Broken Vows and Buried Twins novel Chapter 80

80 /235

Hester was completely hollowed out. She had screamed, she had cried, but Julian's relentless, boundary-pushing manipulation was genuinely driving her insane.

She pressed a shaking hand to her throbbing forehead. Taking a deep, shuddering breath, she looked at him, her voice barely a whisper. "Julian... what the hell will it take for you to just let me go?"

The crease between Julian's brows deepened. Seeing the total devastation in her eyes, his voice dropped to a low, persuasive hum. "I know I owe you. But I've promised you—Melody and Caden's presence will not threaten your position. I simply don't believe this is something we need to divorce over."

Hester stared at him, entirely repulsed.

It was terrifying how ruthless a man could become once his heart belonged to someone else. She used to think she knew Julian better than anyone. She used to think she was the only woman in the world who owned his total devotion. She never imagined he was capable of taking that devotion and handing it to someone else.

He had cheated on her without a shred of remorse, and now he was actively blocking the divorce because he believed Bella still needed her, or maybe because he wanted his bastard son to have a socially acceptable, high-status mother.

He was turning into a carbon copy of his father, Arthur Weston. The Weston family's toxic, narcissistic genes truly ran deep.

Hester had absolutely nothing left to say to him. She spun on her heel and started marching down the road.

The Phantom immediately accelerated. With a violent wrench of the steering wheel, Julian cut across her path and slammed on the brakes, blocking her off completely.

Hester stumbled to a halt, glaring at him through the windshield.

Julian's eyes were dangerously dark. "Are you getting in the car, or am I getting out there to put you in myself?"

Hester ground her teeth. She knew he wasn't bluffing; he would absolutely drag her kicking and screaming into the car.

A month ago, she would have fought him tooth and nail. But now, she was pregnant. Getting into a physical altercation with him was out of the question.