Chapter 27

The hospital entrance lay eerily quiet beneath the weight of midnight, the silence broken only by the unspoken tension between Julian and Yvonne as they faced one another.

At last, Yvonne dropped her gaze, unable to hold his eyes any longer.

A storm raged inside her chest, sharp and relentless,begging for release. She could have screamed, could have wept like a woman shattered by love.

But that would strip her of the little dignity she had left, and it was for dignity's sake that she had chosen divorce in the first place.

Drawing in a slow breath, she curved her lips into a brittle smile. Her tone came out feather-light,though her heart bled beneath it. "Because I don't love you anymore. I'm exhausted,Julian."

The coldness in his face deepened,his jaw tightening until his teeth ground together. "I want a real reason."

"It is. What's wrong? Do you really believe you're so irresistible that I'm doomed to love you until the day I die? That I should cling to a marriage that feels like nothing but emptiness?"

Her defiance twisted something inside him, unearthing the shadow of Spencer in his mind.

Had she reached for someone else just to escape the emptiness?

Fury seared through Julian at the thought, burning away every trace of composure. A bitter laugh slipped from his throat. "So be it. I'll give you what you want.In the end, this was always just business. Anyone can fill the role of my wife."

The words sliced into her, draining the color from her face,though the night mercifully hid it.

How pathetic she must have seemed-fighting for freedom, only to find her heart splintering when he gave it to her.

Her chest felt hollow, like a barren wasteland where nothing living could survive, yet she forced herself to stand tall.

With a fragile smile, Yvonne answered softly, "Alright then, Mr. Powell. Tell me when you'd like to sign the papers."

Julian's stare bored into her, dark and unreadable, as though a storm churned behind his eyes. Then,just as quickly, the intensity vanished. He looked away with chilling calm. "Two conditions. First, the divorce waits until my grandfather regains his health."

Yvonne tilted her head in agreement. Rodger's fragile state couldn't endure such a blow, and she had already intended to shield him from the truth until he recovered.

"Second..." Julian's gaze slid back to her, his voice deliberate and heavy. "You sign with TR Entertainment and make five million within three months."

Her breath caught, shock flashing across her face."Five million? In only three months? That's impossible!"

A sharp laugh escaped him, dripping with disdain."Impossible? If you can't even manage that, what right do you have to walk away from the Powell family?"

Her throat tightened, words failing her. The arrogance in his tone stung, yet part of her knew he wasn't exaggerating. In the Powell household, five million was less than her usual monthly allowance.

Still, the demand wasn't about money. Hewas setting the bar high on purpose, daring her to fail. Withouthis backing, where could she find such resources, such connections? "If you can't deliver, then don't waste your time dreaming..." His words drifted out casually, meant to dismiss her entirely.

That was the spark that lit her fire. Straightening her spine, Yvonne cut him off, her voice steady and sharp."Fine. I'll do it. But remember this, Mr. Powell-if I succeed, you don't get to take your promise back."

His eyes narrowed, a cold smirk tugging at his lips."Don't worry. I won't."

He missed the subtle tremor in her stance, the way her body seemed ready to give out.

Pressing a hand to her temple, Yvonne fought against a sudden wave of dizziness. Two days without proper sleep and meals, and the crushing weight of their confrontation had left her on the edge of collapse.

Determined not to let Julian glimpse her weakness,Yvonne pivoted on her heel, intent on walking away.

The moment she moved, however, a piercing hum filled her head, her sight wavered, and her body lurched to the side.

Before the ground could rise up to meet her, strong arms caught her mid-fall, pulling her against a chest that carried the steady, grounding scent of wood and earth.