Chapter 303

Julian's fingers clamped around Rosalind's wrist like a vice.

"What exactly is going on here?" she demanded, her brows knitting together in confusion.

Julian's gaze flicked to Everett, then back to Rosalind. His voice was sharp. "Explain your relationship with him."

A disbelieving laugh escaped Rosalind's lips. She wrenched her arm free. "Julian, our engagement ended months ago. You lost the right to question me the moment you chose Arabella. Or have you forgotten?"

Arabella had already rushed over, her face pale. She'd seen Rosalind chasing after Everett—but what shocked her more was Julian following. Julian, who had never pursued anyone in his life, was now chasing Rosalind.

This was unprecedented.

Arabella's hands trembled as she stared at Julian, but he didn't even glance her way. His burning glare remained fixed on Rosalind. "Stop deflecting. Answer me—when did you start seeing Everett? Were you cheating on me?"

Cheating?

Rosalind nearly scoffed. She'd endured months of watching Julian and Arabella's public displays of affection, her heart breaking in silence. The night she'd stumbled into the Stormborn Devil's path, it was Everett who had saved her. Without him, she wouldn't be standing here now.

Her voice was ice. "I don't owe you explanations, Julian. You mean nothing to me anymore."

"Then who does? Him?" Julian's voice was venomous as he jerked his chin toward Everett.

Rosalind opened her mouth, but before she could speak, Everett turned on his heel and walked away.

"Everett, wait!" Rosalind hurried after him.

Julian moved like lightning, blocking Everett's path. "Did I say you could leave?"

Everett stopped. He hadn't spoken a word until now, his silence as cutting as his stare. When he finally looked at Julian, his voice was lethal. "Move."

A single word, dripping with disdain.

Julian's fists clenched. As the Blackwood heir, no one dared speak to him like that.

He hated Everett. Hated how this nobody from nowhere had stolen the state's top academic rank—beating Julian, who had private tutors since childhood. Julian's investigators had uncovered the truth: the night before finals, Everett had been hauling bricks at a construction site.

A laborer. And yet he'd won.

"Let's settle this," Julian spat. "Basketball. Right here, right now."

The crowd erupted.

"Oh my god—Julian Blackwood versus Everett Sinclair?"

"This is over Rosalind? They're fighting for her?"

"Wait, what about Arabella?"

"Honestly, since Rosalind's scar faded, she's outshone Arabella completely."

Arabella's nails dug into her palms as she stared at Rosalind's flawless face. That ugly duckling had transformed into a swan—and now Julian wanted her back?

She grabbed Julian's arm. "Julian, please. I'm not feeling well. Let's go."

He shook her off without looking. "Scared, Sinclair?"

Julian was confident. Basketball was his domain. He'd humiliate Everett in front of everyone—especially Rosalind.

Everett didn't flinch. "I don't waste time on games. Find someone else to entertain you."