She Played Weak for Sympathy, So I Walked Away Without Looking Back Chapter 02

She Played Weak for Sympathy, So I Walked Away Without Looking Back Chapter 02

Julian’s expression changed instantly, and his voice hardened.

“What happened to all the money I give you? Natalie, where did it all go?”

I let out a quiet, humorless laugh and pulled out a ledger. Every expense was recorded in black and white.

His mother’s prolonged hospital stay had cost more than sixty thousand dollars.

Replacing his car had cost a hundred and twenty thousand.

Client dinners and other business expenses had added up to another thirty-five thousand.

Then there were the medical bills he had paid for the people injured in the six previous fights he had gotten into on Camille’s behalf, totaling more than two hundred and fifty thousand dollars.

My own pregnancy expenses and prenatal supplements were listed at the very bottom. The amount was almost pitiful by comparison, less than three thousand dollars.

Julian’s frown deepened.

“What about the company’s cash?”

“The last project collapsed, and we used most of it to cover the losses. The rest is tied up in a long-term CD, so I can’t access it.”

My voice remained quiet.

“You’ve been so busy taking Camille to therapy that you forgot what was happening at your own company?”

Camille began crying even harder. Julian tried to comfort her while ordering me around at the same time.

“Borrow the money for now. I’ll pay it back later. Camille is already upset enough!”

I told him to wait.

A few minutes later, I returned with a document.

“I can authorize a payment from the company account. Sign this, and accounting will transfer the money to me.”

He signed without even looking at it.

I calmly put the document away, paid the settlement for him, and turned to leave.

Behind me, Julian called out, “I’m taking Camille home first. It’s dark, and it isn’t safe for her to go home alone.”

I said nothing.

He had forgotten that I was alone too, and that I was four months pregnant. Walking by myself after dark was hardly safe for me either.

But the moment Camille needed something, everything else ceased to matter to him.

I walked home slowly, already planning to pack my things. On the way, I called my attorney.

“I tricked him into signing the divorce settlement agreement.”

The door opened a moment later.

Julian walked in looking tired, carrying a takeout bag of my favorite chicken sliders.

“You must be hungry. How did your prenatal appointment go today?”

“Everything was fine.”

“Don’t let what happened with Camille bother you.”

He paused, sounding faintly apologetic.

“Remember how Camille helped us when the company was on the verge of collapse? We owe her. Helping her now is the least we can do.”

I froze for a moment.

When the company had nearly gone under, I had sold my own patent to cover the losses. I had hidden the truth because I did not want to bruise Julian’s pride, so I had Camille deliver the funds to him instead.

I never imagined he would still believe Camille had been the one who saved him.

But I no longer wanted to explain.

Julian reached out and stroked my cheek.

“All right. This really was the last time. I promise I’ll never lose control and jump into another fight again.”

Yet when he mentioned the creep who had followed Camille, there was no hiding the vicious, murderous rage in his eyes.

I gently pulled away from him.

“You’re hurting me.”

He let go, and his voice softened.

“Come on. It’s time to sleep. The baby needs an early night too.”

He carried me to bed, made sure I drank a mug of warm bone broth, and massaged my feet for half an hour. Then he lit the calming candle he had custom-made for me.

He rested a hand gently on my stomach.

“Go to sleep, baby. Don’t kick Mommy. Daddy hates seeing her in pain.”

He had followed this same routine every night for the entire four months of my pregnancy.

A bittersweet ache settled over me.

Whenever I resented the way he always chose Camille, he would do small, tender things like this. They made it difficult for me to harden my heart against him, and I would find myself wanting to give him one more chance.

My gaze drifted toward the divorce settlement agreement in the drawer.

If he kept his promise and this truly was the last time, perhaps I could give him that chance.

At one in the morning, a phone suddenly blared through the room.

I jolted awake, but Julian answered before I could react.

Hysterical sobbing came through the speaker.

“Okay, don’t panic. I’m coming right now!”

Julian threw on his coat and rushed out the door.

“What happened?”

“Something happened to Camille. I need to check on her.”

My chest tightened. Despite his objections, I followed him.

“I’m going with you. I need to make sure you don’t start another fight.”

His expression darkened.

“I won’t.”

When we arrived at Camille’s house, Julian pulled out a key and unlocked the door.

Camille was wearing a sheer lace nightgown. She threw herself into Julian’s arms, her voice raw with terror.

“Julian, thank God you’re here. A man climbed through my window. I was terrified…”

“But I fought him off. I didn’t drag you into it this time!”

“Don’t worry. I’m here now.”

Julian gently rubbed her back.

“You did exactly what you were supposed to do.”

Camille smiled through her tears.

“Only because the self-defense techniques you taught me worked.”

I spoke quietly.

“Where is the man now?”