Book One: Chapter 26
Macey ducked into the bathroom avoiding the two stalls she went straight to the sink. She looked at her
reflection in the mirror. What was wrong with her? After six years she should be smarter. But the
moment his arms were around her it was like time stood still. As much as she tried to deny it she still
loved him, still wanted him. And it seemed like he wanted her too. Was she getting her hopes up? She
couldn’t shake the fear it would eventually fall apart.
The door opened but she paid no mind to the neer. Macey gave herself a final nce before
turning to see a blonde in a short, ck dress that was mostlyce and left very little to the imagination.
She struggled to keep her expression neutral. Other women had enough confidence to wear such
provocative clothes but Macey wasn’t one of them. Vicki was but even she had limits saying there was
a difference between sexy and trashy. Macey was pretty certain Vicki would put this dress into the
The blonde smirked, “Having fun?”
“What do you mean?” Macey frowned wondering why this woman would choose to address her.
“You know he’s just ying with you, right? Julius would never be serious about someone like you.”
“And who are you?”
“I’m his fiancée,” the blonde smiled showing off her engagement ring crowned with a five carat
diamond.
Macey felt the blood drain from her face as her mouth fell open but her voice failed her. He was
engaged? Why didn’t he tell her? What aboutst night? Was this all some sort of sick game? What
would she tell the twins?
The blonde smirked, “Well have fun tonight. He’ll be back with me tomorrow.”
She spun around and departed as quickly as she entered. Macey stood unable to move. Tears blurred
her vision as her mind raced. He was engaged? Then why had he been looking for her? Or was that a
lie? Was it all lies? Andst night was…ast hooray? What about yesterday? Did he really have to go
to work or did he rush off to be with that other woman? She had just told the twins who he was. They
were so excited. How would she break this news to them?
Macey paid no mind as the door opened again until Rose’s voice cut through her thoughts, “Macey?
Are you all right?”
Shaking her head she turned away. She didn’t want to see anyone right now not when she didn’t know
who she could trust. Did Rose know he was engaged? Were they all in on this?
“Macey.”
“Just leave me…”
“Sweetie, look at me,” Rose grasped her shoulders despite Macey trying to brush her off. “Macey, look
at me.”
Macey finally met her sister-inw’s gaze.
“Nothing happened between them,” Rose said.
“…What?”
“When you left Julius lost it and every year he didn’t find you just made him spiral deeper,” Rose
exined. “Two years ago he got drunk, really drunk. I’ve never seen him like that. In fact March is
pretty sure it wasn’t just alcohol that made him like that.”
“…You think he was drugged?”
Rose grimaced and gave a small nod though it wasn’t as if they had proof. She sighed and continued,
“That…woman came up to him when he was like that and…well he didn’t have much control which is
why March intervened. He took him home to sober up before he did anything he regretted.”
Macey bit her lip. Was that really the whole story?
“We thought that was the end of it until she showed up a couple dayster with an engagement ring
we’re pretty sure she bought herself iming to be his fiancée.”
Macey’s brow furrowed. She bought herself a ring and dered they were engaged? Who does that?
“She’s been hanging around Julius ever since. He hasn’t said anything because with her around other
woman leave him alone but he has no feelings for her and no intention of marrying her. And that is the
truth.”
The truth?
“March and Julius will tell you the same thing. In fact Julius has been getting pretty fed up with her for
awhile. We all have been. He already barred her from entering the DaLair offices.”
“So…he doesn’t love her?”
“No.”
“…And he’s not going to marry her?”
“God no!”
Macey took in an uneasy breath. Rose’s words didn’t feel like lies. She looked too sincere. Was that
really the truth?
Rose grabbed paper towels and wetted them under the sink before gently cleaning Macey’s face and
smoothing away her tears. Macey’s mind was still muddled. She didn’t want to believe Julius would lie
to her. He has always been honest with her. And Rose…Rose would never lie. It wasn’t in her nature.
“I promise you,” Rose said, “everything I said is the truth. Julius loves you. He always has even if he
was too stupid to realize it before. You are the only woman he wants in his life…well, you and Aria, but
that is it.”
A smile crept to Macey’s face despite her reservations. Those were words she always wanted to hear
but she wanted to hear them from Julius. She wanted him to acknowledge her and love her the way
she always loved him.
“Come on, let’s get back out there. Ask Julius about that woman. I promise, he’ll say the same thing I
have.”
Macey nodded following her out. Rose led the way back to the waiting brothers where she had left
them after she spotted Katherineing out of the bathroom. The other woman had such a distasteful
smirk it gave Rose a bad feeling. She was d she followed her intuition and found Macey. Rose
couldn’t believe how spiteful that woman could be to try to ruin Julius and Macey’s happiness.
“We’re back,” Rose announced.
March immediately took her into his arms and pecked a kiss on her cheek asking, “What took you so
long?”
“Oh…we had a little issue.”
“Macey? What’s wrong? What happened?” Julius demanded the moment he saw her expression and
red eyes. It was clear she had been crying. He pulled her close ignoring her sudden stiffness at his
touch to hold her close. “Macey, tell me what happened.”
“Katherine,” Rose answered as Macey hesitated.
“What?” Julius looked at the grim expression of his sister-inw before guessing what happened. “Dear
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god. Macey, look at me beautiful.”
She hesitantly met his gaze.
“Everything that woman told you was a lie,” he dered. His gaze was steady with no hint of hesitation
or confusion. He stroked her cheeks with his thumbs.
“…And you never slept with her?”
“No.”
“You never proposed?”
“No.”
“And you aren’t going to marry her?”
“God no!”
A small smile turned up the corners of her mouth as her insecurities faded though they were not
wracked him. He shouldn’t have put up with Katherine for so long. He should have sent her packing
from the very beginning. He wouldn’t make that mistake again.
“Don’t worry, you never have to see her again. I’ll make sure of it right now.”
“No, it’s fine,” Macey shook her head. “Just…stay.”
Julius kissed her forehead with a smile, “As you wish.”