He Sold My Future to Please Her, I Bought My Freedom With His Money Chapter 06

He Sold My Future to Please Her, I Bought My Freedom With His Money Chapter 06

Julian didn’t leave Oakhaven. Every day, he was outside my building.

Everywhere I went, he followed — never close enough to reach, just close enough that I’d know he was there.

I acted like he was invisible. That weekend, Mark asked me out to lunch at a place nearby.

The restaurant sat at the end of a quiet side street. The moment we took our seats, I spotted Julian through the window.

He was standing in the wind, his shirt rippling. Mark followed my gaze.

“Valerie, do you know that guy? He’s been out there a while.”

“No.” I looked away.

After lunch, we stepped outside.

Julian was in front of us before we could react, eyes locked on Mark.

“Who the hell is this?” Julian’s voice was low and tight.

“None of your business.”

“Is this why you’re divorcing me?” Julian jabbed a finger at Mark.

“Because of him?”

He crossed the distance in two strides and grabbed my wrist — hard enough to hurt.

“Let go of me.” I tried to wrench free.

“I’m not letting go until you tell me what the hell is going on!” His teeth were clenched, his eyes bloodshot.

Mark stepped between us. “Hey, let her go. Now. Or I’m calling the cops.”

Julian laughed — ugly and sharp.

“Who do you think you are? This is between me and my wife.”

His fist came up — aimed straight at Mark’s face.

“Julian!” The name tore out of me.

He froze mid-swing and turned.

“Are you done?” I wrenched my wrist free while he was still frozen.

“You think showing up here and playing the heartbroken husband is going to fix this?”

“I’m not playing anything. I know I screwed up.” His voice cracked at the edges.

“Come home with me. Please. I can’t do this without you.”

I almost laughed.

“What about Chloe? Wasn’t she supposed to take over everything? Weren’t you going to train her yourself?”

Something tightened in his face at her name.

“She doesn’t know a damn thing. The moment you pulled the code access, the whole project fell apart. Clients are showing up at the office every day ready to tear us to pieces — I’m barely holding it together.”

“I’ll fire her today. Right now. Just come back.”

“So that’s what this is about. You didn’t come here for me — you came for the project.”

“No! I came for you!” He lunged for my hand.

A voice cut through from the end of the alley.

“Mr. Sterling!” Chloe stumbled toward us, dragging a suitcase, gasping for air.

Tears were streaming down her face. “Mr. Sterling, I’ve been looking everywhere — how could you just leave me behind?” She grabbed for his arm.

Julian ripped his arm away. His face was white with rage.

“Who said you could follow me here? Get out of my sight!”

Chloe fell to the ground. She stared up at Julian, stunned — then her eyes snapped to me, and the tears burned off into something vicious.

“Drop the act, Valerie! You’re nothing — just the woman he got tired of. You think running to Oakhaven changes that? You’re still the one who got thrown away.”

The slap rang through the alley before I even saw Julian’s hand move.

“Don’t you ever talk about her like that!” Julian’s hand was shaking as he pointed down at her.

“If you hadn’t been playing the victim every single day, none of this would’ve happened! Get on a plane and go home. Now.”

I watched the two of them and felt my stomach turn. “Let them figure this out themselves.” I looked at Mark. “Let’s go.”

Julian started after us, but Chloe threw herself around his leg. “Don’t go — I’m pregnant!” The words tore out of her, raw and desperate.

Julian went rigid. My feet stopped on their own. I turned.

Julian was staring down at Chloe like she’d detonated something. Then his eyes shot up to me — pure panic.

“Valerie, it’s not — I didn’t—”

I turned and walked out of the alley before he could finish.