Chapter 36
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But of course, Edward’s son–in–law Julian was no ordinary man, no one to be easily intimidated or controlled by a mere show of authority.
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Julian’s status as the CEO of Galloway Group and heir to the Galloway family was more than enough to overshadow Edward, who was merely a coward who had climbed the ladder of success thanks to his wife’s family.
Edward’s smile faltered, his lips stiff, unable to hide the tension coursing through him. His attempts to assert himself were futile in the face of Julian’s unwavering presence.
Even Rosalie hadn’t anticipated that Julian would bring up the matter so pointedly. She watched him, his face set in a serious expression, and for a moment, she felt a swirl of emotions she couldn’t quite place.
At that moment, the sharp voice of the maid, Hollie, broke the uncomfortable silence. “Mr. and Mrs. Graham, Mr. and Mrs. Galloway, dinner is served.”
The warning had been delivered, and Julian didn’t press the matter any further. He hadn’t even realized the simmering anger that had been coiled inside him earlier, a raw, uncontrollable surge that had come to the surface when he had warned Edward.
It was the same surge of anger that had flared up the moment he just got here and saw Edward raise his hand to slap Rosalie.
That was when Julian had felt the impulse to act, and he knew deep down that had that slap landed, he might have been capable of turning Graham Villa upside down.
“I’ll go wash my hands first,” Rosalie murmured, making her escape toward the bathroom, her footsteps quick and deliberate. She needed to distance herself from the whirlwind of emotions Julian had stirred within her.
Once inside the bathroom, she stood before the mirror, staring at her reflection. Her delicate features stared back at her, but her thoughts were anything but composed.
Earlier, as she watched Julian defend her so fiercely in front of the Grahams, something inside her had cracked. Beneath the calm mask she wore, waves of confusion and disbelief crashed against her.
She had come to Graham Villa with a clear purpose–ready to deliberately provoke Claudia and Helena, armed only with her wit and resolve. She had prepared herself to fight alone, knowing she could handle them on her own.
She never expected someone to stand by her side, to be her ally in the midst of her battle.
What surprised her even more was that the person who had unexpectedly become her shield was Julian–the man who, even after a year of marriage, hadn’t shown her much attention, the man who had once wished for her death in the past life.
And just a few days ago, Julian had handed her a divorce agreement.
She stared at her reflection for what felt like an eternity, lost in thought until her legs grew numb from standing too long. When she finally snapped back to reality, she turned away from the mirror and exited the bathroom, her mind still tangled in the complexity of her emotions.
