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Chapter 435
Chapter 435:
His eyes moved rapidly down the page through the clinical text. When they landed on the words Premature Ovarian Failure and tube removal, all the oxygen was violently sucked from the massive office.
Crawford felt as though he had been struck in the chest with a sledgehammer.
June’s face flashed through his mind — her pale features, the careful physical distance she kept from everyone, the deep, unreadable sorrow that always lingered at the back of her eyes. It wasn’t just pride. It wasn’t merely a defense mechanism built against Cole.
It was the armor of a woman who had been hollowed out and destroyed from the inside.
Julian watched Crawford’s face, convinced his strategy was working.
𝘍𝗶𝗇𝘥 ո𝘰𝗏𝘦𝗅 р𝗗F𝘀 𝗈ո 𝗴а𝘭ոо𝘃е𝘭ѕ.cо𝗺
“The Compton family will never allow a barren woman to stay,” Julian pressed, his tone urgent. “Why are you going to war with Cole over her? There are a thousand women in this city who can give you an heir p>
He waited for Crawford to nod. He waited for the cold, calculating businessman to resurface.
He didn’t.
Julian watched in stunned silence as the rims of Crawford’s gray eyes turned a raw, burning red.
The look in his eyes wasn’t rejection. It wasn’t disappointment.
It was pure, agonizing heartbreak — instantly overtaken by a wave of possessive intensity so fierce it raised the hairs on Julian’s arms.
Crawford reached out and touched the paper. He used the tip of one finger to trace the letters of June’s name with a gentleness that was almost reverent, as though touching something fragile and irreplaceable.
He lifted his head slowly and looked at Julian.
“Future?” Crawford repeated. His voice was a low, guttural rasp. A dark, self-deprecating smile twisted the corner of his mouth. “Without her, I don’t have a future p>
He stood up.
The movement was so sudden and explosive that his heavy leather chair tipped backward and crashed against the floor. He planted both hands flat on the desk and stared at Julian like a man defending something he would not surrender under any circumstances.
“Listen to me very carefully, Julian,” Crawford said, his voice vibrating with absolute, unshakeable conviction. “I do not care about an heir p>
His chest heaved.
“I do not care if she can never have children p>
He brought his fist down on the desk. The sound cracked through the room like a gunshot.
“I only want her. Even if it means the Love family bloodline ends with me — she is mine p>
Julian took a step back, genuinely shaken.
He had brought the report to extinguish the fire. Instead, he had poured gasoline directly onto Crawford’s soul.
The man was completely, irreversibly gone.
Julian stood frozen in the center of the office. The sheer force of Crawford’s declaration had paralyzed him.
Crawford didn’t look at him again. He reached down, righted his heavy leather chair, and sat back down.
The burning madness in his eyes receded, replaced by a terrifying, glacial focus. The intensity was still there, but it was now contained beneath a thick layer of tactical ice.
He reached for the secure phone on his desk and pressed a single speed-dial button.
“Get Marcus up here,” Crawford ordered. “Right now p>