All Chapters of Too Late to Love Me: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

Julian's hands went still. He gave nothing away."Go take a bath," he said gently, just as he always did.Vivienne passed him her coat without attempting a conversation. They had never spoken like an ordinary married couple. She went straight to the bathroom, then to her study, where Julian had already placed a mug of warm milk on her desk.Every day followed the same script. Every detail was perfect, except for the one thing a marriage needed: affection.Julian took her coat toward their bedroom to have it pressed. Something in the pocket caught against his arm. He pulled out an airline ticket and a man's tie."Do you still need these?" he asked.Vivienne glanced up. After a few seconds, she said, "Throw them away."The tie looked expensive, but Julian didn't ask questions. He nodded, returned to the bedroom, and opened a storage cabinet instead of the trash can. It was packed with beautifully wrapped gift boxes and a thick stack of plane tickets. He added these two items to th

Julian could barely stay mounted at a walk. He'd fallen from a horse as a child and avoided riding ever since. Racing Edward, an expert horseman, was absurd.But he gripped the reins. "All right."They lined up with their chosen horses. At the whistle, Edward surged forward. Julian followed, struggling merely to keep his mount under control. Soon Edward was far ahead.He had to win.In desperation, he pulled a pin from his cuff and jabbed his horse in the hindquarters. The animal panicked and bolted. Julian clung to the reins as the sudden acceleration tossed him from side to side.Edward stared in disbelief as Julian's horse flew past him. Then it bucked wildly, throwing Julian several yards across the track."Julian!" Edward shouted....At the signing ceremony between Sterling Group and Westbridge Holdings, Edward shook Vivienne's hand after both companies completed the agreement."Ms. Sterling, you have an extraordinary husband."She blinked. "You know Julian?""Know him

Vivienne glanced at Julian, apparently assuming he'd complained to her grandmother. Her brows drew together, but she said nothing.He hadn't told Eleanor anything. She simply knew whom her granddaughter had spent years pining for.Before the lecture could continue, Julian said, "Grandma, your driver's waiting. Let's get you to the car."They helped her into the car. After she left, Julian and Vivienne stood together in awkward silence."I didn't ask her to say that," he explained."Elliot and I grew up together," Vivienne replied. "We've always been close. If you expect me to stop seeing him, that isn't going to happen."She didn't believe him. Julian went pale. "I really didn't—"It didn't matter to her who had said it. Nobody was going to make her distance herself from Elliot."Get in."She ended the conversation before he could finish.A few minutes into the drive, dizziness washed over Julian. He'd barely eaten while caring for Eleanor. His stomach was empty, and he despe

Julian's hand tightened around his glass. Heads turned across the ballroom, but Vivienne and Elliot seemed perfectly at ease."Isn't Julian here already? Why did Vivienne come with Elliot?""Elliot just got back. Maybe she's making sure nobody gives him a hard time.""Three years of marriage, and he still can't compete with her first love."Every whisper found its way to Julian. He forced his legs to move and approached them with whatever dignity he had left.Elliot smiled and pressed closer to Vivienne. "Julian, I'm still getting used to events back home, so I asked Vivienne to look after me. You don't mind, do you?"Julian looked at the woman beside Elliot. Without being told, who would ever guess she was his wife?After a long silence, he nodded with a strained smile.The evening became an awkward outing for three, though Julian might as well have been invisible. Vivienne's attention never left Elliot. When he grew cold, she draped her coat over his shoulders. When he'd had

Vivienne's business trip lasted a week. On the final night, she stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows of her hotel suite, a myriad of emotions swirling in her eyes.Without Julian, nothing had felt right. Not the breakfast, the coffee, or the fragrance in the room. She'd stayed at this hotel many times and never had a complaint. When she asked at reception, she learned why: Julian had always arranged her breakfasts, coffee, and favorite aromatherapy himself. Because she woke so early on business trips, he often started before dawn.She'd been miserable all week. Then, at the farewell dinner, her business partners began talking about the things her husband had done."Julian didn't come this time? He's usually so attentive.""Remember the snowstorm at Eastlake Lodge last year? Ms. Sterling collapsed from gastritis, and every road down the mountain was blocked. Julian carried her all the way down on his back. He walked through snow all night. His feet were covered in blisters when