Chapter 451/A New World Begins Tonight

Chapter 451

Julie’s point of view

Without uttering a single word, his steel-like fingers clamped firmly around my wrist. He pulled me decisively out onto the drive, leading me down the stone pathway until we were well out of sight from the villa’s high windows. He reached into his coat pocket, pulled out a sleek black smartphone, and pressed it into my hand.

I stared at the modern device resting in my palm, looking back up at his dark face. "What’s this?"

His deep, gravelly voice cut through the quiet air, completely dry. "I bought this for you and installed a SIM card. My number is saved inside."

I gripped the phone tightly, leaning closer as a desperate urge to share the madness overtook me. "I need to tell you something... This woman isn’t Mirdreth! She’s Violet... and she told us she’s our real mother!"

I searched his dark, shadowed features, expecting a flare of shock, a twitch of an eyebrow, anything but not a single crack appeared on his icy mask.

My brows knitted together in utter bewilderment. "Aren’t you going to say anything?"

He looked down at me, his face impassive. "What should I say?"

"You’re not surprised at all!" I gasped, taken aback.

Robert let out a heavy, frustrated exhale through his nose, his dark eyes sharpening. "Julie... please don’t start creating problems again."

I took an immediate step back, my wrist slipping from his grip as my tone turned defensive. "Are you saying I’m the one who creates problems?!"

He stepped closer, locking his dark, piercing pupils onto mine with stern authority. "Listen... I don’t trust this woman, and I can’t leave you here. Are you coming home with me?"

I shook my head stubbornly, stepping out of his reach. "I’m not coming... She’s introducing us to our fathers tonight."

His brow shot up, a dark glint of suspicion flickering in his eyes. "Your fathers?!"

"It turns out Steve and I have different fathers," I clarified, my voice faltering under the weight of how absurd it sounded aloud.

A dark, sarcastic scoff escaped his lips. "And does that sound normal to you?"

I ran a hand through my hair, pushing back loose strands as a wave of exhaustion washed over me. "No... it’s not normal! But my whole life I believed my mother and father hated me, that they hated both Steve and me... Knowing that there’s a chance to find a mother and father who actually want me... that makes me happy, Robert!"

Silence stretched between us for a few long seconds. I stared at his unyielding posture, my voice cracking softly as I added, "Maybe I don’t break down or get shocked anymore because I’ve suffered through too much already... Maybe God wants to compensate me with this."

The hard, unforgiving lines of his face suddenly fractured. In a single, explosive stride, he closed the distance between us, wrapping his massive arms around my body and pulling me flush against his hard chest. The force of his embrace locked me in a warm, protective grip that nearly stole the breath right out of my lungs.

His lips brushed against my ear, his low voice dripping with absolute, unyielding protection. "Even if you don’t have parents who love you... I am always right here beside you."

A genuine, comforting warmth spread through my chest, and I smiled against his shoulder, letting out a soft laugh. "You can say ’I love you,’ you know... No one’s going to cut your tongue out."

Robert pulled back immediately, his expressions instantly hardening back into a wall of solid stone. "I have to go now."

Before I could sourly scowl at his blatant evasion, the phone inside his coat pocket vibrated sharply. He pulled it out and brought it to his ear without delay. "Yes, Ron..."

He listened intently to the speaker on the other end, the cold tension in his jaw softening just a fraction before he spoke with firm authority. "Alright... I’m on my way."

He slipped the phone back into his coat and locked eyes with me one last time, his gaze running deep. "Take care of yourself."

I gave him a small, obedient nod. "You too."

He turned on his heel, taking broad, decisive strides back toward his sleek black car. The engine roared to life, and the vehicle shot forward, disappearing down the long private drive.

I turned around and walked back into the villa. As I stepped past the foyer, I spotted Violet standing near the base of the grand staircase. She was watching me with a faint, mocking smile, her fingers casually resting on the polished banister.

"Did he make sure I didn’t bite you?" she asked sarcastically.

I shot her a dry, unamused look. "Do you have a problem with him?"

She glided up the first few marble steps, her tone utterly casual. "Not really... but it seems he’s the one who has a problem with me."

"I don’t think so," I replied softly.

She turned on the landing, waving a manicured hand toward the upper floor. "Come... I’ll show you to your rooms."

I walked toward the stairs and signaled for Steve, who joined my side. We followed her up the sweeping staircase and down the right wing of the corridor. She stopped before a broad, modern gray door and pushed it open smoothly.

"This is your room, Steve," she said, gesturing inside. "Go in and rest. I have to go invite your fathers to dinner."

Steve stepped across the threshold, his eyes scanning the opulent furniture in quiet shock.

"Make yourself at home," Violet added softly before gently pulling the door shut.

She walked a few paces further down the hall and opened the adjacent door. The space opened up into a massive, sunlit bedroom dominated by crisp white decor and warm, delicate accents of lavender.

She turned to face me, holding the doorway. "This is your room... I didn’t know what colors you liked, so if you don’t like it, we can change it."

"We’re not staying here forever," I replied coldly, crossing my arms over my chest. "It’s just for one night."

Her mysterious smile returned, full of quiet, infuriating certainty. "We’ll see about that..."

She tilted her head, turning to walk away down the hall. "Get some rest... I won’t be long."