Chapter 12: The Truth About Julian
I turned toward Julian.
Every person in the room looked at him.
He looked like he already knew what was coming.
"Claire...""
I stood.
"Is it true?""
He didn't answer.
That was enough.
The room became silent.
"Julian.""
His shoulders dropped.
"Yes.""
My heart sank.
"Explain.""
He rubbed his hands together nervously.
"Before the wedding plans started, Richard approached me.""
I stared at him.
"What did he offer?""
Julian looked ashamed.
"A position.""
"Where?""
"Inside your company.""
I felt cold.
"What position?""
He swallowed.
"Your replacement.""
Nobody spoke.
The words were almost impossible to hear.
My own brother had once been offered my place.
"Richard wanted you gone?""
Julian nodded.
"He told me you weren't prepared to run such a large company.""
I laughed softly.
"He told you that?""
"Yes.""
"And you believed him?""
Julian looked away.
"At first.""
The honesty hurt.
"Why?""
"Because I was jealous.""
That answer surprised everyone.
Julian continued.
"You built something. You became successful. Everyone respected you.""
He looked at me.
"And I felt like I was always standing beside you.""
I didn't know what to say.
Because I had never seen him that way.
I had never compared us.
I had always wanted him to succeed.
"I never wanted your position.""
"I know that now.""
He wiped his eyes.
"But Richard made me believe I deserved more.""
I nodded slowly.
"And the wedding?""
"Was supposed to be my introduction.""
I frowned.
"What?""
"He wanted me to appear successful. Connected. Wealthy.""
My stomach turned.
"The wedding was a performance.""
Julian nodded.
"A way to make investors believe our family had influence.""
I sat down.
Everything connected.
The expensive venue.
The guest list.
The image.
It wasn't about love.
It was about power.
Then Julian said something unexpected.
"But I changed my mind.""
"Why?""
He looked at me.
"Because when you were hurt, nobody cared.""
His voice broke.
"Not even me at first.""
The room was quiet.
"I saw Dad like your humiliation.""
He looked down.
"And I realized we had all become people who only valued what you gave us.""
I didn't forgive him.
Not yet.
But I understood.
There was a difference.
After the meeting, Victoria arrived with urgent news.
"Claire.""
I looked up.
"What happened?""
"Richard filed a legal claim.""
"Against the company?""
She nodded.
"He's trying to freeze certain assets.""
I stood.
"Can he?""
"Not if we move first.""
I nodded.
"Then let's move.""
The next several days became a battle.
Not a family argument.
Not a wedding problem.
A real fight for everything I built.
My team worked nonstop.
Security reports.
Legal filings.
Investor communication.
Every decision mattered.
Then, three days later, we received a breakthrough.
Mark Collins was found.
And he was ready to talk.
When I entered the meeting room, Mark looked completely defeated.
He avoided eye contact.
"Claire.""
I sat across from him.
"Why?""
His face changed.
"I made a mistake.""
I almost smiled.
Everyone had the same sentence.
"You sold information about my company.""
"I know.""
"You helped them.""
"I know.""
"Why?""
He looked down.
"Because Richard promised me a position.""
I leaned back.
"So everyone wanted my company.""
Silence.
Then Mark said something that shocked me.
"Not everyone.""
I frowned.
"What does that mean?""
He looked toward the door.
"There's someone else you haven't questioned.""
"Who?""
Mark swallowed.
"The person who gave Richard the first information about your company.""
My heart stopped.
"Who?""
He looked directly at me.
May you like
Then said:
"It was someone you trusted before Julian ever met Richard.""
