The evening air was cool against my flushed skin as I stormed out of the hall, my heels echoing against the pavement of the car park.
My mind raced, heart pounding as I tried to process what just happened.
Tyler. Here. What the hell?
As I stormed through the car park, a familiar voice cut through the silence like a knife, sending a chill down my spine.
“You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
I spun around, my heart pounding, to find Julie standing there, her voice dripping with malicious glee.
Of course. He brought his mistress. Perfect.
"So, he still keeps you around, huh?" My voice was sharp, filled with the frustration and anger that had been brewing inside me. "I guess some things never change."
Her smirk deepened, her eyes flashing with the satisfaction of knowing she'd rattled me. "What can I say? Some people just know how to stay in the game.”
“What do you want?” I spat, my fury rising.
Julie’s smirk widened, her eyes glittering like icy daggers. “Oh, just seeing how you’re doing, darling. And you seem…well, not great, frankly.” Her laughter echoed through the parking lot, a cruel cackle that grated on my nerves.
“I have nothing to say to you,” I hissed.
Julie took a step closer, her heels clicking against the pavement, the sound grating in my ears. “Oh, come on, don’t be like that. We’re practically old friends at this point, aren’t we?”
I clenched my fists at my sides, trying to keep my composure, but her smug expression only fueled the fire burning inside me.
“Friends?” I scoffed. “You ruined my life, Julie. Friends don’t do that. Friends don’t manipulate and destroy everything in their path for the sake of winning some twisted game.”
Her eyes narrowed slightly, though her smirk never faltered. “Funny, I don’t remember you needing much help ruining things with Tyler. You were always so fragile, so insecure. All I had to do was give you a little push, and everything fell apart, didn’t it?”
I could feel the rage bubbling up in my throat, my chest tightening with the memories. The pain of losing Tyler, of losing our baby. It all came rushing back, sharp and suffocating.
“You have no idea what I went through,” I bit out, my voice shaking with the effort to hold back tears. “You caused more damage than you’ll ever know. I lost everything because of you.”
For a moment, Julie’s smirk faded, and I thought I saw a flicker of something in her eyes—remorse, maybe, or guilt.. but it was gone as quickly as it came. She stepped even closer, her voice lowering to a whisper.
“And yet here you are. Still standing. Still trying. So maybe, just maybe, you weren’t as broken as you thought.”
Her words cut deep, stirring something inside me that I didn’t want to face. She was right. Despite everything, I was still here. But that didn’t make any of it okay. It didn’t erase the pain.
“Enough,” I said through gritted teeth. “Why are you here? What’s your game this time?”
Julie chuckled, a dark, low sound. “Oh, Samantha, don’t you get it? This isn’t a game. This is life. And in life, some people win, and some people lose. Guess which side you’re on?”
I felt a shiver run down my spine as she stared at me, her eyes gleaming with something sinister.
“You think you can threaten me and I’ll just back down?” I shot back, stepping toward her, anger giving me the strength to stand tall. “Well, newsflash, Julie, I’m not the same woman you pushed around months ago. You can’t scare me anymore.”
Her smile twisted into something darker, something cruel. “Oh, honey,” she whispered, leaning in closer, “it’s not about scaring you. It’s about reminding you who’s watching.”
A sickening feeling curled in my stomach as her words sank in. Suddenly, it all made sense—the cryptic message, the photo. She had been behind it all along.
“You sent those messages,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
Julie straightened up, a satisfied glint in her eye. “Finally catching on, are we? Yes, I sent them. Consider it a friendly reminder that you should stay away from Tyler. Or else.”
I stared at her, stunned. “Why? What are you so afraid of?”
Julie’s eyes narrowed, and she took a step back, her hands resting casually on her hips. “Afraid? Me?” She let out a sharp laugh. “I’m not afraid of anything, especially not a washed-up little wannabe designer like you. But I won’t let you ruin what I’ve built.”
“So, that’s what this is about? You’re afraid I’ll steal Tyler back?” I scoffed, shaking my head in disbelief. “Well, let me tell you something, Julie.. I’ve had my fill of Tyler and his bullshit. He can have you. You’re perfect for each other.”
Julie’s face hardened, her eyes darkening with anger. “Is that so?” she spat. “Then why were you so cozy with him at the event?”
“Cozy?” I echoed, my anger flaring. “If you call being caught off guard by him showing up at a charity event we both happen to be cozy, then sure. But I’ve moved on, Julie. I’ve moved on from Tyler and his lies, and I’ve moved on from you.”
Julie’s lips curled into a sneer. “Oh, you haven’t moved on from anything. You still want him, don’t you? You still love him.”
My heart skipped a beat at Julie’s words. Was I still in love with Tyler? The idea seemed absurd, especially after everything he’d put me through. But as I stared into Julie’s gleeful, taunting gaze, I couldn’t deny that a small part of me still ached for him.
But I wouldn’t let that show. Not to Julie, not to Tyler, not to anyone.
I met Julie’s gaze, my eyes hard and cold. “I don’t love him.”
Julie’s smile faltered for a moment, a hint of uncertainty in her eyes. “Oh really?” she said, her voice dripping with skepticism. “Then why do you care so much if I’m with him? If you’ve moved on, then why does it matter who he’s with?”
“It doesn’t,” I said, my voice strong and steady. “I’m not jealous of you, Julie. I’m disgusted by you.”
“Disgusted?” Julie echoed, her eyes narrowing. “That’s a strong word. What, you think I’m a homewrecker or something?”
I opened my mouth to respond, fury coursing through my veins, but before I could speak, a deep, familiar voice sliced through the tension.
“Julie, what the hell do you think you’re doing?”
Tyler’s voice. That deep, commanding tone that once made my heart race. Now, it just made my chest tighten with a mixture of emotions I couldn’t even begin to unravel.
Julie’s head snapped toward him, her expression flickering between surprise and annoyance, but Tyler didn’t give her a chance to respond.
His hand wrapped around my arm, pulling me away from her, his grip firm but not painful.
“We need to talk,” he said, his voice low but urgent, leaving no room for argument.
Without another word, he led me away from her, his hand still on my arm.