Chapter 5
Nathan barely finished speaking before turning to Julia, his eyes swimming with guilt. “Julia, Sarah’s not strong. She once saved my life. Please, just hang in there a little longer. I promise
|‘||—”
“I get it.”
She interrupted him, her voice so soft it was almost lost in the chaos.
It wasn’t calm–not by a long shot. It was resignation, the kind that comes when you’ve finally run out of hope.
Rescue workers rushed in and pulled Sarah out first.
But just as they turned back for Julia, the elevator shrieked with a horrible, metallic groan–and dropped again.
“Julia!” Nathan’s scream tore through the air from above.
But Julia never heard him.
When she finally came to, pain radiated through every inch of her body. At least she was still
alive.
Nathan was right there by her bed, eyes red and raw from crying.
The moment she opened her eyes, he grabbed her hand, his voice shaking. “Julia, I’m so sorry. Hit me, yell at me–whatever you want, I deserve it. But I had no choice. I owe Sarah my life. I had to save her first!”
“I know.” Julia gently pulled her hand away. “You don’t have to explain.”
Nathan’s panic only deepened.
He scrambled to pull out a box filled with jewelry–sapphires, diamonds, all the pieces he knew she used to love. He lined them up for her, desperate. “Look, your favorite blue sapphire… This necklace is one of a kind…”
Julia glanced at the sparkling pile, a bitter laugh catching in her throat.
Did he really think this would fix anything?
“Thanks,” she said quietly, turning her face toward the window. “I want to rest now.”
Nathan stood there, realizing for the first time that Julia, though right beside him, felt impossibly far away.
From then on, Nathan did everything he could to make it up to her.
But no matter how much he bought–no matter how many jewels or luxury gifts–Julia just said
11.5
Chapter S
“thank you” and set them aside without a second look.
“Julia, your birthday’s next Wednesday,” he said one evening, crouching in front of her and taking her cold hand. “I booked the ballroom at the Cloudview Hotel. The whole city’s elite will
be there.”
Julia slid her hand from his and kept flipping through her magazine. “Don’t bother. I just want a quiet birthday.”
“No way,” Nathan insisted, his tone leaving no room for discussion. “You’re my wife–Julia Haskins. Your birthday should be a celebration.”
He stood up and called his assistant. “Add an island and the rights to name a star to her gifts. And transfer fifty percent of Haskins International’s shares to my wife. All of it.”
On her birthday, the Cloudview Hotel glittered like something out of a fairytale.
Crystal chandeliers scattered light everywhere. The champagne tower reached the ceiling.
Julia stood at Nathan’s side in a designer gown he’d chosen himself–every inch the perfect, intouchable doll.
“Mr. Haskins really spoils his wife,” one guest whispered.
“I heard that pink diamond is worth millions…”
“Honestly, you won’t find another man in this city who loves his wife this much…”
The gossip floated past Julia, who took a slow sip of champagne, her lips twisting into a cold, ironic smile.
A man like this? She’d rather have none at all.
The party was in full swing when the big screen, meant for Nathan’s surprise video, suddenly flashed with an incoming video call.
Nathan frowned and answered it. Instantly, Sarah’s pale, tear–streaked face filled the screen.
“Nathan… help me…” Sarah sobbed, her clothes torn, bruises everywhere. “You kept choosing me over Julia, so she sent people to hurt me. I’m scared–please, come save me. Hurry…”
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