The Comments Called Me the Villain, Then He Asked Why I Stopped Kissing Him Chapter 02

The Comments Called Me the Villain, Then He Asked Why I Stopped Kissing Him Chapter 02

Julian and I got together in college. I was a year ahead of him — came from money, pretty, hooked on attention, and never short on guys lining up to shoot their shot.

Julian showed up freshman year and became a campus legend overnight — perfect grades, a model-level face, and a cold, untouchable stare that made every girl on campus lose her mind.

The first time we met, I was sneaking out of a mandatory freshman assembly, and he — brand-new RA, badge and all — caught me red-handed.

I popped the lollipop out of my mouth and gave him my best smile. “Come on, cutie. I know the Dean. Let this one slide?”

His shirt was pressed to perfection — broad shoulders tapering to a narrow waist, lean muscle showing through the fabric. He was still young, but something about the way he carried himself felt older.

The shallow, face-obsessed part of me took over. I reached out and pinched his cheek before he could stop me. “You’re even hotter in person than you are in pictures.”

Julian stepped back, his face blank as ever — but the tips of his ears turned pink. “You’re older than me. Maybe act like it.”

I grabbed his sleeve and tugged like a spoiled kid. “Then don’t write me up. Please?”

Julian’s eyes flicked to my neckline for half a second before snapping away. His voice cracked. “Vivienne — you’re too… you’re way too close.”

“Wait — how do you know my name? Are you stalking me already?”

What I didn’t know yet was that our grandfathers had arranged a half-joking engagement for us when we were kids.

Nobody took it seriously — except me. I turned it into a weapon. I chased off every girl who looked his way, glued myself to his side, and started calling him hubby before we’d even had a first date.

I wore him down with pure, shameless persistence until he caved and made us official.

My parents had been workaholics when they were alive — always traveling, always in meetings. I knew love existed; I just never got enough of it.

So I grew up needy, clingy, desperate for someone to hold on to. And when my parents died — suddenly, without warning — all those cracks split wide open.

A couple of hours without Julian and I’d spiral. I made him take me to the office, kissed him whenever and wherever I wanted — no matter who was watching.

Behind closed doors, I was worse. I’d drag that buttoned-up, composed man of mine into the most ridiculous role-play scenarios — naughty nurse, cops and robbers, whatever popped into my head.

If the smallest thing went wrong, I’d melt down — tears, yelling, the whole ugly show. It cost him meetings. It cost him deals.

Eventually, everyone at the company figured it out — cold, ruthless CEO Julian was completely wrapped around his girlfriend’s finger.

So I tried something new. Julian had set up a little room for me at the office, and that afternoon, I actually stayed there. I sat there quietly, kept my hands busy with Perler beads, and didn’t make a sound.

I didn’t text him every two minutes. I didn’t bully his assistant into bringing me to his office. I didn’t demand that he drop everything to rub my shoulders, bring me snacks, or cut up fruit for me.

I didn’t call him until the sky outside had gone dark. He picked up on the second ring, and I heard him say something to the people around him before his voice came through — low, steady, the way it always was.

“Sorry, everyone — my baby’s getting antsy. You’ll have to excuse me.”

That nickname was my doing. Julian moved through life like nothing could touch him, and it drove me crazy — so I made him call me “baby” in front of other people. It wrecked his ice-king image and had no business in a boardroom, which was exactly why he’d fought me on it.

Hours into my hunger strike, he’d finally caved. Now the word rolled off his tongue like it had always belonged there. “Baby, I’ve still got a few things to wrap up. I should be done by nine-ish.”

“Julian, take your time. I’m just gonna grab an Uber home.”

The silence stretched on his end, long enough for me to feel it. The old me would never have gotten into anyone’s car but his.

I was being agreeable for once. He should’ve been relieved.

Julian’s voice tightened. “Don’t be stubborn. I’ll be done by eight. Just give me a few more minutes.”

“I already called one.”

Something shifted in his tone. “Vivienne — is this about that girl from my last project? I forgot to mention her.”

That caught me off guard — the fact that he’d bring something like that up with people in the room. I kept my voice steady. “That’s not what this is. And you don’t have to run that kind of thing by me anymore.”