The Comments Called Me the Villain, Then He Asked Why I Stopped Kissing Him Chapter 08

The Comments Called Me the Villain, Then He Asked Why I Stopped Kissing Him Chapter 08

After the meeting, I deliberately hung back – fell into step with one of his junior assistants, kept the conversation light, laughed at something he said. 

Julian stopped mid–hall and turned, offering his arm. “Baby was I walking too fast?” Every dead–eyed employee in the hallway snapped to attention. With that many people staring, I had no choice – I took his arm the way I always did. 

The second we were inside his office, I dropped his 

arm. 

I settled onto the couch, snapped a photo of my meeting notes, and sent them to Simon. [Thanks, 

Simon.] 

Julian appeared behind me without a sound. “I’m standing right here. Why are you asking him?” 

“You’ve got a million things going on – I’d just slow you down.” I grabbed an apple from the bowl on his desk. “Here, let me cut this up for you.” 

Julian took the knife from me. He set it down. His eyes 

were black, bottomless, unblinking. “Vivienne 

do 

you… do you not want me anymore?” The last few words barely made it past his throat – his voice had gone rough as gravel. 

“What?” The word slipped out before I could think. 

“There’s someone else, isn’t there.” It wasn’t really a question. “Is it Simon?” 

“Of course not.” 

“Then who?” Julian lowered himself to his knees in front of the couch until his eyes were level with mine. “You don’t care about me anymore. But you still get dressed up every day – smiling, laughing with 

everyone else.” 

I glanced down at the mismatched outfit I’d thrown on half–asleep that morning. This was dressed up? 

“Vivienne. Do you regret choosing me?” 

That question again. And this time – after everything the comments had shown me – I couldn’t pretend the 

answer was simple. 

“I gave you my first kiss when I was sixteen. You lured 

me into a hotel the day I turned eighteen.” 

“I gave you my first kiss when I was sixteen. You tricked me into a hotel the day I turned eighteen.” 

“You can’t stand being away from me, so I haven’t taken a single business trip in years. Your parents left you that company, and I’ve been running it under your name even though it’s a direct competitor to mine – even though my entire family told me I was out of my 

mind.” 

“I gave you everything. You don’t get to leave.” 

“If it’s too much if you’re tired of all this – just give my parents‘ company back to me. Simon and I can take 

it from here.” 

This was always going to happen. The plot demanded 

it. 

“Simon again.” Julian’s smile was thin and broken. “That company is ours – yours and mine. I’m not letting go of it, and I’m sure as hell not handing it to 

him.” 

“Baby, I’m not breaking up with you. So whoever Simon thinks he is – he’s the side piece. That’s all 

he’ll ever be.” 

Wait – who said anything about breaking up? Nobody. 

Literally no one brought that up. 

A knock sounded at the door. Audrey stepped in, took 

one look at Julian on his knees in front of me, and backed right out. “I’m so sorry, Mr. Hayes – I’ll come 

back.” 

[The side character is ALWAYS cockblocking the plot, 

omg. The ML and FL better not misread each other 

because of this.] 

[What’s there to misunderstand?? The ML and the side character are literally together right now. That’s the 

situation.] 

[Real talk though – the FL is basically middle management by now. Why hasn’t the ML dumped the side character yet?? He’s STILL running her company for her and not even complaining about it.] 

[Bro, did you not just read that scene?? The ML is the one refusing to break up. He literally pulled the “everyone else is just a side piece” card. HE’S the one holding on.] 

[Julian is UNHINGED with jealousy!! I don’t care if I get flamed for this – you don’t act this crazy over 

someone you don’t love. That’s not possessiveness, that’s FEELINGS.] 

[That take is so unhinged your ancestors are rolling in their graves… but honestly? I kinda agree.]