His Betrayal: Choosing Her Over Me

When Julian walked off with Piper, Leia couldn’t hold her composure any longer. She staggered so hard she would’ve completely collapsed if Sarah hadn’t caught her. The ache in her chest twisted like a sharp blade, squeezing the air right out of her lungs in this suffocating room. She bolted for the balcony, gasping for fresh cool air, fighting desperately to hold back her tears. I won’t cry, she silently ordered herself. I can’t cry. I can’t let Mom worry. Shoving the tears down her throat, she pulled a wobbly, strained smile onto her face.

One look at Leia’s face and Sarah’s chest ached with sympathy. She hurried over to prop her up. "Honey, are you okay? Don’t scare me like this!"

"I’m fine, Mom," Leia answered. "I just got winded for a second. I’m better now."

Sarah kept rubbing slow, soothing circles on her back, her own heart throbbing. "You know this is their fault, not yours. Why didn’t you tell me how bad it was? Holding all this in just made you hurt more, baby."

"If you’d told me, I never would’ve let them treat you like this."

"You’re too good to me, Mom," Leia said, wrapping her tight in a hug and resting her head on her shoulder.

Sarah stroked her hair, a messy tangle of anger and sorrow churning in her chest. Julian was a total idiot to throw away someone as amazing as Leia for that manipulative little gold-digger.

After about a minute, Leia said something that left Sarah completely stunned. "Mom, Julian and I are getting divorced."

Sarah snapped straight, grabbing Leia by the shoulders, her eyes blowing wide with shock. "You… you really want a divorce?"

"Mom, please stay calm," Leia begged. "Julian doesn’t love me. He never stopped loving Piper. Dragging this out is just pointless. It’s better for both of us to walk away. I just… I just want him to be happy."

Tears burned Sarah’s eyes. She turned away and swiped them fast, too choked up to speak. Divorce? Over her dead body, she’d never accept that.

"Mom, please say you’ll support me," Leia pleaded.

"No way, Leia," Sarah said firmly. "Don’t you worry. I’m gonna get that other woman out of the picture for good, and Julian will come back to you. Trust me, okay?"

Sarah’s eyes blazed with determination. She didn’t have much time left in this world, but she was going to see Leia and Julian happy together with their own little family before she went. That was her dying wish.

"Mom…"

"Alright, let’s drop this for now," Sarah said, changing the subject fast. "I came over to make you something nice to eat. After dinner, we’ll head to the hospital for your check-up, okay?"

"Okay," Leia agreed, a bittersweet small smile tugging at her lips as she led her mom downstairs.

…

In the car, Julian and Piper sat in the back while Thomas, Julian’s assistant, drove. The air was thick enough to cut with a knife, oppressive dead silence hanging over everything. Julian had his eyes closed, trying to force his body to relax, while Piper stared at him, a giddy little triumph fizzing in her chest. He’d finally chosen her over Leia. Even with Sarah’s little interruption, which was totally meaningless anyway, it felt so good.

Every time she thought of Leia’s wet, heartbroken eyes, a jolt of pure joy shot through her. Slowly, she let her hand brush over Julian’s thigh, inching it up toward his arm. She felt his whole body go rigid, caught the tiny flutter of his eyelashes against his cheek.

Suddenly, Julian’s eyes flew open, locking on her wandering hand. He knew exactly what she was doing—blatant, in-your-face seduction. Far from flattered, he just felt annoyed. "Don’t. I’m tired," he said sharply.

His words doused her cold instantly. She pulled her hand back, a flash of anger sparking in her eyes before she hid it fast. She turned to him, her voice soft as silk. "Julian, where are we going now?"

"We’re stopping at Grand Estates. For now you’ll stay at a hotel—we can’t go back to the apartment."

"My mom’s threats are no joke."

"Oh," she answered flatly, sitting up straight, her whole good mood ruined.

Suddenly the car hit a deep pothole hard, jolting Piper right into Julian’s chest with a little shriek of surprise. His heart skipped a beat when he instinctively caught her, and he shot Thomas a deadly glare.

"Watch the damn road," Julian growled, his voice ice cold.

Thomas broke out in a cold sweat, staring at their compromising position through the rearview mirror. "I’m sorry, Mr. Shaw. I didn’t see it. I’ll be more careful, I swear."

Julian’s expression softened just a fraction. And Piper preened, certain that little accident proved he still cared about her.

…

At the dining table, Leia stared at the bowl of herbal stew Sarah had made her, overwhelmed. It was so much—a whole big bowl, just for her. Mrs. Taylor, their housekeeper, hurried over to encourage her. "Mrs. Shaw, your mom went through hell to track this down for you. They say it’s good for helping with pregnancy symptoms."

"Really?" Leia replied, a faint frown pulling at her brow. When Mrs. Taylor headed back to the kitchen for more plates, Leia snuck fast to the bathroom and poured the whole stew down the drain. After all, if there was even a chance she was pregnant, she couldn’t risk taking random herbal garbage blindly.

When she sat back down at the table, she pulled a dramatic teary face right as Sarah joined her. Seeing Leia’s over-the-top expression, Sarah chuckled. "You drank it, didn’t you?"

"Yeah, Mom. It was so bitter it felt like torture."

Sarah laughed. "Don’t worry, I’ve got candy for you."

With that, she went to grab a handful of pieces from the jar. Right there on top, Leia spotted the mint candy Julian had bought her once, and her chest went tight. He’s probably with her right now…

…

After dinner, Leia drove Sarah to the oncology hospital. They checked in and joined the queue, waiting for their turn. The line for the doctor stretched all the way down the hall.

Sarah craned her neck to peek ahead, then turned to Leia all excited. "Dr. Kent is back from overseas this year! He’s one of the top cancer research specialists in the country, and he’s only here for a few months. You can’t get an appointment with him no matter how much money you throw at them."

Leia smiled. "He sounds really impressive."

"Not just impressive—he’s handsome as hell, just as good-looking as that rat Julian, and carries himself like a true gentleman. Even this old lady can’t help but swoon. Shame I don’t have an extra daughter to set him up with!"

Leia laughed. "Now you’ve got me curious just how stunning this doctor must be."

After what felt like forever waiting, it was finally their turn. Leia never expected the doctor seeing her mom would be him—the young, heart-striking Dr. Alex Kent. He was just as cold and meticulous as she remembered, completely focused on nothing but his work.

A few young women hung around nearby, sneaking admiring glances before one worked up the courage to step forward. "Dr. Kent, I like you. Could we…?"

Without looking up, Dr. Kent answered coolly, "If you’re not a patient, please leave. You’re wasting other people’s time."

"Dr. Kent, can I take you out to dinner?"

"Sorry, I don’t eat out. Leave," he answered stiffly.

"Dr. Kent, we just want to be friends."

"I’m not interested in making friends," he stated icily.

His bluntness was enough to send the girls scurrying away in tears, and even Leia had to hand it to him—he didn’t sugarcoat a damn thing. Being that hot really did let you get away with anything, even breaking the most beautiful girls’ hearts without an apology.

After the girls left, it was Sarah’s turn, and Leia followed her in. Even with how strikingly beautiful Leia was, Dr. Kent’s eyes only flickered over her for half a second before snapping right back to Sarah.

"What seems to be the problem?"