Chapter 6
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The man's ego was truly astronomical.
His arrogance was unbearable. I shoved him back and laughed coldly: "Julian, get over yourself! Not only have I never been pregnant with your child, but even if I had been—I would've aborted it in a heartbeat!" I looked him dead in the eye. "Someone like you, worthy of carrying on my bloodline? In your dreams!"
That hit a nerve. His jaw clenched, voice dropping to a dangerous chill: "Whatever kind of man I am, weren't you the one throwing yourself at me? Begging me to take you to bed?!"
"I did debase myself," I wouldn't deny my past foolishness, "but from the moment you shoved me down those stairs for precious Isabelle, every ounce of love I had for you died."
At this, Julian's face drained of color, his eyes flickering with what almost looked like guilt.
So he actually feels guilty? How novel. He'd never shown anything but contempt for me before.
I remember it clearly. Over four years ago, Isabelle and her brat attacked me first. When I defended myself, the three-year-old terror sank her teeth into my wrist. I instinctively shook her off—harder than I meant to—and she fell, wailing dramatically. Seeing her precious angel cry, Isabelle came at me like a wildcat.
Julian walked in on us grappling with each other.
He charged upstairs and, without a single question, immediately sided with Isabelle. "Clara, have I spoiled you so much that you think you can attack Isabelle?" Terrified his precious might get scratched, he shoved me back while shielding her.
I was standing near the top of the stairs. The force of his push sent me tumbling backward, down the entire flight.
As pain exploded through my body, I had a moment of perfect clarity: this toxic relationship had to end.
Now, four years later, seeing that flicker of remorse in his eyes was almost comical.
"Julian, you know exactly how badly I was hurt that day."
"From that moment on, every feeling I had for you died. So how could I possibly have wanted your child?"
"And even if I had been pregnant then, that fall down the stairs would've taken care of it."
"So get a grip and stop claiming random children are mine. You sound completely unhinged."
At my words, what little color remained in Julian's face vanished. His lips trembled, but no sound came out.
I figured I'd made myself crystal clear. If he had any sanity left, he'd drop this delusion. I moved to push past him toward my desk.
But as I took a step, the world tilted sideways. Everything went black.
