Lexi’s eyes burned as she watched him approach, step by deliberate step.
Her world blurred, vision swimming with unshed tears.
“I can prove it wasn’t her.”
He stopped in front of her, fingers brushing gently through her hair.
His voice softened, dangerous and familiar.
“Little girl,” he said, smiling.
“I’m back.”
Lexi’s fists clenched, resisting the instinct to throw herself into his arms.
“Julian—” Her voice cracked.
“You… finally came back.”
She stared at Julian Reed, a man composed yet undeniably authoritative, carved like a statue from stone.
Moving felt like it might make him vanish again.
The director’s gaze narrowed.
“And you are? What business do you have here?”
Julian stepped slightly forward, placing Lexi behind him.
Calmly, he replied, “Julian Reed. Brought in as the set’s stylist. First day. I’ll be relying on your guidance, Director.”
Recognition dawned.
The director smiled, shaking Julian’s hand with warmth.
Then—a deliberate cough shattered the calm.
The temperature dropped.
Sebastian Blackwood, head of the Blackwood family, stood by the window, his expression sharp enough to draw blood.
His eyes locked on Julian.
“You said you can vouch for her,” he said coldly.
“On what grounds?”
Julian didn’t flinch.
A faint smile curved his lips.
“I saw who did it.”
The room stilled.
“Who?” Blackwood demanded.
Julian scanned the crowd, then stopped in front of a trembling girl.
“She did.”
The girl recoiled as if struck.
Fear flashed raw in her eyes before she forced herself upright.
“Lauren… you drove my sister to her death. All I did was delete your footage. Isn’t that merciful?”
Lexi froze.
The quiet, timid girl had lost her sister.
And the dead actress—the one everyone whispered about—
“She killed herself,” Lauren dismissed with a laugh.
“What does that have to do with me?”
The girl’s laugh turned bitter, venomous.
“If Sebastian hadn’t backed you, what would you be? Nothing.”
Her aura shifted—murderous, unrestrained.
“Enough.”
Blackwood’s patience snapped.
“Drag her out.”
The director nodded.
Within seconds, the girl was hauled away, screaming curses.
Lexi exhaled shakily, relief mixing with anger.
The girl was too young to be crushed like that, and the actress’s death… it wasn’t clean.
Before Lexi could speak, Julian caught her wrist gently.
“Come with me,” he said warmly.
“I brought you something.”
Lexi nodded.
The weight on her chest lifted at his smile.
Then—her other wrist was seized.
Hard.
Pain flared as Blackwood’s grip tightened, leaving angry red marks.
“Let go,” Lexi said quietly.
“Please.”
“I didn’t give you permission to leave,” Blackwood growled.
“You belong to the Blackwood family.”
His eyes burned with violent possessiveness.
Lauren rushed forward, clinging to his arm.
“Sebastian, stop—what are you doing?!”
The scent of her perfume snapped him back—barely.
He loosened his grip but didn’t release her entirely. The source of this chapter is g.com.
“Walk away today,” he said coldly.
“And you’ll regret it for the rest of your life.”
An ultimatum.
Lexi smiled faintly.
She pulled free, walking past him without a glance—following Julian out.
Only with him could she breathe.
With Blackwood, there was only suffocation.
Julian took her to his temporary apartment—a modest one-bedroom, elegant in its restraint.
“You were in France,” Lexi said, surveying the space.
“Why are you back? And working on a film set?”
“I cut ties with my family,” Julian replied, disinfecting her wrist carefully.
“Needed a job. Saw the posting. What about you?”
She told him everything.
When he finished bandaging her, he smiled.
“You belong on screen. Always have.”
Her heart warmed.
“Will you stay with the production?”
He nodded.
“Until filming ends.” That was enough.
That night, Lexi was dragged into Blackwood’s hotel suite.
Lights bright, wine-red accents reflecting off polished surfaces.
Sebastian stood by the window, coiled rage barely restrained.
“You ignored my warning.”
Documents slammed into her face—contracts, scripts, plans—proof of his absolute control.
Sebastian Blackwood.
Heir.
Disowned.
Yet still untouchable.
“Touch him,” Lexi said coldly, meeting his gaze.
“And I’ll never forgive you.”