"Marry me, Julia, and I promise to make them pay for everything they've done to you. I'll help you get the revenge you want!" Caspian's deep, commanding voice echoed through the spacious alleyway where he and Julia stood, just moments after leaving the dimly lit pawn shop.

Julia felt her breath catch in her throat, her entire body freezing in shock at his words. She stared at him, wide-eyed, her mind racing to process what he had just said.

Caspian Michaelson, the city's wealthiest trillionaire, a man who could have anything and anyone he wanted, was standing before her, offering more than just his wealth.

He was offering his power, his influence, and his hand in marriage—all to help her settle the score against those who had wronged her.

But it wasn’t just anyone making this offer—it was her boss, the man she had never imagined would be standing here, asking her to marry him for revenge.

A flood of questions rushed through Julia's mind as she tried to make sense of everything that had happened in just a few seconds.

‘Does he really love me? Or is he doing this because he can’t stand seeing someone being mistreated, even though he’s usually so arrogant?’ she wondered, her eyebrows drawing together as she looked at him closely.

When Julia stepped into that pawnshop, she had one goal in mind: to sell the ring on her finger and use the money to pay for her son's hospital bill.

She never expected anything more. The thought that her boss, Caspian, would be the one to step in and help her was beyond anything she could have imagined.

She certainly didn’t expect him to kiss her, and the idea that he would propose to her was something she hadn’t even dared to dream of.

As the silence stretched on and Julia didn’t immediately respond, Caspian took a step closer, his eyes locked on hers.

He reached out and took her hand in his, his grip firm but gentle, as if he was silently promising that he wouldn’t let her go. It was strange, this tenderness in him.

Julia felt a surge of adrenaline coursing through her veins, a mix of excitement and fear battling within her.

The offer Caspian made was undeniably tempting—a chance to right the wrongs done to her, to get the revenge she had secretly craved.

But as much as she wanted to say yes, doubts gnawed at her. How could she agree to this so soon after her divorce? She barely knew Caspian, and the mystery surrounding her son’s father only made things more complicated.

"What do you say, Julia? I can…" Caspian began, his voice low and persuasive, but before he could finish, Julia took three hurried steps back, distancing herself from him.

The words she had to say next were hard, but she knew she had to say them.

Caspian’s eyes darkened with frustration as he realised what was coming. He could see it in the way she pulled away, in the hesitation in her gaze. The rejection he sensed made his jaw clench in anger.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Caspian, but this... this isn’t what I expected," Julia stammered, her voice trembling as she tried to steady herself.

"I know I want revenge, but I can’t use my boss to get it. I can’t do that to you. Please, understand."

"You’re not using me, Julia," Caspian replied, his voice firm, almost commanding, as he took a step forward, his eyes boring into hers with an intensity that made her heart skip a beat.

"This is what I want. I’m not offering this out of pity or obligation. I mean it."

Julia searched his face, trying to find any hint of deceit, but all she saw was determination and sincerity.

He wasn’t lying; she could tell. But that only left her more confused. Why would the richest man in the city, a man who could have anyone, choose her?

"I have a son," she blurted out, as if that fact alone should be enough to make him reconsider.

Caspian shook his head, brushing aside her concern as if it were insignificant. "It’s just an act, Julia. It’s not a real marriage," he explained, his tone almost dismissive.

At his words, her heart sank. So that’s all this was to him—a role to play, nothing more. He didn’t want her for who she was; he wanted her for the part she could play in his life, a means to an end.

The realisation stung, and Julia felt a wave of disappointment wash over her. The excitement she’d felt just moments before was replaced with a hollow ache.

"I... I must have gotten ahead of myself just now," Julia stammered, her voice laced with regret.

"Thank you for helping me, but I don’t think this is possible. I have a son to take care of. If you’ll excuse me, Sir." She gave a small, polite bow, her eyes downcast, before turning on her heels and walking away, her frown deepening with each step.

