115

115
Chapter 115

For a moment, she couldn’t breathe. Her body went cold, her fingers numb against her lap.

Julian.

Standing there, tall and familiar, looking straight at her with those piercing eyes she once adored.

Was she dreaming? Was this some cruel joke?

She had run from him, fought her way out of their relationship, told herself it was over. And now, after everything, after the endless arguments, the nights of crying, the screaming matches about her career… he was here.

And he still wanted her back?

Her heart hammered against her ribs. Did he really think I was some rag doll he could toss away, only to come crawling back when it suited him?

Not this time.

She clenched her fists. She wasn’t going back. She had Desmond now. And she didn’t care how Julian would take it.
Desmond’s voice cut through my storm of thoughts.“What are you doing here? How the hell did you even find us?”

His tall frame loomed over Julian, protective, possessive, like a wall between us.

Julian didn’t flinch. He looked past Desmond, straight into Tessa's eyes.

“l didn’t come for you. I came for Tessa.” Her throat tightened.

Desmond laughed, a harsh, mocking sound that sliced through the air.

“Oh, really?”

Tessa stood frozen, her breath shallow, watching the scene unfold like a spectator in her own life.

“You want her back?” Desmond’s voice rose. “You think you can make her cry, argue with her, throw her away, and then just waltz in here when you feel lonely? Who do you think you are?”
Julian’s jaw tightened, his shoulders tensing.

“This is between her and Tessa. She knows what we’ve shared. You don’t get to rewrite our history.”

“If you really loved her, you’d let her live her life … follow her dreams,” Desmond shot back. “But you’re too selfish for that.”

Julian’s eyes flared, then softened as he turned to me. “Tessa… please. We’ve been through too much to end like this. You and I always find our way back. This can’t be the end.”

Desmond stepped forward, his hand gripping mine like a claim.

“You’re out of your mind,” he spat. “She’s with me now.”

Tessa's heart pounded as both men stared at her, waiting for her to choose.
And then she found her voice.
“Julian…” Her voice shook, but she forced herself to hold her gaze. “It’s over between us. And this time, it’s not one of those breakups where you show up and l forgives you. This time is real. I’m done hurting and running back to you after every fight. I’m not that stupid girl anymore. I don’t care how much it hurts you… just go.”

Julian’s face crumbled, his breath catching.

“No, Tessa.” His voice was raw, desperate. “I can’t live without you. I searched everywhere for you, until I found you.” He stepped closer, his hands trembling.

“I know you might not believe me, but I’m crazy about you. I can’t sleep, I can’t think straight without you. That man..” he glared at Desmond “... doesn’t love you. Not the way I do. I can see it. You’re still mine.” She swallowed hard, her chest tightening as tears threatened to fall.

“I won’t stop you from your dreams anymore,” Julian pleaded, voice breaking. “I won’t hold you back. I just want you. Please, Tessa. I’ll accept you no matter what. I just… l just can’t lose you.”

His words pierced her. For a brief second, she almost wavered.

But Desmond yanked Tessa’s hand and pulled her toward the car.

“Let’s go. We’re done here.”
She turned once more, her gaze catching Julian’s as she stood there, broken, helpless, his lips trembling as though begging her to stay.

Her heart twisted painfully, but she kept walking.
She couldn’t keep living like a shadow of herself. She wanted to be loved for who she was not controlled.
And now, she was Desmond’s girlfriend.

Desmond.. the man she had secretly crushed on since college, who seemed perfect, who promised to support her.
But just as our car started to roll forward, Julian ran to us, slamming his hands on the hood and shouting Tessa's name.

“Tessa! Please don’t go! I love you! Don’t go with him! I love you!” His voice cracked, desperate, shaking with grief.

Tessa froze, her body stiff, tears rolling silently down her cheeks. Three years. Three years of a relationship that felt like marriage, three years where Julian had adored her…except when her career became the issue.

Then he turned into someone else… jealous, controlling, overprotective.

He once told me she was his life, and that’s why he felt lifeless when another man even touched her.

But her career was her life too. And she couldn’t give it up.

Desmond’s voice broke through the silence, softer this time.

“Are you okay?” He tilted her chin, forcing her to meet his warm gaze.

“Don’t let him get to you. I promise you, Tessa, I’ll love you more than he ever did. I’ll make sure you can follow your dreams without fear. I love you.”

The words hit her like a blow to the chest, stealing her breath.

“Do you really mean that?” she asked, barely above a whisper.

“Yes,” Desmond said firmly. “I do.”

She smiled faintly, forcing herself to push away the image of Julian standing in the road.

When we arrived at the villa, Desmond cooked dinner… a lavish spread, as though trying to erase the memory of Julian from her mind. He even fed her, his hand cupping her cheek tenderly.

“You are so beautiful, Tessa,” he murmured, his thumb brushing his skin. “I don’t know why it took me this long to realize how much I love you. I should have told you before that bastard ruined everything.”

“No,” she said quietly, shaking my head. “Julian isn’t a bastard.”

“He is!” Desmond’s voice snapped. “You don’t deserve him.”

“My Julian isn’t a…”
Desmond’s expression darkened, his jaw clenching.

“What did you just say? My Julian?”

Before she could explain, he shoved me back, his voice sharp. “Don’t lie to me. You still love that idiot. I knew it. You never loved me the way I thought.”

“No!” My voice cracked. “I won’t let you keep insulting him. Enough!”

“You’re defending him because you’re still in love with him!” Desmond’s eyes burned with anger.

She turned away, her chest rising and falling rapidly.

“Think whatever you want. I need to rest."

“You’re not going anywhere,” he growled, blocking her path.

“You either prove to me that you’re done with him, or you leave tomorrow. I thought you were the girl I could hold forever…but maybe I just wanted you for what you are. You’re too perfect to waste, Tessa.”

She froze, her blood running cold.

So that was it.

He wanted her because of her body.

She stood there, shaking, feeling like the floor had fallen away beneath her.

Thank God this came out now before she gave more of myself to him.

But still… Why? Why did every relationship she had end up breaking her?

Her chest ached as tears finally spilled down her face.

She wasn’t sure which hurt more.. that Julian was outside begging her back, or that Desmond was inside showing her his true colors.