Page 51 of Julian's Curse

Is Lucie Benton, Girlfriend of Billionaire Julian, Reigniting Romance with Pop Star James Stone?

Abortion Before Breakup: Love Rekindled for Lucie Benton with Pop Star James Stone?

Too Many Men in Lucie Benton’s Life: Who’s the Father?

James Stone Writes Music for His Muse, Lucie Benton: A Love That Never Faded

I didn’t think it was possible to get myself into a more embarrassing situation, let alone have it play out in front of the whole world. I’d need a hazmat suit just to navigate my own life at this point. And with all these scandals swirling around, the chances of Julian coming home were about as likely as me winning the lottery. I knew his personality, and that he always pulled away when he was hurt.

Anxious, I texted him again.I love you. I need to tell you what really happened. I did not get an abortion.

But there was no answer. Julian was usually glued to his phone, and it never took him long to reply, so his silence spokevolumes. He was definitely pissed. As my stomach was more sensitive these days, my nausea hit once again. I grabbed the Preggie Pops—bonbon-like candies Sophie had sent me through Amazon—hoping they’d offer some relief. But just seeing them made me think about Sophie’s situation, and whether she was even still alive. The thought pushed me over the edge, and I broke down into uncontrollable sobs, my fear for her life reaching unbearable levels.

At that moment, a knock echoed at the door. For a brief instant, I let myself believe it might be her—maybe, just maybe, God, in whatever form I understood Him (which wasn’t much), would finally free me from this endless nightmare. I hurried to the door, my face swollen and flushed. Eager to see her, I checked the camera, only to feel a surge of frustration as I saw who stood on the other side. The sudden realization that it wasn’t Sophie hit me like a blow, and the identity of my unexpected visitor only deepened the shock.

It was James Stone. From the looks of it, he was alone—or at least, there was no sign of his security entourage. He looked just as I remembered, though now he carried a bit more of that boy band pop star flair, the kind of polished charm that seemed to radiate from famous people. What the hell was he doing here?

In haste, I threw on a floral bathrobe to cover my undergarments—barely enough to be decent, but it was all I could manage in the rush. After all, he’d seen more of me before.

“James,” I popped the door open.

“Jesus, Lucie, you could have at least given me a warning.” A subtle smile tugged at the corners of his lips, his voice light and unruffled. It was clear that the news hadn’t fazed him in the slightest. James had always been different from the others—where most would react with shock, curiosity, or judgment, he remained stoic. Whether it was a personal scandal, a new piece of juicy gossip, or the latest school drama, he approached it allwith a detached calm, as though he were an outsider watching the frenzy unfold from a distance, unaffected by the tide of opinions that swept through the crowd.

“I didn’t realize the press knew about my trip to the clinic, but it’s not what the headlines say,” I muttered, feeling the weight of it. I figured that’s what he was referring to—his name dragged into the mess, now linked to an abortion.

“I’m sorry they found out, Lucie,” his gaze swept over me before scanning the apartment, as if looking for signs of how my life had shifted since he left.

“James, it wasn’t the wisest thing for you to come here,” I pointed out.

His sharp eyes met mine, intense and unflinching. “I needed to see you, Lucie. We’ve always had a sixth sense about each other. And from the looks of it, you aren’t alright.”

I sighed. “Not when you were seeing Andrea,” I retorted. I needed to remind him of why our relationship ended. Pinpricks of anger vibrated beneath my chest.

“I was an addict back then. I made a million mistakes that I regret. Can we talk?”

He looked genuinely apologetic, but I’d already accepted an apology in the past. There really was no good reason for him to come here in the first place.

I stepped back but he stepped closer, the space between us narrowing with every movement. Then, I spotted Will in the background, his expression clear—basically asking me if he should take him out. I didn’t have the heart. James was still an important person in my history, and he’d been there for me through some bad times.

“Fine,” I agreed, inviting him in for some privacy, then shut the door on Will. We needed to talk about how he was handling his PR anyway. I led him up to the kitchen, where I poured himand myself a coffee. We both drank it black, outward evidence of our intense souls. I opted for decaf.

Still standing at the counter, I initiated a conversation. “I can’t be the girl who inspires your music. It’s not fair to Julian and to me.” Momentarily, I placed my hand over my stomach. From the way things were shaping up, he’d likely be the father of my child. Deep down, I knew I was starting to love the little one in my belly—perhaps too much to ever consider ending its life.

“Lucie, don’t lie about your life. You can’t be okay here with him,” I almost thought he’d brush the tendrils from my face like he used to, but I wouldn’t have let him anyway.

“And why is that, James? Because I found happiness without you?” I could be sharp-tongued when I wanted.

Judging from his expression, I’d managed to injure him. Still, he wasn’t giving up on the conversation. “I don’t need saving.” My irritation grew.

“Maybe you don’t know you need saving,” he retorted, his tone hinting at something important. “I was at a house party yesterday, Lucie.” He began what seemed to be a story. By that, he probably meant a lavish party with a few famous people mixed in. I swallowed because I already had a good idea of where this conversation was going.

“I chatted up a girl named Jazmin Williams,” he continued. “She’s a rising model, and it’s Julian’s talent agency that represents her.”

I lifted my eyebrow. Julian owned a talent agency in Hollywood as part of his investments. Rose constantly nudged him to sell it, though it was doing exceptionally well. Unfortunately, I also knew he’d pulled quite a few past girlfriends from it.

James paused, contemplating taking a seat, but then decided against it—he hadn’t been invited. “Look, I’m worried about you.You’ve always had self-destructive tendencies, but he’s beyond that. I know about the coke.”

Acid filled my mouth, at the thought of what he was about to say next.

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