Chapter 11
“As for Julian, all it takes is a single phone call from me. It doesn’t matter what he’s doing—work, meetings, or anything else—he’ll drop everything and come to me immediately. Even if…”
Susan’s lips curled into a venomous smile, hinting at something unspoken.
“Even if he’s in bed with you, he’ll still leave you behind and come to me.”
Estelle unknowingly clenched her fists. Her nails dug into her palms, but she felt no pain.
Yes, there had been times when Julian left her in the middle of their most intimate moments—all because Susan had called. This hadn’t just happened once.
Each time, Julian told her not to be unreasonable. She would beg him to stay, but he would still walk away all the same.
As if the passion they had just shared had been nothing more than an illusion, he left her there—flushed, humiliated, and utterly alone.
Estelle let out a soft chuckle as she met Susan’s gaze.
“So, when he abandoned me, was it to sleep with you?”
For a split second, something stiffened in Susan’s expression, but she quickly regained her composure. “Julian and I… We aren’t as filthy as you think.”
She could lie about many things, but… not this. Even as Julian’s first love, Susan had no rightful place in his life before his divorce. Otherwise, she would just be labeled the other woman.
Tsk. Those self-righteous housewives online loved perching on their moral high ground. They screeched about how any emotion outside marriage counted as cheating. But she and Julian had known each other first.
“Filthy?” Estelle repeated the word, her tone was light. “If there’s nothing between you two, what exactly are you gloating about? That you’re pure and innocent? That you never got to have his child? Or… that you never managed to marry him?”
Susan’s smile faltered, her composure cracking.
“So what?” she sneered, forcing herself to recover. “Even if I never married him or bore his child, if I wanted the moon, he would still find a way to give it to me.”
Something flashed through her mind, and her smirk returned.
“Oh, by the way, your rescheduled wedding? Yeah, that’s mine now… That dress you picked? It’s my favorite style. Turns out, after all these years, Julian still remembers exactly what I like…”
Estelle raised an eyebrow. “A fake wedding, and that’s enough to make you this happy? If you’re so capable, why don’t you just get him to divorce me and marry you instead?”
Her voice dropped slightly, her gaze piercing. “What’s wrong? You don’t want that?”
For a fleeting moment, jealousy flickered in Susan’s eyes. But then, her lips twisted into a cold smile. “No wonder Julian’s family doesn’t like you. His friends can’t stand you either. Even your husband and son don’t seem close to you. Ms. Summer, maybe you should take a hard look at yourself and figure out why.”
Estelle smiled faintly. “You’re right. I could never compare to your charms. Julian’s sister adores you. His friends adore you. Even Julian and Tobias are utterly bewitched by you. And, of course, even God Himself… must favor your type.
“Ms. Lynch, should I congratulate you on being so well-loved?”
Susan knew what Estelle was implying. She was mocking her. Her death was soon, after all.
Both women were ruthlessly digging into each other’s deepest wounds.
Once upon a time, Estelle would never have spoken so cruelly. But now, she had come to a realization.
If someone made her life miserable, she would return the favor. Why should she suffer in silence just to make others feel better?
Suddenly, Susan’s eyes turned red. They brimmed with unshed tears as she spoke in a pitiful tone. “Ms. Summer, you don’t have to remind me. I know I don’t have much time left. You’re right, everything Julian gave me was fake… I’m sorry. That wedding should’ve been yours—”
Before she could even finish, an enraged roar erupted from behind Estelle.
“What the hell do you mean by even God favors her? Estelle, who the hell are you cursing?”
Estelle turned her head and saw three people standing not far away. Zachary had a murderous expression on his face as he stormed toward her with an intimidating presence.
“Estelle, how dare you talk about Susan like that? Have you lost your damn mind?”
Standing beside him, Luther Remington frowned slightly. “Zack, don’t be impulsive. Maybe this is just a misunderstanding—”
Before he could finish, Zachary cut him off with a furious snarl. “What misunderstanding? You and Jules heard her loud and clear! She’s jealous that everyone adores Susan, so she said that even God likes her. She was cursing her to die!”
“This two-faced woman is nothing but an actress! She pretends to be innocent in front of everyone, but behind the scenes, she’s constantly bullying Susan. If the three of us hadn’t overheard it ourselves, who knows how long we’d keep falling for this vicious woman’s act?”
Zachary let out a cold laugh. “Well, well, looks like I finally caught you red-handed, didn’t I?”
Estelle stood her ground. Her face was unreadable, showing that she was completely unbothered by his accusations.
From the moment Susan switched her expression, Estelle had already guessed that people were watching from behind. And sure enough, here came Susan’s signature performance.
Luther met Estelle’s gaze and gave her a slight nod, acknowledging her before turning to Zachary.
“Zach, Ms. Summer is Julian’s wife. Even if she did something wrong, it’s not your place to handle it.”
Zachary’s steps faltered at that. He turned to Julian. “Jules, you heard what she said. She’s bullying Susan so brazenly. Don’t tell me you’re still going to defend her?”
Julian’s expression was cold, his sharp features tense. His lips were pressed into a thin line, and an overwhelming chill radiated from his entire being.
“Estelle, apologize.”
Zachary sneered, enjoying the show. “Jules is pissed. And trust me, that’s not something you want to deal with. Estelle, you’re done for.”
Estelle cast him a glance, saying nothing.
Luther raised an eyebrow, surprised by her reaction. Maybe it was just his imagination, but… something about her seemed different today. Normally, she would have immediately tried to explain herself. But now, she didn’t. She just stood there, detached and indifferent.
Julian’s anger burned even hotter at her lack of reaction. He hadn’t forgotten what Zachary told him earlier—that Estelle had come here to have fun.
She was already married. Didn’t she have any sense of responsibility as a mother? How could she show up at a place like this?
“Estelle.” His voice was frigid with barely contained fury. “Apologize to Susan. Now!”
Zachary added fuel to the fire, smirking. “She was so out of line. She should get down on her knees while she’s at it!”
Estelle let out a chuckle, the corners of her lips curving ever so slightly. She couldn’t be bothered to waste another second on them.
Without a second glance, she walked right past Julian. But just as she brushed past him, a strong hand suddenly gripped her wrist.
“Estelle.”
A low cold voice sounded above her head.
“I told you to apologize. Didn’t you hear me?”
