CHAPTER 019
OLIVIA’S POV
I got to the dining room and saw Julian already having breakfast. His eyes landed on me, and I gave him a small smile.
“You’re finally awake. Come join me,” he said, gesturing toward the chair beside him.
I nodded and took a seat next to him as one of the maids promptly placed a plate of food in front of me – bread, eggs, and bacon. The aroma alone made my stomach grumble.
“How’s your arm?” I asked, glancing at the bandage wrapped around it.
Julian looked at his injured arm, flexing his fingers slightly before giving me a reassuring nod. “It’s getting better.”
I was relieved to hear that. Seeing him bleed like that in my dream had shaken me more than I let on. It wasn’t just the sight of him being hurt – it was the realization that, for the first time, my problems were affecting someone else directly. The last thing I wanted was to drag Julian into my mess, but here he was, standing by me regardless.
I picked up my fork and took a small bite of the eggs. They were surprisingly well- seasoned and cooked just right. I sipped my coffee, enjoying the warmth as it spread through my body. But just as I was getting comfortable, my stomach suddenly clenched. A wave of nausea washed over me, making my throat tighten. I felt like I was seconds away from vomiting all over the table.
I dropped my fork, pressing my palm against my stomach as my face twisted in discomfort.
“Are you okay?” Julian’s voice was filled with concern.
I didn’t answer right away, trying to focus on my breathing. Sensing my distress, Julian quickly turned to one of the maids.
“Bring her some warm water. Now.”
Within seconds, a maid rushed over with a glass of warm water. I grabbed it with slightly shaky hands and took small sips, letting the warmth settle in my stomach. A quiet burp escaped my lips, and the nausea slowly began to fade. I exhaled, relieved that the discomfort was passing.
“Better?” Julian asked, studying my face.
I nodded, placing the empty glass on the table. “Yeah. Just felt like vomiting for a second.”
“Was it the food?”
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‘No, the food is great. It just happens sometimes,” I said, though I wasn’t convinced myself. This wasn’t normal for me.
1/4
CHAPTER 019
Julian gave me a skeptical look but didn’t press further. I stared down at my plate, debating whether to take another bite. I didn’t want to risk feeling sick again, but my stomach still growled in hunger. Hesitantly, I picked up a piece of bread and took a small, careful bite.
This time, the nausea didn’t return.
After finishing our meal, Julian wiped his mouth with a napkin, and I did the same. I knew this was the perfect time to ask him what had been on my mind since last night.
“Do you have a moment?” I asked, pushing my plate away.
“Sure.”
We stepped outside and took a stroll through his garden. The fresh air helped clear my
mind.
“So, what did you want to talk about?” Julian asked as we walked side by side.
I hesitated for a second before speaking. “This is all still new to me. We’ve been friends for years now, and yet I’m only just finding out about… all this.” I gestured vaguely toward his estate. “It makes me feel like a horrible friend, honestly.”
Julian chuckled, shaking his head. “Like I said yesterday, it’s a long story. And you’re not a horrible friend. I just never talked about my life much.”
“Don’t try to make me feel better. The truth is, I never really asked. I was so caught up in my own problems that I barely paid attention to you.”
“It’s really fine, Liv. It’s not like I was dying to share my life story.”
“Well, I want to change that. So, make the long story short,” I said, giving him a pointed look.
Julian raised an eyebrow, amused. “You sure?”
I nodded. “Yeah. I want to hear everything. Starting with how you have all this.”
I blinked. “Wait, what?”
2/4
“Sure, my parents are rich. But their wealth is theirs. They built Zenith Solutions from the ground up. That’s their legacy, not mine.”
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