Julien was simply helplessly in love with Jonah.
If Jonah were poison, he would drink it down without hesitation. If he were a blade, Julien would press it to his own throat without regret.
He loved him. It was that simple. All he had ever wanted was to hold Jonah's hand and grow old by his side.
"If you're already halfway to your goal... what else do you need to finish it?"
The dull ache in his chest made his voice rasp, hoarse and fragile.
The smile vanished from Uri's face. Through clenched teeth, he spat, "His life, of course."
"Don't you dare!"
Julien's blood ran cold. He struggled violently against the chains, roaring, "If you lay a finger on Jonah, I'll kill you no matter the cost, you piece of shit! And if I can't, the Taylors and the Lovelaces will tear you apart! Kill me now if you have the guts! I'll haunt you even in death!"
Uri clicked his tongue. "The Taylors and the Lovelaces? They're already in chaos. They don't have the luxury to worry about our little feud."
A chuckle slipped from his lips. "Oh. I forgot you have no idea what's happened, do you?"
"W-What happened?" Julien's face drained of color. His chest tightened painfully.
"Mr. Winston's second wife-your precious Aunt Mandy-was in a car accident. Her car plunged off a cliff. No one knows if she survived. On top of that, Winston has lost his marbles. He regained consciousness, but he remembers nothing. Not even his favorite daughter.
"So tell me who has the time to care whether you're dead or alive? Don't flatter yourself."
"Aunt Mandy... Uncle Winston... Lyse..."
It felt as though lightning had struck him. Julien went rigid, tears spilling freely down his face.
But as Uri laughed hysterically, Julien forced himself to calm down. He clenched his fists so tightly his nails dug into his palms.
1.n
"How do you know so much about the Taylors and the Lovelaces?" Julien demanded, his voice low but sharp. "Fine-you might have learned about my family, but Mr. Winston has been under tight secunty in the hospital. No outsider can get near him. So how do you know about his memory loss?"
Uri's expression stiffened.
A cold glint flashed through Julien's bloodshot eyes. "I know who's backing you now. It's Sheryl and that man who calls himself Sir-Justin Beckett-that sanctimonious fraud and venomous bastard. Am I right?"
"Shut up!" Uri roared, his face flushing crimson. "Don't you dare insult Mr. Justin!"
Julien let out a bitter laugh. "So I hit the mark."
Everything fell into place. Regret and anguish crashed over him as tears streamed unchecked down his cheeks. So you approached me under Justin's orders. Your goal was to drive a wedge between Jonah and me to make us turn on each other.
"You made sure I severed ties with the Taylors so Justin and that bitch could swoop
in and harm Mr. Winston. How despicable. How shameless!"
"You guessed correctly. But what good does that do you now? After tonight, both the Taylors and the Lovelaces will fall into Mr. Justin's hands. He slammed his palm against the railing the metallic clang echoing through the cavemous darkness. "And that's not all. I want you to watch that bastard Jonah die
with your own eyes. I'll offer his blood to Blake."