Julian's POV
I paced the length of my bedroom, my heart rate refusing to settle. Every time I reached the window, I looked down at the driveway, even though I knew she was already gone. What was she doing right now? Sitting across from him, laughing at his jokes, and maybe letting him touch her hand or kiss her again again? The thought was a physical weight in my chest, a pressure that made it hard to breathe.
I had tried to be the "good son." I had followed Richard's script. I had stood on that stage, kissed Lucy, and protected the Vaughn name just like he demanded. And what had it gotten me? I was sitting in a gilded prison while my woman was seeking comfort in the arms of a man who looked like he'd never followed a rule in his life. By playing Richard's game, I had become the villain in her story.
