Living off Her Has Gone to Your Head

“You’re joking, Mr. Blackwood. A little competition is inevitable in business.”

Julian forced a smile.

In front of everyone, he inclined his upper body and held out a hand with an air of perfect sincerity.

“If Stella’s done anything to offend you, let me apologize on her behalf. As her husband.”

Everyone attending the tender was somebody in Fairhaven. The reporters hadn’t yet been cleared out for the formal proceedings, and several were still filming and conducting interviews.

Now every camera pointed at us.

Julian had made himself look so humble in front of so many witnesses that anyone who refused him would seem unreasonable.

It was his favorite trick. Put the other person in a position where good manners forced them to play along.

Most people would have accepted the performance and ended things politely.

He knew nothing about Lucian.

“You’re apologizing for her?” Lucian laughed coldly, as if he had heard something absurd. “Living off her has really gone to your head. You’re not fit to carry Stella Whitmore’s shoes.”

He walked away with his entourage, ignoring Julian’s ashen face.

He hadn’t even bothered to give him a proper look.

Felix Sinclair, following behind, was different. As he passed Julian, something seemed to catch his attention. He frowned and glanced back at him a couple of times.

I watched Lucian’s retreating back.

How ironic.

The only person willing to speak up for me after my death was my worst enemy.

Julian seethed at the public humiliation, but he couldn’t lose his temper without damaging that gentlemanly image.

His face dark, he moved to an empty corner and spoke quietly to Gavin.

“Find out what’s going on. Didn’t Blackwood withdraw? Why is he here?”

Five minutes before the tender proceedings began, Gavin returned.

“I’ve confirmed it, sir. Neither Blackwood Holdings nor Lucian Blackwood is on the list of bidders. He must just be here to watch.”

“Are you certain?” Julian still looked uneasy.

“I checked with someone on the committee. There’s no mistake.”

Only then did Julian relax.

He looked in Lucian’s direction, something ugly flashing in his eyes.

Gavin was still indignant on his behalf.

“The man’s like a rabid dog. He won’t stop going after this family. First your wife, and now she’s missing, he’s coming after you. He hates her, so he hates you too. Deliberately humiliating you in front of everyone like that…”

Julian put on a forgiving expression.

“Forget it. Everyone knows what Blackwood is like. We can’t afford to cross him. We’ll keep out of his way.”

That only made Gavin angrier.

“He wouldn’t dare act like this if your wife were here. He knows you’re too good-natured to fight back.”

I almost laughed.

Gavin’s view of Julian was so distorted it was a wonder he could see anything at all.

What if Julian wasn’t good-natured? Would he dare take Lucian head-on?

He might walk into that fight, but he’d be carried out.

I glanced at Lucian, surrounded by admirers a short distance away.

He lounged in a chair, his expression distant and unreadable. I couldn’t tell what he was thinking.

There was a strange loneliness about him.

My gaze dimmed.

If he knew I was dead, knew the thorn in his side was finally gone, he would probably be happy.

The formal proceedings began.

All proposals were collected for the panel to review on-site before announcing the result, to keep the process fair.

It took almost three hours.

Julian looked certain of victory.

He knew how capable I was. With Lucian out of the running, he knew my proposal would win.

But now, more than anything, I wanted Lucian to go back on his word.

I wanted him to swoop in, take the land, and wipe that smug expression off Julian’s face.

I would rather lose to Lucian than let that shameless bastard enjoy the fruits of my work.

At last, the host went up to announce the result.

“The evaluation is complete, and we have our winning bid.” He cleared his throat. “Please join me in congratulating the winning entry, number twenty…”