Chapter 212 Hearts Don't Just Mend

Chapter 212 Hearts Don't Just Mend
Bianca's POV

Kimberly stared at me for a long moment, her mouth slightly open. "What do you mean he's your problem, B? What on earth did Leon do now?"

Without saying a word, I stood up from the sofa, walked over to the unpacked box in the corner of the living room, and reached deep under my folded sweaters.

My hands were shaking as I pulled out the brown paper envelope and walked back to the coffee table, tossing it down in front of her.

"Look at it," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

Kimberly frowned, setting her iced coffee aside.

She unclasped the envelope and pulled out the contents.

First came the official financial document showing Leon’s signature on the Cayman Islands account that backed Marcus’s takeover of McIntyre Logistics. Then came the glossy photographs.

As Kim flipped through the pictures of Leon in various BDSM scenes with different women, her eyes grew wider and wider.

The color completely drained from her face.

"Oh my god," Kim gasped, holding up a picture of Leon standing over a blonde woman bound in silk sheets. "Oh my god, Bianca... I never knew Leon was into something like this. Is... is this real?"

"Julian dropped them off yesterday while you were upstairs," I said, sitting back down and burying my face in my hands. "My life is getting completely out of control, Kim. The document proves he funded Marcus to take my father’s company behind our backs, and the pictures show he does this with every woman he gets obsessed with. He buys us houses, buys us cars, breaks us down, and then moves on."

"This is insane," Kim whispered, staring at the pictures in total disbelief. "I don't even know what to say—"

Just then, a knock sounded at the front door, cutting Kim off mid-sentence.

We both froze.

"Is that Leon?" Kim asked, her head snapping toward the porch.

"I don't know," I muttered, standing up and wiping my face.

We walked over to the entryway together as I reached out, unlocked the latch, and pulled the door open.

It wasn't Leon, alright.

Julian was standing on the porch, wearing a black leather jacket, his hands stuffed into his pockets.

He looked completely relaxed.

“What are you…”

Kimberly blinked, stepping in front of me to squint at his face.

For a second, she didn't realize who he was. But then her eyes narrowed, and she scoffed.

"Wait a second," Kim said. "Isn't that Hilda's boy toy?"

Julian didn't even look at Kim. His eyes stayed locked directly on mine. "I know you're still in shock from everything I gave you yesterday, Miss McIntyre. But I'm giving you a chance to fight back. I know you probably have questions about what you know, and I can help you get revenge—"

"Hell no, you're not!" Kimberly cut him off violently, taking a hard step forward onto the porch. "What the hell are you doing here? Get your ass off this porch before I call the cops on you!"

Julian finally glanced at Kim, looking annoyed. "Girl, mind your business—"

"No, you get the fuck out of here!" Kim yelled, getting into his face. "You're not getting revenge on anybody through my best friend! Whatever Bianca does with Leon is her own damn business. I don't care what kind of fake pictures you brought over to show her, I think you're lying through your teeth! What reasonable man sleeps with another man's wife anyway, and then comes around trying to play the good guy to tell the only woman that man actually loves that he's been lying to her? What are you getting out of this? What is your gain?"

Julian’s eyes narrowed. "I have no business with you, girl. Get out of the way. You have no idea what it means to lose a family because of a powerful man."

"Actually, I do!" Kim shot back as she pointed a finger directly at his chest. "I do know what it feels like because I lost someone I loved too! But that didn't turn me into a bitter, manipulative piece of shit! Now get off this property before I throw you out myself! I don't care how long you think you've been flexing at the gym for, I can get pretty creative with a fucking high heel!"

Julian stared at Kimberly, realizing she wasn't backing down an inch.

He let out a scoff, then looked past her shoulder to meet my eyes again.

"When you're ready to actually talk without all these loud distractions, Bianca, you know where to find me," Julian said softly.

He turned on his heel, walked down the stone steps, and strutted toward his car parked at the curb.

Kimberly slammed the front door shut with a loud bang, locked it, and turned around to face me, breathing heavily.

"You don't actually believe that piece of shit, do you?" Kim asked, crossing her arms over her chest as she glared at me.

"What do you want me to say, Kim?" I asked, my voice rising in frustration as I pointed back toward the living room table. "The pictures are right there! Leon's official signature on those documents are right there! There is literal physical evidence sitting on my table!"

"It's all a setup, Bianca!" Kim argued, following me back into the living room. "And even if those pictures are real, don't you get it? They are actively trying to destroy whatever Leon has built with you! Everyone has a past, B! You have to judge a man by the things he is doing for you right now, in the present! Plus, since when did enjoying consenting sex become a crime?"

"He also stole my parents' company, Kim!" I yelled, tears springing to my eyes again. "Did you forget about the document? He gave Marcus thirty million dollars to bankrupt my father!"

"I don't believe that bullshit for a second either!" Kim shouted back, waving her hand dismissively. "Marcus is the one who stole your parents' company after marrying you for years and acting like a leech! Leon has spent every single day since I've known him trying to protect you from Marcus! Listen to me, Bianca. You have to go to the office, sit down with Leon, and talk to him to sort this out properly!"

"No, I won't!" I snapped and glared at my best friend. "I am done talking to him! I think I've been listening to your advice a whole lot lately, Kim, and following it just keeps ending up destroying my life even more!"

Kimberly froze, "what? I'm ruining your life?”

I turned my back on her, staring out the large glass window at the empty backyard pool.

I felt completely drained, empty, and overwhelmed.

"Kimberly, it's high time you go home," I said softly. "I just want to be alone right now."

Kimberly stood silent behind me for a long moment then I heard her let out a deep breath.

"Fine," Kim said softly, sounding worried instead of angry. "I'll go home, B. But please... just think about what I said. Don't let a bitter gym coach ruin your future with Leon before you even give the man a chance to explain himself."

I didn't answer. I kept my eyes fixed on the water outside.

I heard Kimberly grab her purse from the counter and walk out, shutting the door behind her.