The Man Who Waited vs. The Man Who Wasted novel Chapter 418

It also offered a profound sense of... security.

"Julian."

"Hmm?"

"You just changed the subject."

Julian feigned ignorance.

"Did I?"

"Did you?" Jocelyn blinked at him playfully. "Tell me, did you?"

A small smile tugged at Julian's lips.

"No."

Jocelyn let out a soft, teasing huff.

"Mr. Vance, it turns out you know how to play dirty."

Julian couldn't hold back a laugh.

Jocelyn: "Do you remember that you still owe me a bet?"

Of course, Julian remembered.

"I haven't forgotten. You can ask me to do one thing. It has no expiration date; you can cash it in whenever you want."

Jocelyn: "Then I want to cash it in right now."

Julian seemed to guess where this was going, a flicker of emotion passing through his dark eyes.

"Alright."

Jocelyn drained the last of the milk and elegantly dabbed her mouth with a napkin.

"I want you to answer my next questions with absolute honesty."

Julian: "Alright."

Suddenly, Jocelyn felt a surge of fear about asking.

She was terrified the answer would be exactly what she had guessed.

If it was.

How was she supposed to interpret the motives behind everything he had done?

Jocelyn braced herself before finally speaking.

"I'm going to ask you again. Back then, did you find out that I was Storm?"

Julian looked at her with an unreadable depth in his eyes for a few agonizing seconds.

"Yes."

"So, the person who sponsored my studies abroad, stepped in to handle that official's kid who was harassing me, and anonymously gave me that hundred-thousand-dollar bonus... was you."

Julian didn't answer right away.

Jocelyn met his gaze. "You wouldn't lie to me, right?"

A sudden wave of nervousness washed over Jocelyn.

"Selfish reasons?"

"I..."

The shrill ring of a phone shattered the moment once again.

This time, it was Jocelyn's.

One look at the caller ID, and her brows pinched together instantly.

Julian glanced at the screen.

"Don't want to answer?"

It was a call from Diana Evans.

Jocelyn felt utterly exasperated.

"She was the one who hurled toxic insults at me, she severed our family ties, and she made it crystal clear she never wanted to see me again until the day she died. So why is she blowing up my phone every other day?"

Julian: "She's probably calling to dig for gossip about the Lowell family."

Jocelyn picked up the call.

Just as he predicted.

Diana's tone reeked of nosy excitement, laced with a sadistic sort of glee.

"I heard that old hag died? Is it true?"