Chapter 19
Elise found Julian drinking heavily in a bar.
“Julian, let’s be together and go back to America, okay?”
Elise sat beside Julian, her hand on his shoulder, voice gentle.
Julian glanced at her and swatted her hand away.
“Don’t touch me. I need to find Phoenix.”
Today Elise had been doused with coffee and ridiculed by Phoenix. Hearing Julian’s words, her emotions boiled over.
Elise threw photos of Phoenix and Mason together onto the table.
“Julian, wake up! Phoenix is with someone else now. She doesn’t want you anymore. Come back with me, please? We can be like before. Julian, please?”
Julian grabbed the photos from the table and tore them to pieces, dropping them in the trash.
“She’s just trying to provoke me. If I keep apologizing, she’ll forgive me eventually. Phoenix loves me so much. She won’t leave
me.”
Seeing Julian like this infuriated Elise.
“Julian, she doesn’t want you anymore! How many times must I say it? You’re getting drunk over her, but Phoenix won’t even glance your way. Only I truly care about you and want to stay with you. Julian, look at me, okay? Leaving you was my mistake. I regret it. I was wrong. Let’s start over.”
Julian looked at Elise, his intoxication seemingly lessening.
“Be with you?”
Elise heard his words and nodded hopefully.
“Julian, didn’t you always love me most? Phoenix is gone. Let’s be together.”
Julian’s eyes suddenly turned vicious.
Elise feared this transformation, trembling as she retreated into the sofa corner.
“Elise, it’s all because of you! Phoenix left me because of you!”
Julian slapped Elise across the face.
Elise cradled her stinging cheek, eyes instantly brimming with tears. She couldn’t believe Julian would strike her.
Elise, never one to suffer such treatment, stood up and slapped Julian back.
Chapter 19
Julian seized her throat like a madman, pinning her to the sofa.
“It’s all your fault! All because of you!”
“Why did you send those messages to Phoenix? Why did you deliberately say those things in front of her?”
“Because of you, I neglected Phoenix.”
“Because of you. Phoenix left me!”
Julian had never understood why Phoenix suddenly left him until he had people investigate Elise’s actions.
Thinking of Phoenix pregnant with his child, facing such provocation from Elise, Julian wanted to strangle the woman before
If not for Elise. He and Phoenix would never have divorced, their child would have been born safely. He, Phoenix, and their baby would have been the happiest family.
Elise struggled desperately until she felt close to suffocation before Julian finally released her.
“You can’t die yet. You must atone for what you did to Phoenix and our child.”
Elise looked at the now–deranged Julian and retaliated:
“Julian, you hurt Phoenix far more deeply.”
You were with Phoenix while flirting with me behind her back.”
“Yes, I sent her those messages, but did I fabricate anything?”
“Wasn’t everything I said true about your behavior?”
“If you hadn’t thought and acted that way, how could I have used it to provoke her?!”
“You’re the one who went too far. You effectively killed your child. You pushed Phoenix into another man’s arms.”
Julian lunged at her again, gripping her throat.
“Shut up! It’s all you! All because of you! I did nothing wrong. It was all your fault.”
Elise gasped, “You never loved Phoenix. You ruined her.”
“You’re lying! How could I not love her?”
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