جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 100

Julia’s POVAndrew looked so cute, with his hand outheld for me. It took me a moment to fully absorb what he was asking.Andrew had never danced with me at an event, no matter how many times I’d asked. So I’d always been left to stand alone in the corner, watching people twirl around the dance floor, longing to be one of those couples.“Yes,” I told him, rising from my seat. The whole evening had been more than I ever could have hoped for. It was magical, and there were times throughout dinner when I’d completely forgotten there were other people around.I was now more sure than ever that I had to tell Andrew how I really felt. I was prepared for him to turn me down, but then at least I’d know.And I could start moving on.It wasn’t what I wanted though, of course. I wanted him to say that he felt the same way about me. I wanted him to confess that he’d made a terrible mistake, and that he regretted it deeply.Was I just fantasizing? It could be. But I didn’t care. I was caught up in

Julia’s POVIn the bathroom, I smiled at my reflection as I pulled out my lipstick. My heart was racing as I thought about what I was going to say to Andrew. Direct and honest. I figured that was the best approach.Throughout our marriage, I’d stayed fairly silent, never fully expressing to him my true heart. But maybe this was our second chance, and with that came a new start. Unlike the silence that I’d harboured for years, this time I could speak honestly.I didn’t know how this would turn out but I was willing to take the chance. I honestly believed that Andrew really had changed. I’d changed too. I was no longer so fearful, so timid. I was strong and confident. I could ask for what I wanted this time.It was a chance I was willing to take. Mira had been right; I was in a pattern, and unless I did something about it, I feared it would just continue.I deserved to be happy, whatever that looked like. Charles’ feeling for me, although misplaced, had given me back the confidence that

Andrew’s POVTaking the bracelet from the woman’s hand, my heart started to pound in my chest. It was definitely Julia’s bracelet. It was a charm bracelet that Oliver had given her for her birthday one year, with a little heart charm and a four-leaf clover. She always wore it to special events, even though it was cheap and a bit silly.What was her bracelet doing on the washroom floor? What was happening? Where was Julia? My mind spun as I held the bracelet.“Where did you find this?” I asked, my voice far more demanding and curt than I intended.“I just told you,” the woman said, taken aback by my tone. “On the bathroom floor. It was just sitting there. It’s a lovely bracelet. I’d like to bring it to the lost and found.”“This is my friend’s bracelet,” I told her.And before she could respond, I pushed past her and went into the bathroom myself.“Julia?” I called out. My voice reverberated through the room, echoing off the marble walls.There was no response.Bending down, I checked

Julia’s POVFifteen minutes earlier…The scent of something sharp and pungent filled my nose, snapping me out of my groggy haze. My eyes flew open and I saw Charlotte kneeling in front of me, waving something under my nose.“Good evening, Sleeping Beauty,” she smirked. “Did you have a nice nap?”Struggling, I realized that my feet and ankles were bound by something. Rope. I was sitting on a wooden chair in the middle of a room. Glancing around, I saw two men dressed in black standing near the door.They were the two same men that I’d seen in the room at the gala event right before everything had gone dark.Charlotte had drugged my drink. She hauled me into a room right before I fainted. Then she must have taken me here, to this room, and tied me up.My heart hammered in my chest as the grogginess from the drugs faded away. She’d been waving smelling salts under my nose, and the smelling salts were bringing back some clarity to my mind.“What are you doing?” I asked her. She was sittin

Andrew’s POVThe pain in my arm was red hot, and I was on the verge of passing out. But I clenched my jaw. I had to keep my wits about me.The sight of Julia tied up to a chair was enough to fight off the dizziness that threatened to engulf me. I had to stay strong, for her.“I’m so sorry,” I said to her.“Oh, that’s sweet,” Charlotte scoffed. “Are the lovebirds having a moment?”I shot a glare at Charlotte, but then brought my eyes back to Julia. “This is all my fault,” I told her. “I put you in danger and…”“You don’t have to apologize,” Julia answered, her eyes flooded with warmth. “This isn’t your fault, Andrew.”“All right. Enough. You two are so sweet you’re giving me diabetes. You can apologize all you want when you’re locked up downstairs. The passcode, Andrew. I’m losing my patience.”At those words, the two men in black stepped forward, their arms crossed over their chests in an imposing way.“You don’t have to give it to her,” Julia said.“It’s just money,” I told her.“It’