Unreturned When the Fog Cleared Chapter 18

Unreturned When the Fog Cleared Chapter 18: You’re the Outsider

“Julian Rhodes, calm down!” 1

Leo Alcott stepped in front of Thera, his expression stern. “Thera is my fiancée now.”

“Fiancée?”

Julian Rhodes whipped his head toward Leo Alcott, his anger flaring. He swung his fist, smashing it hard into Leo’s face. “I’m talking to my wife! What right does an outsider like you have to interfere? Get the hell out of my way!”

Leo staggered back from the blow, blood instantly welling at the corner of

his mouth.

He wiped the blood from his mouth, his gaze turning cold. “Julian Rhodes, get this straight! Thera chose me. We’re the ones getting married. You’re the outsider who doesn’t belong here!”

Thera immediately rushed forward to steady Leo. “Leo, are you okay?”

Watching Thera fuss over Leo, Julian felt a pain like a knife twisting in his

heart.

Thera turned to face Julian, enunciating every word. “You were the one who tricked me into signing the divorce papers! You were the one who held me down in an ice bucket, watched me struggle for my life, and still forced me to admit I was wrong! You were the one who turned around and threw that public spectacle of a wedding with Sylvia Chevalier. And you’ve even… you’ve been intimate, haven’t you?”

She paused, her tone filled with disdain.

“Why are you putting on this devoted act now? Julian Rhodes, don’t you

think you’re pathetic?”

The color drained from Julian’s face. It felt as if his chest had been

violently ripped open, agony spreading through him.

His eyes reddened instantly, his voice choked with tears. “No, Thera! That wedding was for Yara’s sake! It was fake! I never wanted to divorce you. It was my fault. I shouldn’t have been fooled by her, I shouldn’t have wronged you. I know I was wrong now. Please, just give me one more

chance?”

Thera scoffed, the scorn in her eyes intensifying. “Julian Rhodes, when you did all those things, did someone have a knife to your throat, forcing you?”

“You made your own choice! You chose not to believe me, to protect Sylvia Chevalier, and even to go through with that disgusting wedding with her!”

Her words were like daggers, each one stabbing deep into Julian’s heart.

He opened his mouth, wanting to defend himself, but found he was utterly speechless.

“Thera was right. I inflicted all this pain with my own hands. No one forced me; I was just a fool.’

Leo gently patted Thera’s shoulder and said softly, “Don’t waste any more time on him. Let’s go inside.”

Thera nodded. She looked away from Julian without a hint of reluctance, as if he were nothing more than an irrelevant stranger.

The two walked into the courtyard without a backward glance, shutting

the door with a SLAM.

They left Julian and all his regret and pleas outside.

Julian stood outside, staring at the closed gate as tears finally streamed

down his face.

‘It seems I’ve really lost her.’

‘I’ve lost the girl who once had eyes only for me, the person I should have cherished most in my life.‘

Julian remained standing outside Thera’s family gate, as if waiting there might somehow conjure a change of heart.

As night began to fall, Thera’s Grandpa walked over, carrying a fishing rod and a fish bucket.

But when he got a clear look at Julian’s face, his easygoing expression instantly hardened.

“What are you doing here?”

His tone was wary and impatient as he waved a hand to shoo him away. “Go on, get out of here! You’re not welcome!”

Julian’s heart clenched. He recognized him–it was Thera’s Grandpa.

He quickly straightened up, his voice tinged with respect and guilt. “Grandpa, I’m sorry. I… I came to see Thera.”

“Who’s your grandpa?”

“I knew you were no good from the start! After hurting my granddaughter like that, you still have the nerve to come looking for her?”

Remembering how Thera had come home with swollen red eyes and a desolate silence, Grandpa suddenly hurled the plastic bucket of fish and water right at Julian.

The overpowering stench of fish and stagnant water filled the air instantly.

Julian froze as the icy water trickled down from his collar.

“Grandpa, please don’t get so angry, it’s bad for your health… I was wrong.

You can yell at me, hit me, whatever you want. Just please let me see Thera…”

Thera’s Grandpa looked at his sorry state and frowned in disgust. “Stop being an eyesore! Now, get lost!”

With that, he walked inside without giving Julian another glance.

Julian stood there, drenched and cold and reeking of fish, but a chill far deeper had settled in his heart.