Chapter 7 - The Woman Who Knew the Truth About Julian
Grace had not betrayed Julian because she hated him.
She had betrayed him because she believed she was saving him.
At least, that was what she told herself.
She arrived at the estate two days later under a white flag.
Julian refused to see her.
Nora did.
Grace sat across from her in the drawing room.
“You have no idea what you've stepped into.”
Nora smiled without humor.
“People keep telling me that.”
“You think Julian loves you.”
“I know he does.”
Grace's eyes narrowed.
“He loves like a man trained for war.”
“That doesn't make him incapable of love.”
“No.”
She looked toward the door.
“It makes him dangerous when love is threatened.”
Nora understood.
“What do you want?”
“The truth.”
Nora laughed.
“Then we're both looking for it.”
Grace reached into her bag.
She pulled out an old photograph.
Nora stared.
It showed Julian at twenty-seven.
He was standing beside Daniel.
But there was another man in the photograph.
Evan Mercer.
Nora's ex-boyfriend.
Her breath stopped.
“How?”
Grace watched her carefully.
“Your ex was never accidental.”
Nora's blood ran cold.
“What are you saying?”
“He was placed in your life.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“By whom?”
“Julian's uncle.”
Nora's mind rejected it.
“Evan hated Julian.”
“Exactly.”
“That's impossible.”
“Evan's job was to make you feel worthless.”
Nora's eyes filled.
“To isolate you.”
“Stop.”
“To ensure that when Julian appeared, you were vulnerable.”
“Stop.”
Grace leaned forward.
“He was supposed to make you distrust men.”
“He did.”
“Then Julian would become the exception.”
Nora went still.
“Why?”
“Because your father left a trust that could only be accessed if you willingly partnered with a Kang heir.”
Nora's stomach dropped.
“What?”
“Your emotional attachment to Julian was part of a plan.”
She stood abruptly.
“You're lying.”
Grace's voice softened.
“I wish I were.”
Nora left the room.
She found Julian in his office.
“You knew.”
He looked up.
“Knew what?”
“Evan.”
His expression changed.
Nora felt sick.
“You knew my ex was connected to your uncle.”
“I suspected.”
“That's not the same.”
“No.”
“Did you know he was placed in my life?”
Julian stood.
“No.”
“Did you use me?”
“No.”
“Did you approach me because of the trust?”
“At first, I approached you because of your father.”
“Which means yes.”
“I never knew about the condition.”
Nora's voice broke.
“Then why did you stay?”
“Because I loved you.”
“What if that was exactly what they wanted?”
“I don't care.”
“You should.”
Julian walked toward her.
“I can't undo how we met.”
“No.”
“But I can choose what happens next.”
She wiped her tears.
“Then choose the truth.”
He nodded.
“I will.”
He showed her the trust agreement.
Grace had been right.
The trust required Nora to designate a “family protector.”
But nowhere did it say he had to be a Kang.
The clause had been manipulated through old legal interpretations.
Julian pointed to a handwritten amendment.
“This is what my uncle wanted us to believe.”
“So the whole romance wasn't necessary.”
“No.”
He looked at her.
“I would have loved you without the money.”
She stared at him.
“I believe you.”
But before they could say more, alarms sounded.
A security guard ran into the room.
“Boss! East gate breached!”
Julian grabbed his weapon.
“How many?”
“Twenty.”
“Stay here.”
Nora shook her head.
“No.”
“Nora.”
“You told me I wasn't going to hide anymore.”
He looked at her.
Then nodded.
They moved together.
Gunfire erupted outside.
The estate became chaos.
Julian fought through the hall.
Nora moved toward the safe room.
Then she heard a scream.
Her mother's scream.
She turned.
At the bottom of the stairs stood a woman with graying hair.
Nora stared.
“Mom?”
The woman looked at her.
“Baby.”
Nora ran.
They embraced.
Her mother sobbed.
“I’m sorry.”
“You're alive.”
“Yes.”
“I thought you were dead.”
“I know.”
Julian stood behind Nora.
Her mother looked at him.
“You kept your promise.”
Julian lowered his weapon.
“I said I would.”
Her mother's eyes filled.
Then she whispered.
“Not all of them.”
Julian frowned.
“What?”
“The ledger isn't what they think.”
Nora turned.
“What do you mean?”
Her mother looked terrified.
“The money was never the secret.”
“Then what was?”
Her mother swallowed.
“Names.”
“Whose names?”
“The names of people inside the government.”
Silence.
Julian's face hardened.
“How deep?”
“Deep enough to bury you.”
“And my uncle?”
“He isn't the mastermind.”
Julian's eyes narrowed.
“Who is?”
Her mother looked toward the window.
“The man who helped Daniel disappear.”
Nora whispered.
“Who?”
May you like
Her mother answered.
“Daniel himself.”
