Amber’s POV


    Julian straightened somewhat at my words. Our retorts had been aimed to hurt since he first walked into my office. While I could attempt to convince myself that he was starting all this, the truth was much messier.


    Hadn’t I held some contempt for him for years because of Olivia?


    He had clearly seen the articles that Roman had pushed for in the newspapers. Perhaps I should have done more to convince him that those articles weren’t telling the truth. But… why?


    At the end of the day, despite whatever softness we hadst night, Julian was still with Olivia. Once I cured her infertility, they were going to have their own children. What right did he have to be angry with me for this perceived engagement with Roman, when he himself wasmitted to Olivia?


    He wanted it both ways, to have Olivia at home while still flirting with me. I wasn’t going to go for


    that.


    There was no love lost between Olivia and me, but I’d be damned before I would let myself be the other woman. Again.


    “Why would I go back to Olivia?” he asked. “What does she have to do with any of this?”


    Unbelievable! The nerve of him, toe in here and act like he didn’t have such a big attachment


    at home.


    “She is your fated mate,” I said. “She is your chosen partner.”


    “She is neither of those things,” Julian said. His gaze held mine prisoner, as if he was trying to be earnest. But I’d believed his lies in the past, like the lie he made to honor and cherish our marriage.


    I wasn’t going to fall for that a second time.


    “She’s not my fated mate, and we aren’t together,” Julian pushed.


    I looked away, annoyed by this. He didn’t have to lie to me about this. “Just tell the truth.”


    “I am!” Julian stepped closer to my desk.


    I refused to stand up from it, <i>or </i>move around it for this conversation. It was my anchor and my shield, keeping me grounded- I am a Healer, a professional woman, and could maintain a levelposure as well as kept the safe distance between Julian and me.


    “Amber,” Julian said, his voice softening. I still refused to look up at him again. “Surely there is still a part of you that cares for me…”


    Maybe, but that part was buried deep down, and I wasn’t going to let him know about it.


    Who was he, toe in here and lie right to my face, like he hadn’t gotten Olivia pregnant while we had been married? Like he hadn’t kept me his dark secret, hidden away from public view? Like he


    7/01/2


    hadn’t chose Olivia over me, even when I threatened to leave?


    If I had died in that ne crash, he’d probably be married to Olivia by now, having forgotten all


    about me.


    My anger rankled all of my nerves, until I was defensive as a porcupine with my quills all ready to


    strike.


    “Sure, there was a part of me that loved you,” I said coldly. “But that version of me died in that ne crash. Now<b>, </b>I only feel annoyance at your constant harassment. I’ve already agreed to help Olivia. I don’t know what more you want from me.”


    He was quite for a moment. In that moment, I dared a look up to see his face. He looked at me, shocked, his eyes a little wide.


    I had thought I might feel some sort of victory for having stunned and hurt him. Instead, I just felt hollow inside.


    There were no winners here, no victories to be had.


    With a past like ours, we could only hurt each other Again and again.


    The sooner I made my money, the sooner I retrieved that ne that Alice so desperately needed, the sooner I get out of this pack for good. And away from Julian once and for all. Then, he and Olivia would be free to live whatever life they wanted far out of my view and thoughts.


    <b>+15 </b>BONUS