The Man Who Waited vs. The Man Who Wasted novel Chapter 281

Sarah took a moment to steady her breathing.

"Have you asked Jo about this?"

"Yeah, I brought it up indirectly once, but I didn't actually mention the necklace."

"So... Jo has no idea Julian used to have feelings for her?"

"No, it's not 'used to.' He always has."

No wonder he treated Jocelyn differently from everyone else.

No wonder he was so attentive to her moods, showing up right when she needed him most. Helping her through her darkest times, her lowest points... all without asking for a single thing in return.

Sarah let out a long breath.

The question she had been wrestling with finally had an answer.

Julian really did love Jo. And he had for a very long time.

Liam looked at Sarah with rare seriousness.

"This was never meant to leave this room. I didn't even want Jocelyn to know. I never expected you to figure it out, but I need you to keep this a secret. Don't say a word to her. Can you do that?"

"I don't get it. Why?"

Sarah murmured, half to herself.

Liam noticed her strange reaction.

"Hey, is it really that hard to accept? What's with that look on your face?"

"It's nothing. I'm just a little shocked."

Sarah took another breath, waiting until her emotions settled before speaking again.

"Jocelyn is divorced now anyway. If he loves her, why can't he just tell her?"

Liam scoffed.

"You make it sound so simple. What about his fiancée? What is he supposed to do about her? What about all the responsibilities and promises he's carrying?"

"Should he just throw it all away? Abandon everything else that matters just to chase after love?"

Sarah: "So what if he does? Why shouldn't he?"

Liam: "And do you really think Jocelyn would want him to do that? If Julian actually threw away his responsibilities and broke the promise he made to his mother just for love, Jocelyn would end up looking down on him."

Any rational woman would despise a man who abandoned his duties for a romance—especially a woman who had just survived a disastrous marriage and was thinking clearer than ever.

His words hit her like a splash of cold water.

Sarah elbowed him in the ribs.

"Get lost!"

Liam's expression turned serious again.

"Jokes aside, give it to me straight. Can you keep this a secret?"

Her emotions back under control, Sarah rolled her eyes.

"No."

Liam frowned.

"If you let the cat out of the bag, it's going to ruin everything. You might not even be friends anymore. You're not that stupid, are you? What good would it do you?"

Sarah chucked a book right at him.

But she aimed carefully enough to miss.

"Liam Bancroft, what do you take me for? Some gossip who lives for drama, or just a brainless idiot? You don't think I know when to keep my mouth shut?"

Liam laughed. "Who knows? Maybe you're secretly harboring a crush on our guy Julian."

Sarah froze. For a long time, she didn't say a word.