Who Saved Me?

I heard the kidnappers panic.

“You! How did you find—”

A single gunshot answered him.

Then came the sounds of fighting. Men screaming.

I couldn’t see anything. I struggled to get off the floor. A bullet tore past my ear, and the air filled with the scorched smell of gunfire.

Someone threw himself over me.

I smelled blood. A lot of it.

Beneath it was a cool, distinctive ambergris fragrance.

I passed out.

When I woke in a hospital bed, Julian was the first person I saw.

He was sitting beside me.

“Stella. Thank God you’re awake!” He pulled me into his arms. “I was worried sick.”

I smelled his cologne.

Cool ambergris.

Julian had saved me.

Tears spilled down my face. I was overwhelmed with gratitude and terrified he had been hurt.

“Julian, what were you thinking? Going in there alone to rescue me? Are you injured?”

He took my hand, held it over his heart, and gently wiped my tears away.

“Silly girl. As long as you’re safe, anything I did was worth it.”

“But I’m only adopted,” I choked out.

“You matter as much as my own life.”

He kissed my forehead.

After a pause, he lowered his voice, looking guilty.

“Stella, you were missing for three days. Somehow it got out. Now everyone knows you were kidnapped and might not survive. It’s been terrible for the company. Dad wants you to hold a press conference. Say you staged it yourself for attention and the company had nothing to do with it.”

To my adoptive father, my life mattered far less than the company’s reputation.

Julian squeezed my hand.

“But you don’t have to, Stella. If you don’t want to, I’ll explain to Dad and the board.”

How could I bear to make things difficult for him?

That very afternoon, I put on flawless makeup and faced the press.

I said it had been a publicity stunt.

For three days, people online tore me apart. Someone even sent funeral wreaths to our door.

Richard had arranged it. I had played my part.

So why did he now sound as if he had forgotten what really happened?

Unless…

Understanding hit me.

I stared at Julian, unable to believe it. A sickening chill spread through me.

Perhaps Richard had never known the kidnapping was real.

Perhaps Julian had been lying to both of us.

“I understand, Dad,” Julian said wearily. “I still haven’t reached Stella. If she staged this again, she’s being incredibly selfish.”

“You’ve spoiled her since she was a child. That’s why an adopted girl thinks she can do whatever she likes in this house.” Richard made no effort to conceal his disgust. “And now you’ve actually married her. You’re too kind. Too trusting. That little bitch has you wrapped around her finger.”

What an actor Julian was.

He fooled everyone. I took the blame. I carried the ugly reputation.

And he remained the perfect gentleman, spotless and shining.

I had spent years loving this lying, two-faced bastard.

I didn’t know what expression was on my face. I wanted to laugh and cry at the same time.

But if Julian had never cared about me at all, why had he risked his life to save me two years ago?

I couldn’t understand it.

“Forget that ungrateful little animal for now,” Richard said, changing the subject. “The Southbank land tender is the day after tomorrow. How are the preparations? That site has more potential for growth and appreciation than anything Fairhaven has offered in ten years. Whitmore Group has to win it.”

“Don’t worry, Dad. I’ve been working on it for months. Everything’s ready.”

Julian sounded completely confident.

Fury burned through me.

I had worked on it for months.

Day and night. Me.

Richard paused thoughtfully.

“I heard Lucian Blackwood was interested in that site too.”