"You don't want money? Then you must want me instead, is that it?"
"Fine. I'll give you what you want."
He tore my clothes apart and bent down, his lips finding my neck.
Humiliation crashed over me like a wave. I screamed with everything I had.
"Stop—get off me! Don't touch me!"
Julian's eyes were bloodshot.
"You're just a gold digger. Don't pretend you're above this."
"Make me happy, and I'll give you whatever you want."
In a panic, I bit down hard on his shoulder.
Julian shuddered from the pain and shoved me to the ground.
Blood dripped down his shoulder.
For a moment, I saw him as he'd been at eighteen.
The boy who'd rush in when I was being bullied, fighting until he was covered in blood.
Back then, Julian would have given his life for me.
How did we end up like this?
It didn't matter anymore. Misunderstandings, revenge—none of it.
Mom was gone. It was time to let go of the past.
All I wanted now was to escape this cage.
Before I could gather my thoughts, a hand clamped around my throat and yanked me up.
Julian's eyes were cold with rage.
"I give you an inch and you take a mile. Since you don't know what's good for you, get out!"