Niamh couldn’t help but laugh at her own words–they sounded ridiculous, even to her.
Jonathan… when had he become so calculating, so selfish, so obsessed with status? Or maybe she’d gotten him wrong from the very beginning. Had she just been blinded by first love, swept up in that adrenaline–charged rush people get when thrown together by chance and circumstance?
She didn’t know anymore.
The truth was, Jonathan felt like a stranger now. And honestly, she didn’t care to get reacquainted.
“I’m not your backup plan, Jonathan. People don’t magically get back together in real life–that only happens in cheap romance novels.”
Her voice was colder than the rain battering down around them.
Getting back together is just something that happens in stories-
Elmer had told him the exact same thing once.
Jonathan’s hands curled into fists as he watched Niamh walk away, her figure slowly swallowed by the downpour as she climbed into a white BMW parked nearby.
The spot she left didn’t stay empty for long. A red Ferrari zipped in, its paint gleaming even under the gray assault of rain.
Jonathan scowled at the sight of it.
When the driver’s door opened and Julian stepped out, umbrella in hand, Jonathan’s glare only deepened.
“Here to gloat?” Jonathan’s words were sharp, brittle.
“Yes,” Julian replied, without missing a beat.
In truth, he was here to congratulate Niamh–for becoming the largest shareholder of The Thomas Group. He hadn’t expected, though, to arrive at her office and catch her and Jonathan arguing in the storm. He couldn’t make out the words, but it was obvious who’d been dumped.
Julian couldn’t help himself–he laughed, loud and genuine.
Never thought I’d see the day, Jonathan… Losing your company, dumped in the
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Chapter10
rain… can’t say I’m not enjoying this.”
The contrast between Julian’s smile and Jonathan’s twisted expression was striking.
Jonathan’s face was a mask of hatred–hatred aimed squarely at Julian.
He remembered, all too clearly, that back in Blackspire, Niamh had barely finalized their divorce before she was seen with Julian. That’s why, when Niamh was hounded online, bankrupted, and left with nowhere to turn, he hadn’t lifted a finger to help. He wanted her to hit rock bottom. He thought–no, he was sure–she’d come crawling back, full of regret.
He’d always believed Niamh couldn’t live without him.
How wrong he’d been.
Jonathan’s jaw clenched so tightly his teeth ached.
“If it hadn’t been for you, Julian, I never would’ve treated Niamh that way. She wouldn’t hate me now.”
Julian just shrugged, a cold smile tugging at his lips. “Jonathan, you can’t even admit you’re an asshole, and now you’re trying to pin your mess on me? Honestly, I never understood what Niamh saw in you. She used to say I couldn’t measure up to you… But if it weren’t for me, Niamh would’ve died at the abandoned dock in Blackspire.”
“What did you say?” Jonathan took a step forward, his voice low and dangerous. “What about the abandoned dock? Tell me exactly what happened–why was Niamh even there?”
“How should I know?” Julian shot back, just as baffled as he’d been that night. But whatever had happened, he’d saved Niamh’s life.
“I got photos sent to me from her phone–the background was the old dock. I was worried, so I went looking for her. Found her unconscious, soaked through like she’d just dragged herself out of the bay. She was hurt–her wrists were all scraped, like she’d been tied up…”
As Julian spoke, a memory flashed through Jonathan’s mind: the video call Daniel had made to him, back when he’d kidnapped Marina.
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Chapter 517
Chapter 517
