Chapter 91

When Zayn saw Julie’s silence, he knew she tacitly acknowledged his words. His hand shot out, grabbing her wrist tight, and he forcefully dragged her closer. He stared fixedly at her, his expression so stormy he looked as if he could summon a thunderstorm.

“Is Lucian aware of how much you flattered and fawned over me all these years?” he asked.

At those words, Julie stopped breathing for a moment. Then, she jerked her hand away, saying impatiently, “What exactly do you want to do, Zayn?”

Zayn sneered. “Return to me,” he said casually.

Julie stiffened, looking at him disbelievingly. Zayn’s expression was unnatural. Just now, his tone had been abnormally harsh.

“I admit, it’s been difficult to get used to not having you by my side, Julie,” he said. “If you obediently come back to me, I’ll let bygones be bygones.”

Julie frowned deeply, looking at him as if he were an idiot.

“What about Megan?” she asked. “Are you going to tell me you’ve grown tired of messing around with her?”

“If it bothers you, I’ll break up with her,” Zayn said carelessly. “My mother doesn’t approve anyway.”

Julie stared silently.

Seeing this, Zayn irritably took out his cigarette box and lit a cigarette. He took a long drag, then said, “We’re still the same as before.”

Julie frowned in disgust at the smell of his cigarette smoke. Lucian smoked too, but his cigarettes carried the faint fragrance of strawberries, unlike Zayn’s pungent, unpleasant smell. Repulsed, she took two steps back, asking coldly, “You really think highly of yourself, don’t you, Zayn?”

Zayn paused, his eyes narrowing slightly. “What do you mean?”

“Since you already know you’re a substitute, do you think I’ll still go back to you?” There was a hint of mockery in Julie’s tone.

“Julie, you promised me you would stay by my side forever,” Zayn snapped. “Don’t you dare go back on your word.” His every word was barbed with anger.

Julie nonchalantly arched an eyebrow. “Sue me, then.”

At her indifferent expression, Zayn turned livid with rage, his chest heaving. He was clearly incredibly angry.

After a moment, his anger turned to laughter—forced and unnatural, as if gritted through teeth.

“Do you think you’ll get together with Lucian just because he’s back, Julie? Who do you think you are, compared to him?” he questioned harshly. “Only I would tolerate someone from a family background like yours.”

“If I recall correctly, your father is still in a sanatorium, isn’t he? You have expensive medical bills every month, don’t you? Also, your mother is ignoring your father and spending all her money on your younger brother. Do you think your father will still be breathing after you fail to pay the medical expenses at the end of this month?”

Julie’s fists were clenched so tightly her knuckles had turned white.

Zayn knew everything—her difficult situation, her struggles, her urgent need for money—but he had never once thought about lending a helping hand. She looked up at him.

Suddenly, she laughed coldly. “So, are you trying to blackmail me using my father, Zayn? You’re just like your mother, huh?”

Zayn frowned deeply. “What do you mean, just like my mother? What did my mother tell you?”

Julie’s expression was filled with ridicule. “You two are truly mother and son. Even your methods are the same—you both used my father to threaten me.”

Zayn’s eyes widened in shock. He had no idea Martha had done such a thing. He had always assumed Julie had remained by his side because Martha had given her money to keep an eye on him.