but I hadn't told anyone in London abou
NORA’s POV “Do you really think Julian will sign those divorce papers without putting up a fight?” Maya asked, holding her umbrella higher as we walked down the wet London street.I adjusted the strap of my leather portfolio over my shoulder and took a steady breath of the cool, damp night air. “Honestly, Maya, it doesn't matter to me if he signs them today or next month. The moment I blocked his number, I chose my own freedom. He can throw as many tantrums as he wants from his penthouse, but he can't force me back into that padded life.”Maya smiled widely, linking her arm with mine as we turned the corner toward Soho. “God, I love hearing you speak like this. The old Nora would have spent three days crying under a blanket after receiving a call like that.”“The old Nora was trying to fix a man who preferred to stay broken,” I replied softly, my bad leg stepping firmly onto the pavement. “I spent three years feeling guilty because I couldn't make him happ
CLARA’s POV"How could he do this to me? How dare he drag me out like trash!" I yelled, slamming my glass onto the marble counter. The heavy glass broke into small pieces, sending dark drink all over the clean stone. I did not even care about the stain or the mess on my fine floor. I walked back and forth across my big living room, my high heels making loud noise on the tiles with each mad step.My mind was fast, going over each bad second at the airport. I can still hear the mean laugh of Johan. I can still see the cold, far look in Julian's eyes when he pulled his arm out of my hand. Worst of all, I can still feel the hard hands of those guards holding my arms, dragging me away like a bad thief while crowds held their phone cameras at me."A public scene!" I hissed to myself, pulling both hands through my ponytail and pulling hard till my head hurt. "He said I was making a scene! After all I gave up for him! After all I lost!"I stopped right in front of the tall window with view







