Chapter 581

Rosalind's fleeting joy evaporated instantly, replaced by crushing disappointment. Standing at her doorway wasn't Everett Sinclair as she'd hoped - but Julian Blackwood, her ex-fiancé.

Beatrice rushed forward, draping a cashmere wrap over Rosalind's shoulders. "You'll catch your death in this draft, miss."

Rosalind shot her maid a questioning look. "This is my visitor?"

Beatrice nodded. "Mr. Blackwood arrived moments ago. I was just coming to announce him when you flew downstairs."

"Has no one else come?" Rosalind pressed, fingers tightening on the doorframe.

Beatrice shook her head. "No other callers, Miss Fairchild. Were you expecting someone?"

Everett hadn't come after all.

Julian's lips curled into that infuriating smirk she knew too well. "Waiting for Sinclair, were you?" Rosalind's mouth flattened into a hard line. "Yes. What are you doing here?"

His expression darkened. "Heard you were burning up with fever. Came to check on you."

"Still breathing, as you can see. Your concern is touching," Rosalind snapped, moving to slam the door.

Julian wedged his polished Oxford in the doorway. "Charming as ever, I see. Rush over here out of concern and this is the welcome I get?"

Rosalind met his gaze squarely. "Remove 'seem' from that sentence. I don't want to see you."

His temper flared visibly. "You ungrateful little-"

"Arabella's your girlfriend now. Need I remind you again? A decent ex would know to stay out of my life. Stop harassing me."

Julian closed the distance between them in three long strides, his piercing gaze sweeping over her. The delicate pink silk nightdress clung to her curves, raven hair tumbling over slender shoulders. Even fever-flushed and makeup-free, she outshone Arabella's cosmetic-enhanced beauty - that artificial perfection Julian had once found so alluring.

The contrast between Rosalind's natural radiance and Arabella's manufactured glamor had become painfully obvious.

When Julian stepped closer, Rosalind instinctively retreated. "What are you doing? Personal space, Julian."

His intense stare pinned her in place. "We need to talk."

"About?"

His jaw worked. "Arabella and I... we're through."

What?

Rosalind's pulse stuttered. They'd barely been together two months before splitting?

Julian had indeed ended things, though Arabella refused to accept the breakup. The moment he'd heard of Rosalind's illness, he'd come running.

Rosalind blinked slowly. "Congratulations? Why is this my concern? Don't report your relationship status to me like I'm your social secretary."

Julian's fists clenched at his sides. "Still playing games, Rosalind? This hard-to-get act has gone on long enough."

She froze, bewildered. "What are you on about?"

"I know you've always been in love with me. When I chose Arabella instead, you latched onto Sinclair as revenge, didn't you? This whole charade with Everett - it's just to make me jealous." Rosalind gaped at him, stunned by the absurd accusation.

"Clever scheme - I'll give you that. It worked. Even with Arabella, I couldn't stop thinking about you. Remembering our time together. Realizing how much light you brought to my life. I miss what we had."