I Risked My Life for It. He Gave It to His Mistress.

I would have applauded the Whitmores’ collapse.

But this project involved more than ten thousand jobs.

Families depended on those jobs.

And the duchess’s reputation was at stake too.

I shouted myself hoarse.

She couldn’t hear me.

Moved by Julian’s performance, she nodded with a little relief.

“If you truly mean that, then at least you haven’t failed Stella entirely.”

“She’s my wife. The love of my life. Whatever happens to her, I’ll care for her for the rest of my days.”

Julian gazed lovingly at the woman in the bed.

“Before this happened, working with you on this international project meant everything to her. Please give me a chance to fulfill that wish for my wife. When it’s finished, I hope you’ll honor us by attending our wedding celebration.”

“Don’t agree to it!”

I was frantic.

The duchess studied his earnest face.

After a few seconds of hesitation, she nodded gently.

“All right. Stella saved my life. If this project matters so much to her, I’ll do what I can to see it through.”

Julian fought to hide his delight.

“Then shall we return to the office to sign?”

“No. Have someone bring the contract here.”

She looked tired. She didn’t want to go back and forth anymore.

“Of course. I’ll make a call.”

He was struggling to keep the corners of his mouth from lifting as he turned to leave.

Then she stopped him.

“Wait. The protective talisman Stella got for you. Do you have it with you?”

He hesitated, then recovered.

“Oh, that. I left it at home.”

I watched the flicker of guilt in his eyes.

I hadn’t seen the talisman in a long time either.

Once, when I asked, he told me he had left it at the office.

I asked him to bring it back. It needed to stay with him to work.

Then he said Vivian hadn’t been well and he had lent it to her for a while.

Of course I couldn’t go demanding it back from her.

So I let the subject drop.

Now I understood.

I had nearly died getting it.

He hadn’t cared about it at all.

I would have been better off giving my love to a dog.

“Stella risked her life to bring that back for you,” the duchess said disapprovingly. “A reclusive master blessed it himself. It’s priceless. Why wouldn’t you keep it with you?”

Julian had already regained his composure and prepared an explanation.

“You’re right. I’ve been careless. Ever since this happened to Stella, I haven’t been thinking clearly. I didn’t even notice I’d left it behind. Usually, I never take it off.”

Wonderful.

My fault again.

Her expression softened, but she didn’t let it go.

“Fetch it. It’s supposed to protect its wearer and ward off evil. Stella needs that now. Perhaps keeping it close will help her wake sooner.”

With the contract so nearly secured, Julian wouldn’t dare offend her.

“You’re right. I’ll get it immediately.”

She had seen the talisman before.

I wanted to see how he planned to produce an identical one at such short notice.

I followed him out.

The instant we were beyond her sight, his expression soured.

He quickly called Anna.

“The talisman I gave you. Where is it? Find it and bring it to the hospital. Right now.”

I had risked my life for it.

He had handed it to his mistress.

I wasn’t going to grieve over that bastard’s coldness anymore.

I only grieved for how much of myself I had wasted on him.