His Final Betrayal Was My First Move Chapter 23

His Final Betrayal Was My First Move Chapter 23

Amelia’s long silence made Julian’s heart sink.

The night wind swept dead leaves along the street, the rustling sound mocking his all-or-nothing confession.

He hadn’t told her the whole truth. He had never planned to be just a friend. Even before her divorce, he’d had the Mercer Foundation’s legal team assess how to exploit flaws in the Whitaker Foundation’s projects and create a “moderate accident.”

If she hadn’t appeared before him with her own evidence and determination, he might have already used his capital to tear that rotten marriage apart.

Now, looking at her lowered face, a dark, possessive desire, born from generations of old money, began to stir in his heart. If she refused, if she tried to hide… he would take her back to the estate in Maine, lock the iron gates, and make sure she never saw anyone from Boston again. She would only see him.

While she had been chasing Griffin, someone else had been watching her from the shadows. That realization was like a stone tossed into still water, sending ripples through her nearly numb heart.

“I thought you were…” Her voice was soft, laced with the choked sound that follows tears. “I didn’t know… you liked me that early.”

That vulnerable response was like a beam of light, instantly splitting the darkness in Julian’s heart.

Business tactics, forced possession… those dark, twisted thoughts vanished under her tear-filled gaze.

He only felt a sharp pain in his chest, for her delayed happiness and for the years she had wasted on the wrong person. He couldn’t stop himself from stepping forward and gently pulling her into his arms.

Fine. As long as she could be happy, he could wait.

Amelia’s body stiffened for a moment, but his embrace was restrained and warm, without any aggression, only pure comfort. Her taut nerves slowly began to loosen.

“I admit I have some feelings for you,” she said against his chest, her voice muffled but clear. “But I just got out of a failed marriage. I’m seeing a therapist. I’m afraid… afraid to throw myself into a new relationship right away. Do you understand?”

Hearing the words “some feelings,” Julian was nearly overcome with ecstasy. He automatically ignored the “but” that followed. As long as there was even a little, he had ways to turn that spark into a wildfire.

He released her, stepped back, and looked seriously into her eyes. A gentle smile, capable of melting the cold Boston night, bloomed on his face.

“It’s all right,” he said softly, every word a promise. “You don’t have to start right away. You just need to have feelings for me. Then stand where you are, don’t hide, and wait for me to come to you.”

As he finished speaking, he reached out and gently wrapped his burning palm around her cold fingers.

That overwhelming warmth spread up her arm and straight to her heart. Amelia could hear the thick shell of ice she had built around herself give a sharp, cracking sound.

Just then, her phone vibrated.

She took it out. An unsaved number flashed on the screen.

But she recognized it. It was Griffin’s private number, the one he had used countless times to comfort Daphne, but had never given to her.

In the past, every time that number lit up, it meant she was about to be abandoned again.

Now, it was just a nuisance call from a stranger.

Without the slightest hesitation, Amelia swiped her thumb across the screen and silenced the call. The struggling glow was extinguished between their tightly clasped hands.

She threw the phone back into her bag and, for the first time, felt weightless.

The past was over.