Maya couldn't stop shaking—not from fear, but from the emotional whirlwind that Evan's unexpected appearance had unleashed.
She sat on the edge of the massive grey velvet couch, holding a glass of water Julian had given her. Her fingers trembled slightly around it. She didn't understand how a marriage could die so quickly, and yet still leave such heavy aftershocks.
Julian stood a few steps away, watching her the way someone watches a fragile piece of art—carefully, respectfully, but with a strange intensity.
"I'm sorry," he said again.
She shook her head. "It's not your fault."
"No," he murmured, "but I should've predicted Evan would try something like this."
She frowned up at him. "How? You're not my bodyguard."
His jaw clenched. "No. But I take responsibility for people who don't deserve pain."
That sentence struck deep.
Silence fell between them—thick, emotional, unspoken.
Maya looked down at her shaking fingers. "I didn't expect it to hurt this much."
Julian walked to her slowly, almost cautiously, as if afraid she might break if he moved too fast.
"It will hurt," he said gently, sitting beside her. "But hurt is not weakness. Hurt only means you're human."
Maya let out a painful laugh. "Is that why I can't stop feeling stupid?"
Julian's eyes locked onto hers. "You're not stupid. You were loyal. That's not weakness—it's purity. Unfortunately, my brother didn't deserve it."
Her eyes softened. "You really hate him right now, don't you?"
Julian exhaled. "No. I resent him. Hate is too easy. Resentment is harder—it lingers."
Maya swallowed. "Did… did he ever love me?"
Julian looked at her for a very long time.
"I think he loved the comfort you gave him," Julian said quietly. "Not the woman."
Then deeper: "He never deserved the woman."
Her chest tightened.
Julian's gaze didn't waver. "You deserve someone who would burn the world before letting you feel abandoned."
The air changed.
Too intimate.
Too intense.
Too… dangerous.
Maya looked away quickly.
She didn't trust her emotions around Julian—not because he was untrustworthy, but because he could see straight through her walls with terrifying clarity.
He stood. "I need to show you something."
She blinked up at him. "Show me?"
"Yes." He extended his hand. "Come."
She took it. His grip was firm and warm, grounding her again.
He led her into his private office, a sleek room with tall windows and shelves filled with files and leather-bound books.
On the desk lay a folder with her name printed on it.
She froze.
"What… what is that?"
Julian stepped beside her, opening the folder. "Information I gathered after the wedding."
Her heart skipped. "You investigated me?"
He didn't flinch. "No. I protected you."
She stared at him, confused.
Julian flipped the pages. "This is about Lena."
Her stomach churned. "I don't want to talk about her—"
"You need to," Julian said sharply. "Because there's something you don't know."
He took out a paper and handed it to her.
Maya scanned it.
Her breath stopped.
It was Lena's bank record.
A recent transaction—
₦70 million
From Evan Hartfield
To Lena Morel
Her mouth fell open. "What… what is this?"
"Payment," Julian said darkly. "For her silence. And her involvement."
"Involvement in what?"
Julian's eyes hardened. "In destroying your wedding."
Maya's heart thudded painfully. "What are you saying?"
"I'm saying," Julian stepped closer, "that Lena didn't accidentally seduce Evan. She was paid to push him. Manipulate him. Convince him to leave."
Maya felt her vision blur. "Why would he… why would Evan do that?"
Julian took a deep breath.
"He didn't want to marry you, Maya. He was afraid. He felt pressured by the families, by tradition, by me… by everything." Julian's voice lowered. "So instead of ending things like a man, he sabotaged everything and let Lena be the villain."
Her chest ached. "Why didn't he just tell me he didn't want to get married?"
"Because you wouldn't have made him look like a victim." Julian's voice was sharp with disgust. "But leaving you at the altar? That made everyone pity him. It made people think you were the reason."
Her tears finally spilled. "He made it my fault."
Julian caught her chin, lifting her face gently. "Look at me."
She looked.
"You are not the villain," Julian whispered. "You are the survivor of a coward's choices."
The words shattered something inside her.
"But that's not all," Julian said, releasing her gently.
He walked to the desk and picked up another document.
"This," he held it up, "is the real reason I brought you here."
Maya held her breath.
Julian approached her slowly—carefully—as if carrying something fragile.
"I'm offering you something," he said quietly. "A contract."
Her eyebrows knit. "What kind of contract?"
"One that protects you," Julian said. "One that rebuilds your image. One that destroys the narrative Evan is trying to spread."
"What narrative?" she asked, dread settling in.
Julian's jaw tightened. "Evan told the press that you abandoned him. That you left him during the ceremony. That you panicked."
Maya's eyes widened. "He lied?"
"He lied," Julian confirmed. "He's making you look unstable. Like you were the reason the wedding collapsed."
Her breath trembled.
Julian took her hand.
"I won't let him do that to you."
"Then what is this contract?" she whispered.
Julian looked into her eyes—deep, unblinking.
"It's a partnership," he said slowly. "A six-month public agreement where you stand beside me. As someone important. Someone protected. Someone untouchable."
Her heart pounded. "You want me to date you?"
His lips twitched.
"No," he said softly.
"I want the world to think you're with me."
She froze.
This was big. Huge. Dangerous.
"Why me?" she whispered.
Julian stepped closer—so close she felt the warmth radiating off him.
"Because you need protection," he murmured.
"And I need a reason to destroy my brother's lies."
Her breath hitched.
"And," Julian added softly, "because I trust you more than any woman who's ever crossed my path."
Her heart flipped painfully.
This was insane.
Impossible.
Reckless.
But also the first chance she'd had to reclaim her dignity.
"What if I say yes?" she whispered.
Julian's expression darkened with something unreadable.
"Then," he said slowly, "your life changes. Mine changes. And Evan won't be able to breathe without tasting regret."
Maya swallowed. "And if I say no?"
Julian dropped his gaze briefly.
"Then I'll still protect you," he said quietly. "Just from a distance."
Her chest tightened.
Julian Hartfield—untouchable billionaire, cold CEO, iron-hearted businessman—was offering her a choice no woman on earth had ever been given.
A choice Evan never gave her.
A choice to rise.
A choice to be powerful.
A choice to rewrite the story.
Maya looked at the contract in her hands.
Julian watched her silently—waiting.
Her voice came out as a whisper:
"Julian… I don't know what to choose."
He stepped closer, his voice barely a breath.
"Then let me help you choose," he murmured.
"I will never abandon you. I will never humiliate you. I will never choose anyone else over you."
His eyes burned into hers.
"Not even for a moment."
Maya's heart slammed painfully.
This wasn't fake anymore.
Not for him.
Not for her.
And deep down… both of them knew it.