Chapter 454
Even after all this time, Lily still couldn’t shake the fear she felt toward Julian. But every day he didn’t show up was a day she could breathe a little easier. That was enough. She kept murmuring to herself as she glanced at the food on the table, then slowly walked toward it. With each step, the chain around her ankle clanked dully, metal echoing in the room. Her fists clenched. That chain—everything about it—was a mark of her humiliation. She was no better than an animal, locked away in this place, cut off from light, from life.
How long would this nightmare last?
Judy, on the other hand, had been indulging in every luxury imaginable these past few days. Whatever the socialites did, she did too, and she played the game well. She spent most of her money on self-care, pampering herself from head to toe. Seeing her own transformation filled her with joy. Money really could change a person—not just in looks, but in presence. She thought back to the way people had been looking at her lately when she stepped out. Those admiring, even envious stares, filled her with genuine delight. Judy had also used her money to set up a fashion studio, planning to design custom outfits for celebrities. That way, she’d have her own business—something to stand on. Even if Joseph were no longer in her life, she knew she could still live well. She had already mapped out her backup plan and even planned how to handle Joseph. She was going to send another message in a few days.
What she didn’t expect was that Joseph would show up earlier than she had planned. Not only that, he had found her fashion studio. When Judy saw Joseph standing in front of her, she almost didn’t recognize him.
“You… these past few days…”
Before she could finish, Joseph pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly like a child, his face nuzzled into the crook of her neck. “Judy, I really missed you these past few days,” Joseph murmured.
Judy frowned, about to say something, but the tremble in his voice—almost like he was holding back tears—caught her off guard. For a moment, her heart softened.
“Alright, let’s talk in my office. Everyone’s watching,” she said quietly. The employees instantly lowered their heads, tactfully returning to their tasks without a word. She had been meaning to ask how Joseph had ended up in such a state—disheveled, weary, even worn down. It hadn’t been that long. How had he deteriorated so quickly? To be honest, she was surprised. More than that, she was confused, but somewhere in the mix, there was a trace of concern too. As she checked in with her own emotions, Judy felt unsettled.
Could it be she had actually fallen for Joseph? No. That couldn’t be. She knew better than anyone—there was no future between them. Joseph wasn’t marriage material. More than that, he wasn’t the kind of man who cared about building a home. She’d always been clear-eyed about that. So why was she starting to question everything she had believed all this time? The thought alone made her want to slap herself. She cursed inwardly. How could she even think something like that? A man like Joseph—with his endless family drama and that mess of a life—being with him could only lead to ruin. Judy took a deep breath, forcing those thoughts back down.
But as soon as they stepped into her office, Joseph leaned in and kissed her. It landed squarely on her lips. She hadn’t even had time to react, and once she did, her instinct was to pull away.