As she walked, her thoughts swirled in a chaotic mix of emotions. She didn’t want to get involved with Caspian.

The risks were too great, not just for her but for her son as well. She couldn’t afford to get herself in any kind of relationship with someone like him; it could end badly for both of them.

But what hurt the most was his casual dismissal of what could have been. To him, it was just an act, a means to an end.

Once again, she felt like nothing more than a pawn in someone else’s game, a tool to be used to achieve their desires.

By the time she reached the highway, her emotions were running high. She flagged down a cab, her movements quick and determined, and climbed into the back seat, giving the driver the address of the hospital.

As the car sped toward the hospital, Julia’s mind was consumed with thoughts of Caspian and everything he had said.

The memory of his words replayed in her mind, but even more vivid was the memory of his kiss. Her hand unconsciously reached for her lips, her eyes fluttering shut as she tried to steady her racing heart.

The warmth of his lips against hers lingered, refusing to fade, and she found herself struggling to push the memory aside.

Just as she was sinking deeper into her thoughts, the car jerked to a sudden stop, pulling her back to reality. The driver turned to meet her gaze, his voice breaking through the fog in her mind.

"We’re here, Ma’am," he informed her, his tone polite but firm.

"Oh, right. Thank you," Julia replied, snapping her eyes open. She forced a laugh, trying to shake off the embarrassment she felt.

How long had she been lost in her thoughts? She quickly paid the driver and climbed out of the car, her cheeks burning with the knowledge that he had witnessed her moment of distraction.

As she stood outside the hospital, Julia took a deep breath, preparing herself to face the reality waiting for her inside. But before she could take a step, she realised her dress was still damp from earlier. She glanced down at herself, noticing the wet spots that clung to the fabric. A wave of frustration washed over her.

"Bollocks!" Julia muttered under her breath, her gaze dropping to the damp, dishevelled clothes she was wearing.

The realisation hit her hard—they hadn’t taken any clothes when they left Logan Steele’s house. They had nothing but the clothes on their backs, and that wouldn’t be enough, especially for Liam.

The thought of going back to Logan’s house, her ex-husband’s house, was unbearable, but she knew she had no choice. Liam needed proper clothing, and she would do whatever it took to provide for him.

With a heavy sigh, Julia flagged down another cab and climbed in, her mind racing with dread at the thought of returning to the place she had once called home.

The ride felt endless, her anxiety building with each passing minute. When the cab finally pulled up in front of Logan’s house, Julia’s heart sank. She paid the driver and stepped out, the weight of what she had to do pressing down on her shoulders.

As she approached the front door, she tried to steady her breathing, to convince herself that she could handle this.

She rang the doorbell, her hands trembling slightly as she waited. Moments later, the door swung open, and Julia’s heart skipped a beat as she found herself face-to-face with Amelia, her sister.

Amelia’s eyes narrowed in disdain as she looked Julia up and down, her lips curling into a sneer. "And what do you want here?" Amelia demanded, her tone dripping with contempt.

There was a flicker of insecurity in her eyes, but she quickly masked it with arrogance.

Julia’s fists clenched at her sides, her anger rising as she took in the sight of Amelia standing in the doorway of the house she had fought so hard to keep intact for the past five years.

"I’m here to get our clothes," Julia replied, her voice firm, refusing to let Amelia’s hostility shake her.

"You don’t expect us to wear the same outfit all day, Amelia!"

Her words hung in the air, louder and more confident than she had intended, but she didn’t care.

She was tired of being pushed around, tired of feeling like she had to tiptoe around others to avoid conflict.

"What do I care?" Amelia snapped, folding her arms across her chest as she glared at Julia with barely concealed disdain.

"You signed the contract, remember? You agreed to leave without taking anything. So, if you don’t mind, I think it’s time for you to go, and now!"

Before Julia could respond, Amelia slammed the door in her face, shutting her out completely.

The sound echoed in the silence, leaving Julia standing alone on the doorstep, her heart sinking with the weight of her mistake.

