Chapter 652 Taylor, Let's Start Over 2
At five in the evening, Taylor received a package.
Molly handed it over with a conspiratorial grin. "Dr. Montague, it's from Mr. Learmond. Same-city courier. I'm betting it's a dangerously sexy nightgown."
Taylor gave her a flat look. "What goes on in your head all day?"
She opened the box. It wasn't lingerie. It was a bank transfer slip — Julian's name on the sender line, the amount a staggering 9.6 billion dollars.
Molly froze. "Dr. Montague… Mr. Learmond doesn't do anything small, does he?"
Taylor had known this transfer was coming, but the sheer figure still stunned her. Even for the Montague family, moving that much money at once was no small feat — and Julian had given it as if it were nothing.
The last time, he had called it a wedding gift.
Wedding gift.
Taylor couldn't help remembering what Samuel had given her when they married: 2.08 million. A fortune to most, but laughably modest for her family. Back then, she had excused it, telling herself he was still building his business. Of course, when they divorced, Samuel had been just as stingy.
Taylor was still lost in thought when Molly snatched the slip and planted an exaggerated kiss on it. "Now that's generosity. Let's be real, a man's love is measured by what he's willing to give. Dr. Montague, does Mr. Learmond have any unmarried brothers?"
Taylor recalled Julian mentioning an older brother — Luna's father — who had passed away. He'd never spoken of Luna's mother. Had she died too?
Taylor shook her head. Molly sighed in disappointment.
A knock sounded at the door. Julian's voice followed. "Taylor, ready?"
He stepped in with Luna by his side. Both were bundled in thick cashmere coats, Luna's face almost hidden by her hat and scarf, only her gem-bright eyes showing.
The moment she saw Taylor, Luna ran over and wrapped her arms around her.
Taylor scooped her up, tugged the scarf away, and kissed her cheek. Julian approached, his gaze flicking to the transfer slip on the desk.
He smiled faintly. "You accept my gift, you accept being the future Mrs. Learmond."
Taylor held Luna and looked back at him.
Molly slipped out, leaving only the three of them. Taylor said nothing, but her gaze was steady, and it drew him in.
Julian leaned down, kissed her through the space between them where Luna sat, and murmured, "I'm glad you took it."
"Julian… it's too much," she whispered.
"I don't think it is. Taylor, I'm glad you want to be my wife."
Something in her chest softened. They had only been together for months, but every moment had been easy, natural. Maybe that was what it felt like to find the right person.
She tilted her face up and brushed a kiss against his mouth. "I'm glad too."
Luna clapped her hands, not understanding the details but sensing she was about to have a mother.
Outside, snow drifted past the windows. Inside, the office was warm.
Taylor's phone rang.
Avery's voice came through, husky and lazy, "Dad wants to know when you and Julian are coming back. The kitchen's already working on dinner."
Taylor leaned against her desk, tracing a fingertip over the wood. "About forty minutes. Julian and Luna are here with me."
"Good. Drive safe."
"I will."
When Avery hung up, Henry appeared, expectant. "What did your sister say?"
"Forty minutes. She's with Julian. And his kid — apparently she's his late brother's daughter."
Henry nodded. "Then she's not really a stepmother. And that little girl is adorable. Even your mom's taken a shine to her after only two visits. She's already asking when you're getting married and having kids."
Avery was over thirty, but showed no signs of being in a relationship. Henry and Amelia's patience was wearing thin. They'd once heard rumors about Avery and Isadora, but it had fizzled out. Avery never seemed eager to talk about it.
Henry was already thinking Amelia should arrange some introductions. He wasn't about to see Avery hit forty still single.
Avery flipped through a magazine on the sofa, then froze, recalling the little girl he had seen last night.
Was she related to Isadora?
At the Montague Group Hospital, Taylor slipped on her coat and followed Julian downstairs. A Rolls-Royce waited at the curb. Julian lifted Luna into Taylor's arms, opened the rear door, and said, "It's cold. Get in."
Taylor set Luna inside and was about to follow when a voice called sharply behind her.
"Taylor."
Her body went rigid. She turned. Samuel stood there, pale as death.
He knew now. Julian was the one who had gone after SamZen Tech. The 8 billion loss had grown to 9.6, and Julian had walked away clean. Samuel had been left to fill the crater, begging favors, drinking with people he despised.
And now that money sat in Taylor's account. She had known all along — and never told him.
"Are you really going to marry him?" His voice was raw. "Do you even know what kind of man he is? You think someone who built an empire overseas from nothing doesn't have a ruthless streak? Today it's me. Tomorrow it could be the Montague Group. Think, Taylor."
She frowned.
Before she could speak, Julian's voice cut in, calm and cold. "It's not that I'm ruthless, Samuel. It's that you weren't strong enough."
Samuel didn't deny it. He met Julian's gaze. "You're right. I'm not as strong as you. But I've been honest with Taylor. I've never hidden anything from her. Can you say the same? Can you tell her who Luna's mother is? Can you tell her what she was to you?"
Julian's expression shifted.
He reached back, shut the car door gently so Luna wouldn't hear.
Taylor's eyes found his.
Snow fell in soft silence, but Julian's gaze was darker than she had ever seen.