Page 59 of Their Diamond Ring Ruse

‘Suit yourself.’ Vincent dropped into a couch, taking a swig from a half-empty bottle of whisky, watching them. He looked at Lily. ‘What are you doing with him, sweetheart?’

‘Don’t you dare talk to her,’ Julian growled.

He was burning. Burning from the inside out. Every shout and echoing through time in his head.

‘Then what do you want?’

‘For you to listen.’

Lily squeezed his fingers—a tether so that his fury didn’t sweep him away.

‘I left this place intending never to see it again, but the idea of you living your life in peace after what you did to my mother is not acceptable.’

Vincent scoffed, but Julian ignored him.

‘I want you to admit what you did. What you did to my mother. Not just the beatings, but drinking away any money for her cancer treatment, what you did to me...all of it. I want you to take responsibility and then tell me why.’

Vincent huffed a remorseless laugh.

There was true evil in this world, Julian thought, and he had been raised by it. He never should have brought Lily here. Bright, sunny Lily, in her violet dress, with her loving heart and empathetic soul. She should never have had to set foot in this hell.

She let go of his hand and pressed herself into his side. Her arm moved around his waist and his around her shoulders.

Vincent’s eyes narrowed.

‘You want me to admit to what I did? What was that? Teach a runt some manners? Encourage my wife to behave as she should?’

Julian’s hands curled into fists.

‘Easy...’ Lily whispered beside him.

‘Maybe I was tough on you both, but look at you now.’

‘Tough? You call what you did being tough? You killed her. You know that, don’t you?’

Julian’s voice was low and menacing. Anyone else would be cowering.

‘What help were you?’ Vincent threw back. ‘All that intelligence and still your mother died. What use were you?’

Julian had no defence. Those were questions he had asked himself time and time again. Selfishly, he’d wanted time away from this house. Away from the bickering and abuse. And instead of using that time as he knew he should have, he’d just looked for an escape. He was just as responsible.

‘You think you’re so much better than me, boy? You forget I raised you. We’re the same. Don’t think I didn’t see the enjoyment on your face that day.’

The day he’d fought back. As surprised as he’d been, he had enjoyed it. For a moment he’d made Vincent hurt and he’d revelled in it. Played it back in his mind several times in the days and weeks that had followed. A savage smile curling his lips every time he thought of it.

‘I’m nothing like you, old man. I’m not the one who beat a woman and a child. I made something of my life.’

Vincent took another swig of whisky and the motion had Julian wanting to grab the bottle and shatter it across the wall.

‘Maybe you did, but you’re still a monster—no matter how fancy your suits or how rich you are. Remember that.’

‘You’re wrong.’

‘Lily, don’t.’

He frowned when she ignored him.

‘He isn’t a monster. He has never been one. But I can see all the lies you tried to fill his head with for so many years. I’m glad we came here today, so he could see exactly what he left behind. Exactly what he isn’t.’

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