Page 67 of Their Diamond Ring Ruse

He dragged himself up the stairs, feeling more like a shadow than ever before, and let out a heavy breath before entering his room. He could have avoided it—just like he’d avoided going anywhere near Crème. He did have other rooms that would have suited him.

But he was stuck here. Wanting the memories of her and the freedom this room had been meant to grant him. But all it had become was a prison he’d sentenced himself to.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

A WEEK LATER, Julian was home before dark for the first time since Lily had left. He’d barely had a moment to place his belongings down when the doorbell chimed. He knew who it was before he opened the door, and when he did so his mentor’s concerned expression greeted him.

‘Henry.’

‘It’s been weeks, Julian.’

It had been. He’d sent Henry’s calls to voicemail more often than not, and when he had spoken to him it had usually been to postpone whatever plans Henry had included him in.

After weeks of being cancelled on, it seemed he’d had enough.

Julian stood aside, holding the door open to allow Henry to enter. ‘I’ve been busy.’

Henry didn’t seem convinced.

Julian led him to the plush couches out on the pool terrace, where the two men sat opposite each other.

‘You’ve been busy since you were a teenager, Julian. This is about Lily, isn’t it?’

Julian looked away. Past the thick trees that offered him complete privacy and over the water.

‘Tell me the truth this time,’ Henry said, and there was a softness in his voice that made Julian grit his teeth.

Of course Henry had seen through the ruse, even though he had never said anything. Likely he’d been waiting for Julian to sort out his own mess.

He swallowed, thinking of the night he’d first seen Lily, and then he said, ‘It was just meant to be a convenient arrangement. A mutually beneficial one.’

‘It was more than that,’ Henry said, as if it was an undeniable truth.

‘Yes.’

Julian ached. He missed Lily so much it was a physical pain. He walked to the edge of the pool, staring at nothing in particular, and slid his hands into his pockets. Lily was gone. It would make no difference if he told Henry about it now. So he did. Leaving his feelings well and truly out of it.

‘Julian,’ Henry said when he’d finished, but he refused to turn around. ‘I know you love her. Look at what you did. You wanted into Zenith, wanted a deal with the man whose—for all intents and purposes—fiancée you took from right under his nose and threatened him, then blackmailed him. You made an enemy of the client you wanted to attract and I can tell part of you still wishes to destroy him. You took Lily from her home that she shared with her brother knowing what was at stake, telling yourself she’d help you get closer to Devan, accepted by him and his clique. It was never about any of that. Just admit that you wanted her from the moment you saw her. No matter what you’ve been over the years, son, you were always honest. So be honest now.’

Still Julian said nothing, because Henry was right.

‘I knew she was special when I saw you two together,’ said Henry. ‘You realise that was the first time I ever saw you smile? I’ve known you all this time and finally I got to see you happy because of her. Look at you, Julian...you’re a ghost of your former self.’

‘I do love her,’ Julian said finally, in a calm voice. ‘That’s why she had to go. I don’t deserve her.’

‘Julian...’

‘Don’t tell me it’s not true. You’re right. I’m not happy. But I couldn’t take her happiness away for my own.’

‘Did she tell you she was unhappy?’ Henry challenged.

‘She didn’t need to. I had a reminder of who I really am, and I couldn’t do that to her. I failed my mother, Henry. What if I do the same to her?’

The visit with Vincent was still fresh in his mind. Though he never intended to see the man again, his medical bills had been steadily flowing to him. They kept the wound open. Wouldn’t let that last interaction fade into the background.

‘What sort of reminder?’

‘I saw Vincent.’ Julian glanced over his shoulder to see the frown on Henry’s face replaced by something fiercer. Anger.

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