Never Leave Me!

"Evelyn, you're finished." Julian's voice thundered, close behind her.

She whirled around.

Julian surged forward, his hands closing around her throat like steel traps.

Air vanished. Her vision swam. Panic clawed at her chest as her fingers scraped uselessly against his unyielding grip.

"Release... me..." Evelyn choked out, the words a strained whisper.

Julian's eyes blazed with pure fury, his features twisted into a terrifying mask. "Evelyn! You worthless bitch! How dare you do this to me?!"

His murderous glare showed no pity for her pale, trembling form. "Five years, Evelyn! We were together for five years! You not only left me, but you actually struck me?" His voice rose, thick with scorn and disbelief. "You have a talent for enraging me!"

Evelyn forced words through her constricted throat, defiance burning in her gaze despite the agony. "Spare me, Julian. You betrayed me first. And now you play the victim? I was loyal those entire five years. But you? Did you ever truly value me?"

He stared into her cold, indifferent eyes, his face contorting further. "You're just a woman! Know your place!" Contempt dripped from every word, each one a sharp blow. "We barely ended, and you're already married to Alexander, falling for that pathetic cripple? That is your fatal error!"

Disgust for Julian swelled within Evelyn, becoming unbearable.

Arguing with such warped logic was a waste of her last breaths.

Death hovered near, yet she stopped struggling. Her voice remained steady. "Alexander is not only handsome, but his kindness is genuine. Anyone would be drawn to him. He is leagues above you."

Julian's face flushed crimson, veins bulging at his temples. A raw scream of rage erupted from him. "How am I inferior to him? He's a useless invalid! Even his own family discards him! And you dare say he's beyond my reach?"

It was true. The prestigious Blackwood family held Alexander in low regard, his limited mobility a mark against him.

Julian, in his health, believed himself superior.

But Evelyn's blunt declaration—that he couldn't compare to Alexander—shattered his ego completely.

Evelyn met his glare, her voice icy and sharp. "You are a vile coward. Alexander is more of a man than you could ever be. To compare you to him insults him!"

Julian roared, dragging her deeper into the room, his grip unbreakable.

"Let me go!" Evelyn's plea was sharp with pain.

"Evelyn, listen!" Julian's voice roared with possessive fury. "You will never leave me! You belong to me, in life or in death!"

He hurled her to the ground. She landed hard on the filthy floor, the impact echoing.

Terror consumed Evelyn.

This couldn't be happening. This wasn't real...

As Julian loomed over her, hands grabbing to tear her clothes, the door exploded inward with a deafening crash.

The sound shattered the tense silence, snapping Julian's focus from his vile intent.

He spun around, face contorted with rage. "Who dares interrupt—" The words died in his throat.

Alexander stood in the shattered doorway.

He wasn't alone. A group of imposing men flanked him, their presence radiating authority and threat.

Utter disbelief twisted Julian's features.

What was this? How had Alexander found this remote place?

Wait... wasn't he supposed to be a cripple? How was he standing there, tall and formidable?