What had she been thinking? Coming back to her ex-husband’s house, expecting anything but hostility; it was a foolish move, and she knew it.

Her fingers curled into tight fists as anger and frustration bubbled up inside her. "I’ll make you all regret this! For treating me this way!" she muttered through gritted teeth, the resolve in her voice tinged with pain.

With her head bowed, Julia made her way back to the hospital. Each step felt heavier than the last, the sting of Amelia’s words and the slammed door still fresh in her mind.

She tried to compose herself, smoothing down her damp dress and wiping away any traces of tears. Liam was overly sensitive, and she couldn’t let him see how upset she was. He needed to rest and focus on getting better, not worry about his mother’s troubles.

When she reached his room, she paused outside the door, taking a deep breath to steady herself. She forced a smile onto her face, one she hoped would hide the turmoil inside her, and pushed the door open.

"Mommy! You’re back!" Liam’s voice was full of excitement as he saw her. He jumped out of bed and ran to her, wrapping his small arms around her waist in a tight embrace.

The warmth of his hug was a welcome comfort, but his little hands soon noticed the dampness of her dress.

"Are you okay, Mommy?" he asked, concern creeping into his voice as he pulled back to look at her. His big, innocent eyes searched hers, looking for answers.

Julia’s heart ached at the worry in his voice. She couldn’t bear to let him see her upset, so she knelt down to his level, taking his hands in hers and looking him in the eye.

"Mommy is fine, sweetheart," she assured him, her voice soft and comforting. "I just found a pool on my way back and decided to dive in. I had a lot of fun, just like you’ve always wanted me to."

"You did?" Liam’s eyes lit up with excitement, his concern melting away.

"Yes, I did," Julia nodded, smiling as she held back the tears threatening to spill. She couldn’t let him see her cry, not now.

Liam’s happiness was all that mattered, and if a little lie could keep him from worrying, then it was worth it.

How could she possibly tell her little boy the truth? That she was broke, had failed to get money from the company, had been soaked to the skin by the rain when she tried to sell her wedding ring, and couldn’t even retrieve their clothes from Logan’s house because of the divorce? The weight of everything she was hiding felt unbearable, but she knew she had to keep it from him.

"I promise to take you to a real pool some other day, okay?" she said gently, trying to distract him. Liam nodded, his eyes bright with trust.

He gave her another quick hug before turning to head back to his bed. But as he moved, something on his wrist caught Julia's eye.

It was a bracelet, one she had never seen on him before. Her heart skipped a beat, a strange thrill surging through her as she stared at it.

"Liam?" she called out, her voice tinged with urgency. Her pulse quickened as she took a step closer, unable to tear her eyes away from the bracelet.

"Where did you get this from?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady despite the sudden rush of emotions.

Julia’s confusion and distress mounted as she stared at the bracelet. Liam’s innocent explanation only added to her growing sense of confusion.

"This? It's beautiful, right? Well, I was young to keep the secret, but I think I have to tell you now. I have found a husband for you, Mommy. He gave me this too. He said it’ll help me recover faster!"

As soon as Liam’s words registered, a sudden, jarring flash of memory surged through Julia’s mind.

It was as if she was yanked back in time, her vision clouded by the intense sensations of the past. She found herself holding onto a man, their bodies so close, experiencing a deep, overwhelming pleasure, but she couldn’t see his face clearly.

The memory was fragmented, hazy, and disorienting. The sensation of desire lingered, but the identity of the man was unknown.

Overwhelmed by the sudden rush of recollections, Julia clutched her head, her knees giving way as she collapsed to the ground.

A soft, distressed groan escaped her lips as she tried to shake off the confusing scenes that filled her mind.

"What just happened?" she gasped, her voice barely more than a whisper as she looked back at the bracelet with a mix of fear and uncertainty.

Her mind raced, piecing together fragments of the memory and the bracelet’s connection to her past.

Could this bracelet be a clue to finding Liam’s father? The thought filled her with both dread and hope.