Chapter 966

Rosalind was intrigued by Julian's next move. Her finger hovered over the answer button before pressing it, and his voice crackled through immediately.

"Hey, got time? Let's do brunch."

Rosalind scoffed. "We're not exactly brunch buddies. Unless this is important, I'm hanging up."

She was a second away from ending the call when Julian cut in.

"Wait—don't. It's about Lucian."

Lucian?

Her grip tightened on the phone. "Fine. I'll be there."

The café was bathed in golden sunlight when she arrived. Julian sat at a corner table, already nursing a cup of coffee.

Rosalind slid into the seat opposite him. "Talk."

Julian smirked. "Relax. Coffee first."

She eyed the steaming cup in front of her. "No thanks. Last time you drugged me and strapped me to a table. Hard pass."

His expression darkened but he didn’t deny it.

"Three years ago," she continued, voice sharp, "you pushed Lucian off a cliff. Ruined his face. Then pinned it on me."

Julian's jaw twitched. "You're delusional. Whatever happened between you two isn’t my fault. I had nothing to do with it."

Rosalind barely recognized the man in front of her.

How had he become this?

When he and Arabella betrayed her, she’d let it go. Yet here he was, still twisting the knife—in her, in Lucian.

Julian took a slow sip. "Lucian’s moved on. Not with Genevieve. With Isabella. Rumor is he took her jewelry shopping last night. Bought her diamonds."

What?

Rosalind froze. Lucian had been out with Isabella? Diamonds?

Julian’s smirk widened. "See? Your so-called love crumbles so easily. While you’re here carrying his child, he’s out spoiling another woman."

Her fingers curled into fists, but she didn’t believe him.

"This baby is Lucian’s, but it’s also mine," she said coldly. "I’m not doing this just for him. I’m doing it for myself."

Julian blinked, caught off guard.

"If that’s all, I’m leaving." She stood.

Julian shot up, grabbing her wrist. "Don’t go! None of this would’ve happened if Lucian hadn’t shown up. You were mine first. I hate him!"

Rosalind yanked back. "Let go!"

Julian’s grip tightened. "No!"

Then a voice, icy and lethal, cut through the air.

"Let. Her. Go."