The Man Who Waited vs. The Man Who Wasted novel Chapter 240

Claire didn't even see Ethan move.

One second he wasn't there, and the next, his hand was clamped around her throat.

Ethan stared at her with the cold, dead eyes of a starving wolf locking onto prey.

His grip felt less like a hand and more like a set of steel jaws, ready to snap her neck and end her life right there on the pavement.

True panic finally set in. Claire looked at Julian, her eyes wide with absolute terror.

Julian stood there, relaxed and elegant, the same faint smile still resting on his lips.

But seeing that smile now sent a deep, primal shudder through Claire's entire body.

Julian stood tall, his hands casually tucked into his pockets.

"Ms. Lowell, the person capable of threatening me hasn't been born yet. You're severely overestimating yourself."

With a single look from Julian, Ethan instantly released his grip.

Claire stumbled backward, clutching her throat, too terrified to even breathe properly, let alone speak.

Julian stepped closer to her.

"You are more than welcome to go tell your brother exactly what you saw tonight. Honestly, I'm incredibly curious to see what he thinks he can do about it."

Without another word, Julian turned and walked into his building.

Claire stood frozen on the sidewalk for a very long time.

A freezing gust of wind whipped past, making her violently shiver, and finally snapping her out of her daze.

Every time she knew she was going to see Julian, she dressed to the nines, sacrificing warmth to look as gorgeous as possible.

And every single time, he looked right through her.

Claire was exhausted.

Her entire life, whatever she wanted, her family made sure she got.

So why couldn't she get the one man she actually wanted?

Claire wrapped her arms around herself, trying to stave off the biting cold.

The sheer terror she felt moments ago was already beginning to fade.

Her mind replayed the look on Julian's face—dark, ruthless, like the Grim Reaper himself—and strangely, it didn't scare her anymore.

A lovesick grin spread across Claire's face.

God, he looked so hot just now.

Upstairs in the apartment, Ethan stood by the window, peeking through a gap in the curtains.

"Sir, that girl is still standing out there."

Julian dropped onto the sofa, completely drained. "Let her stay there."

Ethan walked over, noticing his boss's exhaustion, and couldn't resist joking.

"Boss, what are you talking about?! I belong to you for life! I'm not going anywhere! And what do you mean, 'marry me off'?! I'm a grown man!"

"Besides, I don't want to get married. Marriage is way too much drama."

Julian shifted on the sofa, resting his head on his hand.

"Is marriage really that much of a disaster?"

Ethan nodded emphatically.

"Look at Jocelyn as a prime example. She married Adrian, and what did it get her? A completely toxic mess and a broken heart."

Julian's eyes darkened slightly.

"She just married the wrong guy."

Ethan pressed on. "And look at you, Sir. You might not be married to Miss Hailey yet, but you're engaged. Even if you do tie the knot, it's not going to be some happy ending."

Julian paused.

"Why not?"

"Because you don't love Miss Hailey, and she doesn't love you. It's just a cold, calculated business transaction."

Julian closed his eyes again, the exhaustion lines deepening on his face.

Ethan hesitated.