He had even begun to enjoy tormenting her.


    Just thinking about Julian’s methods filled Lily with dread.


    Every day, her only thought was how to escape.


    The more unhinged he became, the more desperate she was to get out of that ce.


    There was no way she would spend the rest of her life locked up in that vi.


    If a chance ever came, she would take it no matter what.


    Meanwhile, Julian had taken Tessa to a different vi.


    The moment they stepped inside, he couldn’t help himself–sweeping her up into his arms.


    But Tessa onlyughed, yful and teasing. “What’s the rush? We just got here.”


    Julian frowned. “Baby, isn’t that why you came to see me?”


    “I told you, I’m here for something serious. Can you think about something other than that for once?”


    Grumbling, Julian reluctantly set her down. “Fine. I thought you were joking at first. Didn’t expect you to be this serious.


    Tessa looked at him and burst intoughter at how impatient he was. “Who said I was joking? You’re acting like you haven’t seen a woman in years.


    “I told you that I have something important to talk to you about. I’m not here just for fun.”


    “Alright, alright.”


    Julian gave her a pouty look. “So, Tessa, tell me, what’s on your mind?”


    Tessa thought it over for a moment, then decided to use the idea of marriage as bait to introduce her real n.


    “Julian, have you ever thought about marrying me?”


    His eyes lit up instantly. “Of course I have. But you were the one who didn’t want to before.”


    Hearing those words, Julian assumed she’d changed her mind.


    Otherwise, she wouldn’t be bringing it up at all.


    Tessa smiled. “That was before. I used to think that as long as Aurora was still part of thepany, even if · share of equity would beughable. But things are different now.”


    She leaned in close, a hint of secrecy in her voice.


    Julian sat on the couch and pulled Tessa into hisp, absentmindedly ying with her fingers.


    “What do you mean, things are different now?”


    got married, my


    Tessa lifted her chin with pride, not a trace of guilt in her voice. “Aurora’s in the hospital with gastroenteritis. I had the doctor tamper with her meds. She won’t be waking up anytime soon.”


    Julian froze, fingers going still, his eyes fixed on her in disbelief.


    “Wait, Tessa, are you serious right now?”


    She looked smug,pletely unfazed by the weight of what she’d just said. “Of course, I’m serious. She’s lying there unconscious as we speak.”


    Julian’s expression shifted, confusion flickering through his features.


    “Why would you do that?” he asked, genuinely puzzled and oddly uneasy.


    Aurora had always been so full of life. The idea of her now, silent and helpless in a hospital bed, unsettled him more than he expected.


    For a moment, he felt regret.


    Tessa noticed immediately.


    Her eyes narrowed as she studied him, voice cool and sharp.


    “You’re not still hung up on her, are you?”


    She tilted her head, mockingly sweet. “Oh right, you are going to be her future brother–inw. The inte’s already buzzing about how she was seducing you. But now I’m thinking, she didn’t even need to. You were already halfway there, weren’t you?”


    As she spoke, she made a move to slide off hisp.