Chapter 225
Chapter 226.
With that, Julia turned to Cory and scoffed, “Oh, so you’re believing me now? Just yesterday, you were saying 1 clearly did it and that I should just run away p>
Ms. Leah gasped in absolute shock, her eyes widening as she turned toward him. “Cory actually said that to you p>
Julia nodded bitterly, her gaze locked on Cory. “Yes… I was surprised as well! After all these years-we’ve been friends since childhood-and you couldn’t even believe or trust me p>
Cory flushed, shifting uncomfortably under the accusation. He held up his hands, trying to smooth over his betrayal with a weak, defensive smile.
“I was just looking out for you, Julia,” Cory insisted quickly, stepping closer. “The media is taking up the entire matter, spinning it out of control. I just wanted you to hide before things escalated any further! I was thinking about your safety p>
Julia scoffed, waving a dismissive hand in the air. “You know what? Can you please just leave as well? I don’t want any bad energy around me right now p>
“Julia, please” Cory pleaded, reaching out to touch her arm in a desperate bid to comfort her.
Before his fingers could make contact, Marcus stepped forward, his tall frame cutting between them. He glared down at Cory with a fierce, unmistakable warning in his eyes, his posture rigid and commanding. Cory froze mid- motion, the blood draining from his face. He quickly withdrew his hand, swallowing hard as he nodded in defeat.
“Okay… if that’s what you want,” Cory murmured, taking a cautious step back toward the door. “But just know I really do care about you, Julia. That was the only reason I suggested it in the first place p>
Receiving nothing but cold silence in response, Cory turned on his heel and hurried out of the room, letting the heavy oak door snap shut behind him.
Once he was gone, Ms. Leah let out a exhausted breath and turned to face Marcus. Her tone was sharp and unyielding. “Can you leave as well? My daughter needs some time alone right now p>
Julia’s brow furrowed into a deep frown. “Nope. I want him here. Just him and me alone p>
Ms. Leah paused, staring at Julia in utter disbelief. “Wait… are you telling me to leave, too p>
Julia nodded without a second thought. “Yes. Marcus was the only one who believed in me unconditionally. In fact, he acted on it and revealed the whole secret. He’s the entire reason the truth came to light today. So can you please leave, Mom? I’m sorry, but I need you to go p>
Ms. Leah’s face twisted with annoyance, offended that her own daughter was dismissing her for a bodyguard. She threw her hands up, scoffing loudly.
“Marcus did nothing!” Ms. Leah spat, her voice rising in frustration. “You keep letting this guy deceive you, Julia! What has he actually done for you? The police would have found out the truth eventually anyway. You’re putting far too much faith in him p>
Julia scoffed, her patience completely snapping. “Mom! He did everything! I don’t care about what might have happened in some alternate reality. He saved me today when no one else did p>
Without waiting for another lecture, Julia grabbed Marcus by the wrist, turned her back on her mother, and angrily walked away toward her private study. Ms. Leah stood frozen in the middle of the room, watching in disbelief as the door slammed shut, leaving her entirely alone in the sudden silence.
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As soon as the heavy study door clicked shut, the last fragile layer of Julia’s composure shattered.
collapsed into Marcus’s chest, her fingers clutching tightly at his jacket as sobs tore through her frame. Her shoulders shook violently, months of hidden exhaustion, betrayal, and fear finally spilling over into raw, unrestrained tears.
“Thank you… thank you so much,” Julia cried against his chest, her voice muffled and trembling. “I can’t even imagine what would have happened to me without you. I don’t even know what to say p>
Marcus held her firmly, his arms wrapping around her like a solid shield against the rest of the world. He gently patted her back, his touch steady and comforting amidst her storm.
“It’s nothing, Julia,” Marcus said quietly, his voice a low, grounding rumble. “I only did what I should have done. You never had to face this alone p>
Julia sniffled, pressing her face deeper into the warmth of his chest. “My own family… not a single one of them would believe me. They all turned against me so fast. Why would they do that to me, Marcus? Why p>
“Don’t waste your energy worrying about them anymore,” Marcus replied softly, resting his chin lightly atop her head. “They don’t deserve your tears, and they certainly don’t define your worth p>
They stood together in the quiet sanctuary of the room, listening to the steady rhythm of each other’s breathing as the storm inside her slowly subsided. Minutes drifted by until the heavy silence felt peaceful instead of suffocating.
Gently, Julia pulled back just enough to tilt her head up. Her tear-stained eyes locked onto his, filled with a sudden, overwhelming clarity. Before he could speak, she leaned up on her tiptoes, wrapped her arms around his neck, and pressed her lips against his in a soft, passionate kiss.
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Lucia Morh
Lucia Morh is a passionate storyteller who brings emotions to life through her words. When she’s not writing, she finds peace nurturing her garden.