A Ruinous Night novel Chapter 5

"What are you so terrified of?" I shot back. "Even if Lucian found out, it wouldn't change a thing. He's disgusted by me. Even when I jumped off that roof, he never looked back. Haven't you realized that yet?"

"I didn't mean anything malicious by calling you," Mrs. Lockwood said defensively. "It's been so long, we aren't angry anymore. You were practically our ward, after all. I genuinely want you to have a good life. Finding a new man is a wonderful thing. Just focus on living happily with him, and don't let the past ruin your future."

"It won't."

"Glad to hear it."

I ended the call and slumped back into my office chair.

She claimed she wanted what was best for me, but she was just terrified Lucian might show me an ounce of mercy. She was worrying over absolutely nothing.

After I jumped, Lucian couldn't even be bothered to visit the hospital.

No matter how bitter I was, I had to accept the brutal truth: when a man cuts you off, he genuinely does not care if you live or die.

He probably wished I would disappear off the face of the earth. He probably wished I had died.

...

For Julian's birthday, I bought him a Montblanc fountain pen.

The very first time I saw him at the Lockwood estate, he was completely mesmerized by the rows of luxury pens displayed in Mr. Lockwood's study.

I knew they were ridiculously expensive, but I didn't care to research their exact market value. Julian's absolute fixation was proof enough that he'd love the gift.

A waiter pushed open the doors to the private dining room. Half the faces at the table were instantly recognizable—they were my old high school classmates.

Pure shock washed over their features. After a few seconds of dead silence, the room erupted into chaotic whispers.

"Stella Sharpe?"

"Didn't they say she died jumping off a building in college?"

"You got it wrong, she jumped, but she survived!"

"How do you survive a fall like that? No way! Total bullshit."

"We should ask Lucian. She really did jump, right, Lucian?"

Every single pair of eyes swiveled toward Lucian, thick with unspoken implications.

"Is Anna regretting breaking up with our Dr. Lockwood? She's been dropping off pastries at the hospital left and right."

"Did you two secretly get back together?"

Lucian frowned slightly. "Stop talking nonsense."

The guy sitting next to him chimed in. "They never even broke up! Where did that rumor even come from?"

This time, Lucian didn't utter a word of denial.

If he was willing to let them claim her publicly, he must be head over heels for her.

...

I slipped out to use the restroom. As I rounded the corner, I heard Lucian and Julian's voices echoing down the hall.

"Are you serious about her?"

"Of course I am, Lucian. I'm going to propose to her in the park later. The setup is already done. You just need to show up and clap."