Chapter 29 NOT THE MAIN CHARACTER

Chapter 29 NOT THE MAIN CHARACTER
Unknow: Come to my house now- Johan
Julian looked at the cellphone screen, a short message—a lunch invitation from Johan Lancaster. His forehead frowned faintly, implying a feeling of reluctance to come but this message seemed like an order that could not be refused.
"Grandpa and grandson both like to force others," he grumbled.
The sky was still very bright when Julian arrived at the Lancaster family residence. The giant iron gate opened slowly as his car passed, and he was greeted by two servants who bowed politely without expression. They took him to Johan Lancaster's personal workspace, a room that was said to only be entered by chosen people.
The room was like a museum. The walls were decorated with old paintings in gold frames, and towering bookshelves with classic collections from the 19th century, the aroma of old wood and expensive cigars wafted around the room.
Behind the large work desk, Johan sat quietly, spinning a wine glass in his hand. His eyes were sharp, staring at Julian with an unfriendly greeting.
“Julian Holt,” he said quietly, but piercingly. “It’s good to finally speak to you in person.”
Julian straightened up. “Me too, Mr. Lancaster. May I ask… why you invited me?”
Johan stood up, walked slowly to the large window, and spoke without turning around. “You’re close to Xavier, and… that girl who gets bullied?”
“You mean Athena Lennox, right?”
“Well, yes… I don’t know the names of the girls on campus,” he said nonchalantly. “So, what’s your relationship with Athena?”
Julian held his breath for a moment. “We’re college friends.”
“Friends?” Johan turned, his smile thin. “Funny. I thought, compared to Xavier… you were the closest to her. She seemed to suit you, huh… although when you were with her, you probably had to pretend to lower your standards.”
Julian clenched his jaw. There was a moment of silence, Johan poured another glass of wine, then handed it to Julian. They stood facing each other for quite a while, sipping their drinks little by little.
Johan finally spoke, “Athena is no ordinary girl...”
“My personal assistant looked into her, and at that moment I felt I had misjudged the appearance of that shabby girl...”
“She is the only daughter of the Lennox-Stewart family. The heir to a business empire who chose to run away and live as a commoner,” he continued.
Julian was silent, but in his heart... he was shocked to hear that statement. There was a slight feeling of disbelief, because so far Athena had always shown a simple side and a cheerful and mature girl.
“I have no problem with other people’s life choices... it’s none of my business. But, you would be quite surprised if you knew about this...” Johan paused, he turned around to put down his empty wine glass.
“... she will marry one of my grandsons. You must know him, right? Brian Lancester,” Johan said spontaneously.
Julian’s entire body tensed up, his eyes blinked rapidly, his face lowered, his hands clenched tightly, holding back the trembling that spread to his feet.
Athena? The rich girl who brought herself down, will marry Brian?
Yes, Julian knows the man. He was the man Auree once liked too, but unfortunately Brian consciously dumped Auree because according to him... Auree is not a woman who is satisfied with just one man.
Julian also knows the man's character. If there is someone who wants to see Xavier in the form of a gentle human being, full of affection, polite, and all other beauties... then Brian is the answer.
He is handsome, has a cold smile typical of the Lancester family, but a gaze that always worships the person he is talking to. No wonder... maybe if the marriage really happened, Athena would definitely fall in love with him.
"I'm a bit relieved to hear that it's not Xavier who will marry Athena, because after all... we are already rich enough, and don't need a political business marriage like that," said Johan.
Julian frowned. "What do you mean?"
Johan raised one eyebrow, his gaze seemed to read all of Julian's expressions who considered all of this a big surprise.
“Auree... she is a girl who has loved Xavier for a long time, a girl who understands our family's culture, who never belittles herself. I think, Xavier is more suitable for her...”
“... and about Brian, because he is also my grandson, I also really regret why his parents didn’t choose another girl besides Athena,” Johan said.
“So you mean, you don’t want Athena to be your family’s daughter-in-law?” Julian asked, his voice a little firm.
Johan nodded, he approached Julian and patted his shoulder. “I know... you love her, right? You like Athena, right? Take her... approach her, you two deserve her more.”
Julian’s hands clenched, his head felt hot now, offended by Johan’s words that seemed to belittle him.
Like Athena? Love Athena? Julian laughed inwardly... since when? Athena was very similar to Auree, and that was the only reason Julian wanted to be close to her.
The sound of snapping fingers was heard beside Julian’s ear, followed by Johan’s laughter that seemed to be mocking him. “You can do it, right? Help Xavier realize that Athena is just... a mirage.”
“What if I refuse?” Julian asked bravely.
“I didn’t mean to threaten,” Johan answered lightly. “But, think about this... if you want your family business to remain safe, with good profits for the next 10 years, wouldn’t it be easy for you to follow my request?”
That sentence... sounded painful, hitting Julian’s chest harder.

On the way home, Julian stared out the foggy car window. In his mind, Athena—with a shabby hoodie and a pleasant smile—walked along the campus corridor, her long, curly hair waving, reminding him of Auree every day.
“DAMN! WHY MUST ATHENA BE THERE IF AUREE FINALLY RETURNS?! SHE MADE EVERYTHING UP!”
Julian hit the steering wheel repeatedly, furiously blaming Athena’s presence for making everything messed up. Xavier fell in love with Athena, but Auree also still loved Xavier, while Julian? He was just a spectator in the middle of a complicated love triangle.
Unlike Adrian and Asher who took different advantages from Auree, making the girl a woman who was ready to ‘serve’ them anytime. Julian was different... he was very sincere.
However, the world made him someone who did not deserve to be the main character in a beautiful and profitable love story.
“Athena is not what I want... I want Auree,” he muttered.
Silently, he reached into his pocket, took out his cellphone, then opened the chat with Athena. His fingers were about to type something... but not long after, the messages he had written were deleted.
“What if I find out about Athena, then meet her in person?” he thought, Zara’s name had appeared but since yesterday the girl seemed to be avoiding him.
“Lately it feels strange, why did Athena suddenly leave? Am I the one who doesn’t care because I’m too happy with Auree, or did something happen?”
Julian remembered his last meeting with Athena other than in the back garden of the campus. At that time, the afternoon after hearing the news of Xavier’s accident, Athena and Auree also met for the first time.
Athena smiled at everyone at that time—a smile that was so innocent, very similar to Auree’s. But somehow... it felt different.
“Did Athena realize something was wrong? No, right? She knew she looked like Auree, but she never thought anything of it, right?”
Julian pondered, slowly realizing a mistake that might have been unintentional. “Is she disappointed... because I chose Auree over her?”
“Then what if Athena really likes me? That’s one of the reasons why she rejected Xavier, right?” His mind turned cunning
Julian smiled lopsidedly. There was a hope and a small plan that he could use as a weapon to attack Xavier....
“Xavier... what if I take Athena away from your cousin? You definitely can’t stand it, right?”