Juliette Pov

　　"You can't go in ma'am," the guard stopped me from going in as I stood outside the hall where Zachary was supposed to attend his business party.


　　"And why not?" I asked raising my eyebrow folding my arms across my body.

　　"You don't have the invitation card!" another said and I rolled my eyes.

　　"My husband has it. Now let me through!" I said and tried to bypass them but one of them stopped me by holding me by my arm.


　　"How dare you?" I glared at him and jerked my arm away from him.

　　"We can't let you pas-" the guard was cut off by someone behind me who spoke, "and why not?"


　　I turned around and was met face to face none other than Kristian who stood there with his eyes narrowed on the guard who just tried to stop me by my arm. He was in his blue business suit and his hair was styled slick back as he took long strides to reach us. His tone commanding and demanding and his soul piercing eyes penetrated the guard's face as he glared at him.

　　"And what do you think you are doing, stopping the owner of the building?" he demanded but I gasped internally when he said the owner of the building.

　　"Let me introduce you to Mrs. Sullivan," Kristian said and I watched as fear and shock marred their face when they realized who I was.

　　"And don't expect me not to tell him about the stunt you just pulled," Kristian said as he pulled his tie trying to loosen it and then looked back at me with a smile.

　　"W-we 're sorry si-r, ma'am please forgive us," came their trembled voice but Kristian didn't even let me speak as he intervened "Shall we?" he asked and I nodded reluctantly. The guard hurried and opened the door open for us.

　　"I didn't have any idea that Zachary owns this building," I whispered once we entered toa hallway.

　　"Zachary owns many things that you can't even imagine," Kristian spoke looking at me sideways. His tone silent, void of any emotions.

　　Don't tell me he is miffed with me too...

　　"Kristian!" I called him and he stopped right before me with his back facing me.

　　"I know you must be really upset with me but I-" I pursed my lips looking to my right blankly.

　　"It was the situation. I never really wanted to hurt your brother nor do I intend to hurt him any further" I said truthfully.

　　"I am here to make things work between Zachary and me. And I am really sorry for what that has been going thr-" he cut me off for the first time as he spoke: "You don't need to apologize to me. I hope things work between you two and I don't really blame you for everything. I know that both of you has suffered and I am no one to interfere but-" he turned around all of a sudden his eyes emotionless and with chin held high he spoke: "Don't hurt my brother ever. I know he loves you. I have seen his condition when you weren't there. I don't want to interfere but he is my only brother whom I respect the most in this world."

　　Gulping down the lump in my throat I nodded agreeing to him "I will not hurt him. Ever" I said the last part more to myself.

　　"That's good," he mumbled and again all of a sudden I watched as his behavior changed to that of his normal one. He smiled and his eyes began to sparkle.

　　"I guess he owns your heart too," I heard him mumble which made me smile a little.

　　"But don't think that I'll let him pass if he hurts your feelings too," he said and gave me a boyish grin which immediately made me take a sigh of relief.

　　"Come to think of it, what are you doing here?" he asked as he straightened his suit.

　　"I am here for him of course," I said and looked behind him towards the door which was the main entrance to the hall.

　　"Oh yeah!" he said and nodded.

　　"Let's go then," he said and I nodded. He turned around and took a step further but stopped and again turned back to face me.

　　"You have come here alone?" he asked which made me raise an eyebrow.

　　"Eh?" I asked and he pulled his tie once again. He looked uncomfortable once again.

　　"I mean I thought your friend... um what's her name again?" he asked rubbing his neck.

　　"Kiara?" I asked and he nodded all of sudden seeming interested to know about her.

　　"Yeah! Kiara it is! Wher-" once again he stopped in the middle and coughed a little time before continuing "Has she not accompanied you?" he asked looking straight into my eyes.

　　"No, she has work to do," I said and I watched as disappointment washed his face and that made me curious to know what's the matter.

　　"Why do you ask? Do you want to see her? You can always come to our hou-" again he intervened saying: " No- No, I mean yeah why not?" he laughed nervously and turned around swiftly before heading towards the door.

　　"Interesting" I smirked seeing his reaction.

　　Is something going on between these two?

　　But Kiara would have already told me about it.

　　I shrugged it off for the moment and adjusted my attire before walking towards the door which was already held open by Kristian who seemed as if he was avoiding any further eye contact with me.

　　What's wrong with him all of a sudden?

　　I looked at his weird body language but then I heard a familiar voice which immediately made me turn towards the direction of the voice and there I saw him talking to some people. A smile immediately formed on my face seeing him. He was wearing a dark grey slim fit tuxedo but what made him look more handsome was his new haircut. His hair was nicely and closely trimmed around the edges. The cut is even, and the haircut looked tidy. The hairstyle suited him and this enhanced his face even more.

　　He was talking to whom I guessed as his business clients.

　　"By the way, I forgot to tell you something," I heard Kristian's voice from behind me and I turned to look at him.

　　"You look strikingly enticing today," he grinned and I smiled mouthing a 'thank you' to him.

　　"But I think you will be in trouble," he smirked to which I furrowed my eyebrows confused.

　　"But why?" I asked and he shrugged before turning around and leaving towards the other side of the hall.

　　"Ask this to Zachary by yourself," he said before leaving.

　　"Huh?" I thought.

　　It was not really a big hall and only a few people were present inside the hall. But the interior inside was amazing with white walls and white tiles gave it a futuristic look. People were drinking wine, while some ladies were standing in groups chatting and gossiping.

　　"I was thinking about a proposal Mr. Suliivan," I heard and turned back towards Zachary who has still not noticed my presence.

　　"Proposal?" he asked.

　　"Have you met my daughter Lidia?" the man asked and Zachary shifted in his position buttoning up his suit.

　　"I guess I've met her," Zachary replied and the man looked happy all of a sudden.

　　"Now how about knowing he-" the man was cut off by another man "Oh don't even think about that Felice!" the second man laughed sipping his wine.

　　"And why not?" the man asked and the second man smiled "Because Mr. Sullivan is a married man," he laughed and the first man looked taken aback.

　　"Is it?" he asked directly to Zachary.

　　"Indeed," Zachary smiled genuinely. A warm sensation engulfed my body when I realized he still regards himself married and as my husband. But again guilt washed over me when I remembered the last thing he told me.

　　But it was always Nicholas! Nicholas and Nicholas to you!

　　It's not true, I admit his advances went unnoticed by me but when I fell in love with him, it was he who was always in my mind and even in my heart. It was only because of him I was able to move on from Nicholas's memories. It was because I fell in love with him, I forgot Nicholas so easily. And the love that I felt for Zachary was even more than I ever felt for Nicholas. So large that I doubt I ever loved Nicholas heartily. But with Zachary, I was always myself. Even though I loathed and hated him in the beginning but still I felt comfortable and warm whenever he was near me.

　　He helped me when I was sick.

　　He saved me from the elevator.

　　He saved my life once multiple times, risking his from the enemies.

　　He captured both Vito and Nicholas.

　　He came after me even though I was the one who left him.

　　He cared for me.

　　And he even declared that he loves me.

　　What more do I need?

　　"He is right! I am totally an Idiot!" I smiled to myself "His idiot,"

　　"Oh forgive me I didn't know that!" the man said and Zachary nodded his head.

　　"So, where is Mrs. Sullivan?" the man asked and that's where I watched Zachary's body tensed up.

　　Is he still mad at me?

　　No problem. He can't stay mad at me forever.

　　Taking in a deep breath, I closed my eyes and prepared myself for what I had planned to do.