his words.
Chapter 19 Leaving Harmony Villa
She shot back, “With all these reporters watching, aren’t you worried Cristina might read the news tomorrow and get hurt? What will she think when she sees you’re trying to have a child with another woman?”
Reece’s eyes flickered, just for a second.
Julissa felt a bitter ache in her chest as she thought, “So… the only one he truly cared about is Cristina.”
Despite the sting, she forced a smile, voice steady. “Sign the agreement, and in a month, we’ll be legally divorced. Then you and Cristina can be together–publicly, cleanly, no mess.”
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There was a touch of sarcastic sweetness in her voice. “If you still won’t let me go after all this, I might actually be- lieve you’ve fallen for me and regret divorcing me.”
Reece looked at her sharply.
“Never.” His response was instant. Cold. Final. No hesitation.
And just like that, he signed.
Mention Cristina, and he couldn’t move fast enough, as if afraid the delay might hurt her fragile heart.
The notary collected the documents.
Julissa exhaled deeply. But the relief she expected never came.
“You can go wherever you want,” Reece said, brushing past her, his voice cool and dismissive. “But don’t kid your- self. You’re not even qualified to be the Diaz family’s enemy.”
At the top of the stairs, he paused and turned slightly. “Zayne,” he said without looking back, “if I see a single head- line tomorrow I don’t like, the Fowler Group better be ready for the fallout.”
With that, he disappeared upstairs.
Julissa sat on the couch, a bitter taste rising in her throat.
So that was what he feared–the possibility that Cristina might hear what he’d said just now.
He wasn’t as fearless as he pretended to be.
He could still be afraid of hurting Cristina.
“Let’s go, Julie,” Zayne said quietly.
As they stepped outside Harmony Villa, Julissa knew that she’d never come back again.
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“Thanks,” she said breezily, patting Zayne’s shoulder. “Perfect timing.”
“The moment I heard your voice message, I started making arrangements,” he replied.
“Knew I could count on you.”
She doubted she’d ever cross paths with Reece again.
Zayne had brought the media not to start a scandal, but to put enough pressure on Reece to let her walk.
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Now that the plan had worked, he gave orders to ensure the reporters didn’t print a word about what happened that night.
Everything was supposed to be silenced.
But the next morning, the internet blew up anyway.
“Reece’s Secret Marriage Unveiled, Official Divorce Countdown Begins!”
a jolted up in bed, scrambling for her phone and dialing Zayne.
this your doing?!”
She assumed he’d pulled another publicity stunt.
But Zayne was just as frantic.
“No, it wasn’t me! I came into the office early to contain it. Turns out someone from the Archdale Notary Office leaked the info. They’re gone. We haven’t found them yet.”
It was like someone had poured ice water down her spine.
She just wanted a quiet divorce, not to become gossip fodder for the entire city.
“Don’t worry, Julie,” Zayne said quickly. “I’ve already reached out to the platforms. We’re blocking the story as fast as we can.”
But this was the internet. Once it was out, there was no taking it back.
Even after the news was deleted, the chatter didn’t stop.
Netizens found ways to skirt the filters–images, nicknames, phonetic codes… Anything to keep the conversation go-
ing.
The rumors spiraled. People painted Julissa as a shameless homewrecker.
They claimed she’d seduced Reece while the “real fiancée” was overseas, crawling into his bed like a snake,
Some even accused her of being a prostitute.
It got ugly.
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Julissa’s reputation tanked overnight, and with it, the launch of her new collection. They had no choice but to delay.
“I’m so sorry, Julie,” Zayne said over the phone. “I would’ve come to you right away if I could leave the office.”
“It’s fine,” Julissa replied, eyes still glued to her screen. “I just feel bad for you. We spent months preparing for the launch, and now I’ve dragged it through the mud.”
She said it with a casual tone, as if none of it mattered.
“You really don’t care?” Zayne asked, uncertain.
Julissa gave a half–smile.
“Reece’s insults were worse. These people? They’re amateurs.” She took another bite of her breakfast, pretending she wasn’t bleeding inside.
Zayne said nothing, but his heart ached for her.
He couldn’t imagine what she’d endured during those three years in the Diaz family.
“Any leads on the notary who leaked the documents?” Julissa asked.
“Not yet,” Zayne sighed. “But considering this involves both the Diaz and Fowler families, whoever did it must have powerful backing. No one would risk this kind of move alone.”
Zayne nodded. In a place like Archdale, aside from the Fowler and Diaz families, there really wasn’t a third power strong enough to pull something like this off.
“You think Reece staged the whole thing himself?”
Julissa frowned. “Reece wouldn’t pull something this petty.”
Reece might be insufferable, but he was not the type to stoop that low.
She sipped her milk thoughtfully. “Besides the Diaz Group, who else benefits from this mess?”
Zayne besitated.
“Cristina?”
With Julissa gone, Cristina now had Reece and full reign over the new launch. She was the obvious winner.
Julissa’s lips curled. “Exactly what I was thinking. Just look at how fast the internet turned on me. This wasn’t sponta- neous. Someone’s been stirring the pot.”
“I’ll trace it,” Zayne promised. “I’ll find out who’s behind this.”
After the call, Julissa finally broke.
She slid to the floor, clutching herself tightly, her untouched food cooling beside her.
Every word online felt like a dagger, ripping open wounds she thought had already scarred,
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The room was still. The carpet beneath her was soaked with silent tears.
Meanwhile, across town, Cristina was sipping coffee, relishing every insult hurled at Julissa.
“Miss, someone’s asking for you at the gate,” her assistant called.
“Tell them I’m busy.”
“It’s Shyla.”
Cristina shot up, bolting downstairs and yanking the woman inside.
“Are you out of your mind? Coming to me now–you trying to die?”
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Shyla looked wrecked, hair in disarray, eyes bloodshot. She had once been a rising star at the Archdale Notary Office. Now, she was running for her life.
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“Ms. Hurley, I had no choice. The Fowler family has men at every station and airport. I can’t escape!”
Cristina clenched her fists. “Then hide! I gave you enough money, didn’t I?”
eryone’s after me now. The Fowlers, the Diazs, even the cops. I’ve got nowhere left to go!”
he collapsed to her knees.
“You promised me, Ms. Hurley. You said as the future Mrs. Diaz, you’d protect me. Now even the Diaz family’s hunt- ing me down! You can’t just abandon me!”
Reece too? Cristina’s heart stuttered.
This whole plan–leaking the story, ruining Julissa–had been airtight. It benefited everyone.
“Why was Reece interfering now?” Cristina thought.
Shyla grabbed the hem of her dress, clinging to it desperately. “Please! Save me!”
Cristina flinched and yanked her hand away, disgust written all over her face. But she couldn’t afford to push Shyla too hard. Not yet. “Go find a motel. One of those that doesn’t ask for ID. Lay low. I’ll contact you when I’ve figured something out.”
As she shoved Shyla out the door, her gaze caught a matte black Rolls–Royce on the street.
It was Zayne’s car.
A chill slid down her spine.
She didn’t stop Shyla, only watched as the woman staggered off.
“Zayne… You walked right into this,” Cristina said.
Cristina picked up her phone, eyes as sharp as ice. “Prepare a car.”
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“Shyla, don’t blame me. You’re just another loose end,” Cristina thought.
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