“Are you nice to them.”
The question struck him like a blade. Julian paused before answering. “I am learning how to be,” he said honestly.
Carter seemed satisfied. He closed his eyes again. Nadia watched this exchange and felt something shift. A man who admitted fault was rare in her world.
Later that day Julian’s phone buzzed with messages from lawyers. His wife’s legal team had begun to spread rumors. They called Nadia a seductress. They painted Julian as a reckless adulterer. Tabloids began circling like hungry birds.
Julian showed Nadia the headline. “Business Tycoon Abandons Society Wife For Secret Affair With Nanny.”
Nadia stared at the screen. Her stomach turned. “They turned me into a lie,” she said quietly.
Julian shook his head. “They told their story first. Now we tell the truth.”
She looked up sharply. “I do not want to be in the spotlight. I only want my son.”
“I know,” he replied. “But silence will let them define you. I will not allow that.”