Chapter 98
The door opened before Sherry could speak, and Julian pushed past her, rushing inside. “Olivia…” He reached the living room, seeing me on the sofa. My weariness and the sudden coldness in my eyes tightened his throat. His voice was rough, I didn’t know about this morning.”
I remained impassive. “So? What do you want?”
Julian sat beside me; I moved to the opposite end of the sofa. He didn’t follow. He simply said, “Tomorrow, I’ll release a statement, clearing things up.”
Me: Clear things up? How? Will you deny your mother’s lies? Or admit your affair with Rita?”
He wanted to say that he and Rita had no engagement, no relationship, that I was his legal wife, and the hotel photos were fabricated.
I anticipated his response. “A vague explanation will only confuse people, leading to more speculation. Julian, you’re still so quick to act but slow to take responsibility.”
Julian leaned forward. “If we reconcile, over time, those speculations and rumors will disappear.”
I scoffed. The affair with Rita wasn’t a rumor. Your mother’s lies about me were the rumors. Either tell the truth, or
shut up.
Julian was speechless. People are naturally self–serving; he wouldn’t admit to an affair in public.
Sherry, who’d been listening, casually chimed in, “Julian, are you admitting your mother’s accusations against Olivia this morning were lies?”
Julian glanced at her, his dark eyes brooding. He seemed to know something but didn’t want to reveal it, simply nodding with a wry smile.“Yes.”
“Your mother was almost jailed because of Rita; now she’s defending her. Don’t you find that strange? Do you think the Crowe family, or more specifically, Rita, might be behind it?”
“Perhaps. I don’t know.”
“So you’re admitting it’s highly likely?”
“…Yes.”
“So, to sum up: your mistress, Rita, was cyberbullied because of that airport video. She wanted revenge, got your mother, either by coercion or bribery, to fabricate false accusations against Olivia, releasing a statement to clear her name and smear Olivia, right?”
“…Yes.” Julian took a deep breath. Seeing Sherry about to continue, he raised his hand.“Sherry, you have enough evidence, right?”
Sherry looked sheepish. He knew. Of course, the CEO of the Shaw Corp wasn’t an idiot. She’d been eager to lead him into a confession, and he’d sensed it. But she hadn’t expected him to willingly confess… this asshole had actually done the right thing…
I looked at Julian, my expression complex. “Let’s end this.”
“No. Rita will never let go. Today, she manipulated my mother. What about tomorrow, the day after? You don’t kill me, but I die because of you. It’s the same thing.”
