Chapter 4

Natalie's POV

The next morning, I waited for Julian in the living room.

He hadn't come home all night. When he finally walked through the front door, he carried the crisp chill of the morning air. Seeing me on the sofa, he blinked in surprise.

"Why are you up so early?"

"Julian," I looked straight into his eyes. "What exactly is going on between you and Sharon?"

Julian’s hand froze mid-motion as he took off his coat. Then, he continued calmly, his tone completely dismissive. "What are you talking about? She's my colleague. She's new to the team, so I'm mentoring her."

"So mentoring includes bringing her back to your private penthouse?" My voice was unnervingly level. "Last night after the gala, I watched you carry her upstairs. The lights on the third floor stayed on all night."

Julian spun around, his face instantly darkening.

"You followed me?"

"I didn't follow you," I replied. "I just saw it."

"Natalie, can you stop being so disgusting?" Julian’s voice turned biting and cold. "Sharon was drunk. I took her somewhere safe to sleep it off. It’s that simple. Can you clear the filth out of your mind for once?"

"Filth?" I looked at him and let out a soft, humorless laugh. "Julian, you think I'm the disgusting one?"

"The wedding happens as planned," Julian cut me off ruthlessly. "Stop making a scene. When you're done throwing your tantrum, go focus on the wedding prep."

Without waiting for a response, he headed upstairs without sparing me a second glance.

I sat on the couch, watching his retreating back, my hands slowly clenching into fists.

Three days later, Julian dragged me out onto the second-floor terrace of the Sterling villa.

"You stole Sharon's watch, and then you used it to threaten her into staying away from me?" Julian’s grip on my wrist was brutal, tight enough to shatter my bones. "Natalie, when did you become this venomous?"

"I didn't steal her damn watch!" I struggled against his grip, but couldn't break free. "Julian, let go of me!"

"Let go?" Julian scoffed cruelly. "You pull a pathetic stunt like this, and you want me to let you go?"

On the other side of the terrace, Sharon stood shivering, her face pale, tears pooling in her wide eyes.

"Julian, please, just stop..." Her voice trembled as she backed away toward the railing. "It's all my fault... I shouldn't have worn the watch... Natalie, I'm sorry, I won't press charges, please just don't be mad..."

As she took another step back, her heel hit the low stone ledge.

"Sharon, watch out!" Julian’s face drained of color. He violently shoved my wrist away and lunged toward her.

He charged with such violent force that his shoulder slammed heavily into mine.

Off balance, my foot caught empty air. I flipped over the terrace railing.

I heard Sharon's piercing scream. I heard Julian yell my name. And then came the deafening, bone-crushing impact against the stone patio below.

Agony tore through my right leg like a chainsaw slicing directly through the bone.

I lay on the ground, staring at the gray sky above, drifting between consciousness and blinding pain.

Footsteps pounded toward me. People were screaming commands. But the sounds faded into white noise.

When I opened my eyes again, I was in a hospital bed.

A heavy plaster cast encased my right leg, extending all the way from my mid-thigh down to my toes.

The attending surgeon stood beside my bed. Seeing me awake, he let out a heavy sigh.

"Comminuted fracture of the right tibia," he said gently. "You'll need strict bed rest for at least three months. Whether your leg can ever fully regain its original function... I cannot guarantee."

Three months.

I stared blankly at the acoustic tiles on the ceiling, unable to make a sound.

The door to the private room pushed open.

Julian stood in the doorway, his complexion ghostly pale. His lips parted slightly as if he wanted to speak.

He didn't step inside.

He just stood there, looked at my cast for three seconds, and then turned around and walked away.

The door clicked shut behind him, leaving me completely alone once more.

The cast felt suffocatingly heavy and freezing cold, pinning me down like a tombstone.

Strangely, there was no hatred left in my chest.

Hate requires too much energy. I didn't even have the strength left to despise him.

There was only a hollow, biting numbness spreading from the soles of my feet straight to my heart.

I knew that starting today, there was nothing left between Julian Sterling and me. Not even ashes.