Chapter 1045
Ethan let out a low whistle. “Damn. Now that looks like the Sterling heiress. Dad’s going to have a heart attack, but I love it.”
“Mr. Vance is here to see you, Miss Skye,” the butler announced from the doorway.
Skye’s heart slammed against her ribs.
Julian.
She turned toward the foyer.
Julian Vance walked into the room wearing a perfectly tailored light grey suit. He wasn’t in a wheelchair, though he leaned lightly on an elegant silver-tipped cane. He seemed taller, straighter than she could have ever imagined, his face possessing a healthy color she had only ever dreamed of seeing.
He held a small black velvet box in his right hand.
“Happy birthday, Skye,” Julian said. His voice was smooth and warm, gentle as a summer breeze—stripped entirely of the cynical, sharp edge of the Julian she knew.
Skye stared at him. The dam broke.
𝘔𝗼rе 𝘯𝘰𝘷e𝗹𝘀 𝗼𝘯 𝘨𝖺𝗹𝘯ov𝘦l𝘴.𝖼𝘰𝗺
The tears she had held back for Ethan spilled over for Julian. In reality, Julian was broken, hiding in the mountains, coughing up blood. Seeing him like this—vibrant, healthy, whole—was a physical ache in her chest.
Julian’s brow furrowed in concern. He didn’t rush to her side, but his gaze was intense, as if trying to solve a puzzle from across the room. He took a few measured steps forward and reached out, his warm thumb gently wiping a tear from her cheek.
“Hey,” Julian murmured, his eyes searching hers. “What’s wrong? Are you not happy to see me?”
“No,” Skye choked out, leaning into his touch. His skin was so warm. “I’m just… I’m just so happy. You look so healthy.”
“I am healthy,” Julian smiled—a soft, indulgent expression. He opened the velvet box.
Inside, resting on black satin, was a breathtaking ruby necklace. The stones were cut perfectly, catching the morning light and throwing red prisms across the room.
Skye recognized them instantly. The same rubies she had seen in the Vance underground vault in reality, the ones locked away in darkness. But here, they were symbols of joy.
“Turn around,” Julian instructed softly.
Skye obeyed. She felt his warm fingers brush against the nape of her neck as he fastened the clasp. The metal was cool, but his touch left a trail of warmth on her skin.
She turned back to face him. They caught their reflection in the large antique mirror on the wall.
They looked perfect. The healthy, powerful Vance heir and the beautiful Sterling heiress. A fairy tale.
But as Skye stared at the mirror, a cold prickle of unease crawled up her spine. It was too perfect. Her subconscious, hardened by betrayal and war, began to sound a faint alarm.
She looked up at Julian’s flawless face.
“Julian,” Skye asked casually, keeping her voice light. “Did you take your medication this morning?”
Julian froze.
It was only a fraction of a second, but Skye caught it. The warmth in his eyes vanished, replaced by a blank, mechanical emptiness. The muscles in his jaw locked.
“What medication?” Julian asked. His smile returned, but it didn’t reach his eyes. It looked pasted on. “I’m perfectly healthy, Skye.”