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Chapter 2 The Fiancé’s Final Insult
I spent the day in a haze of anger, meticulously packing Julian’s things into boxes. Six years of shared life reduced to cardboard containers lined up by the door. His favorite coffee mug. Those hideous plaid pajamas I’d always threatened to burn. The silver cufflinks I’d given him for our first anniversary.
With each item, I unearthed memories I was determined to bury. My hands worked mechanically while my mind kept replaying Julian’s betrayal over and over.
“Your wedding dress looks better on Ivy anyway, I muttered sarcastically, tossing his prized golf trophy into a box with less care than it deserved. The satisfying crack it made as it hit his college diploma frame brought me a fleeting moment of joy.
Just before seven, the doorbell rang. I smoothed down my black dress–deliberately chosen to look like I was attending a funeral–and opened the door.
Julian stood there looking haggard, but it was the woman behind him who caught my attention. Mrs. Landon, Julian’s mother, her lips pursed in disapproval as she surveyed me.
“Hazel, Julian said, his expression a practiced mix of guilt and resolve. “You remember my mother.
“Mrs. Landon,” I nodded coolly, stepping aside to let them in.
“I thought we’d moved past the formality, dear,” she said with a thin smile. “You used to call me
Mom.”
“That was before your son decided to marry my sister instead of me,” I replied sweetly. “Please, come in. The boxes by the door are Julian’s things.”
Julian winced. “Hazel, I know this is difficult-
*Is that the agreement?” I cut him off, pointing to the folder in his hand.
He nodded, following me to the dining table. His mother trailed behind, her heels clicking disapprovingly on my hardwood floors.
“I can’t believe you’re doing this, Hazel, Mrs. Landon said as we sat down. “After everything our family has done for you. Julian gave you your start in fashion, introduced you to all the right people-
“Mother, please,” Julian interrupted, but I was already leaning forward.
“What your family did for me?” I asked, my voice dangerously soft. “You mean besides Julian using my rare blood type to keep himself alive for the past six years? Or perhaps you’re referring to how he’s currently wearing the wedding tux I designed while planning to marry my
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sister?
Mrs. Landon’s face flushed. “You’re being unreasonable. Ivy is dying-
“So you keep telling me. I turned to Julian. “The agreement?”
Julian slid the folder across the table. I opened it, scanning the documents that transferred ownership of A&G Bespoke entirely to me. Our jointly founded fashion company would now be mine alone. It felt hollow–a business victory that couldn’t patch the hole in my heart.
“It’s all there,” Julian said. “As you demanded.”
“Not quite everything,” I said, placing the documents down. “There’s the matter of my wedding
dress.”
Julian blinked. “What about it?”
“I want one million for it.”
Mrs. Landon gasped. “One million dollars? For a dress? Have you lost your mind?”
I kept my eyes fixed on Julian. “That dress took me six months to design and create. Italian silk, French lace, hand–sewn crystals. It’s an Ashworth original worth every penny.”
“This is extortion,” Mrs. Landon hissed.
Julian held up his hand to silence his mother, “It’s fine. I’ll transfer the money”
“Julian!” his mother protested.
“No, Mother. She’s right. He pulled out his phone, making the transfer with a few taps. My phone dinged with the notification, and I checked it before continuing.
“Now,” I said, leaning back in my chair, “I believe we’re done here.
Julian shifted uncomfortably. “Actually, there’s one more thing.”
Of course there was. I raised an eyebrow, waiting.
“Ivy… she was hoping you might let her have the wedding jewelry set as well. The one you had custom–made to match the dress”
I stared at him in disbelief. The jewelry set–a diamond and sapphire necklace, earrings, and bracelet I’d designed myself. The sapphires matched my eyes exactly.
“She’s dying, Hazel, Julian added quietly. “It would mean the world to her.
“What exactly does she want my jewelry for when she’s going to be dead in three months?” I asked coldly.
Mrs. Landon gasped again. “How dare you speak about your sister that way!”
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“Half–sister,” I corrected, just as Julian had done to me on the phone. “And she’s made my life. hell since we were children.”
Julian leaned forward, his eyes pleading. “Hazel, I know things haven’t been easy between you two, but people can change. Ivy has changed. The illness has made her reflect on her life.”
I almost laughed at his naivety. “Has it? Or is she just continuing her lifelong hobby of taking
what’s mine?”
“Please,” Julian whispered. “I’ll make it up to you. After… after Ivy passes, we could still have our future together. An even grander wedding, I promise.
The silence that followed was deafening. I stared at him, unable to process what I’d just heard.
“You think, I finally said; each word sharp as glass, “that after you marry my sister in my wedding dress, I’ll just wait patiently for her to die so we can pick up where we left off?”
Julian had the decency to look ashamed, but he pressed on. “I still love you, Hazel. This doesn’t change that. It’s just… it’s the right thing to do for someone who’s suffering
I felt something break inside me–the last thread of affection I’d been clinging to. This wasn’t just betrayal; it was delusion of the highest order.
“Julian,” I said, my voice surprisingly steady, “you are truly the most pathetic man I’ve ever
known.”
“Now see here- Mrs. Landon began, but I silenced her with a look.
“Fine,” I said, turning back to Julian. “Another million for the jewelry set.”
“Two million dollars for jewelry and a dress?” Mrs. Landon sputtered.
“Two million dollars is a small price to pay for stealing someone’s fiancé and wedding,” I countered.
Julian nodded, making the second transfer without argument. My phone pinged again.
I signed the company transfer agreement, pushing it back across the table. “You pay me the money, and tomorrow, I will personally deliver the full set of jewelry to the hospital, and visit my good sister while I’m at it.”
A flash of uncertainty crossed Julian’s face. He knew my relationship with Ivy well enough to be concerned about what such a visit might entail.
“Hazel, maybe I should-”
“No,” I cut him off firmly. “You’ve made your choice, Julian. Now live with it.” I stood up, signaling the end of our meeting. “Take your boxes on the way out. I won’t be home tomorrow to let the movers in.”
Mrs. Landon looked like she wanted to say more, but Julian took her arm, guiding her toward
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the door.
“Thank you, Hazel,” he said quietly. “I know this isn’t easy.
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I didn’t respond, just watched as he awkwardly gathered the first load of boxes. At the door, he paused, looking back at me with those eyes I once thought were sincere.
“I really do love you,” he said. “I always will.”
I met his gaze steadily. “Goodbye, Julian.”
After the door closed behind them, I sank onto the couch, staring at my phone. Two million dollars. A small fortune that did nothing to fill the void his betrayal had left.
Tomorrow, I would see Ivy. My half–sister who had spent her life trying to take everything from me. Who was now supposedly dying, yet still found the energy to steal my wedding, my fiancé, and now my jewelry.
I picked up the small velvet box containing the sapphire set, opening it to see the stones gleaming in the lamplight. They were exquisite–and perfect for what I had planned.
I smiled for the first time that day. If Ivy wanted my jewelry so badly, I would be delighted to give it to her personally. And unlike Julian’s ridiculous fantasy, I had no intention of waiting. around for her to die before reclaiming my life.
Tomorrow, the real reckoning would begin.
