Chapter 19

I scoffed. What was wrong with Elena?

“Julian is nothing more than a debtor to me now.”

Elena sneered. “Stop pretending. He’s from the Blake family, and they’re on a level you’ll never reach. You could have it all by marrying Julian. How could you possibly let him slip away so easily?”

“Do you think everyone has to like what you like? Julian may be a treasure to you, but to me, he’s just an ex who owes me money,” I said, standing up.

Elena, previously smug, suddenly adopted a pitiful demeanor. “Elena, don’t talk about Julian like that.”

I didn’t bother arguing and turned to leave. To my surprise, Julian was standing behind me. That explained Elena’s shift from manipulation to victimhood.

I turned to face her.

Julian said through gritted teeth, “Serena, I thought you were just annoying, but now you’re spreading rumors about me.”

“Spreading rumors?” I corrected him. “I’m simply stating facts.”

“You—” Julian seethed.

“Isn’t it true?” I pressed. “Why else are you here? To pay me back?”

Julian practically spat my name.

“Serena, how could you? You two were once a couple,” Elena interrupted, her voice laced with cunning. “How much does Julian owe you? I’ll pay it off; just promise you won’t bother him anymore.”

“Alright,” I said, pulling out my payment code. “He owes me one hundred fifty thousand dollars.”

“What? He owes you one hundred fifty thousand dollars?” Elena was clearly taken aback.

“Yes,” I said, holding out the payment code. “Last time, someone else offered to pay for Julian, but I still left empty-handed. I hope you won’t let me down this time.” Elena visibly winced at the prospect of losing that much money, but she forced a smile for Julian.

“Elena, you can’t pay this back for me,” Julian interrupted, stepping in to stop her. “This is between me and Serena. You don’t have to take care of it for me.”

I thought I wouldn’t be getting my money back, but Julian’s intervention only made Elena more determined. “Julian, I don’t want you to be constantly hounded by Serena over a mere one hundred fifty thousand dollars.”

As soon as the payment notification came through, my mood lifted significantly. Elena’s eyes practically sparkled as she looked at Julian.

“Elena, I’ll pay you back later,” Julian said, clearly touched.

Elena blushed and smiled. “Julian, what’s the point of talking about paying me back? As long as you’re fine and Serena stops bothering you, that’s all that matters to me.”

I didn’t want to be a third wheel, so I turned to leave, but Elena decided to stir up some drama and stopped me. Julian’s hero complex was in full force.

“Serena, why are you bullying Elena?”

I frowned. “Bullying her? Are you even listening to yourself?”

“Isn’t that what’s going on? I heard it with my own ears when I came in.”

Elena’s eyes sparkled with sweetness and triumph. She stepped forward, adopting a conciliatory tone. “Julian, don’t worry, I was just trying to get you and Serena to make up.”