What Julian heard wasn't Avery's soft voice, but a cold recording. "Sorry, the number you've dialed is busy. Please try again later."

Julian clenched the phone so hard, the veins on his hand bulged.

He called again and again, but the same message hummed through the line no matter how many times he tried.

A hard chill settled over his face, and something darker flickered behind his eyes.

Avery had actually blocked him?

Noticing Julian's stormy face and his repeated dials, Jace let out a mocking laugh. "She blocked you? Good. You're dumping her anyway. Now, you don't even have to bother."

The jab cut straight to Julian's heart. Anger surged through his chest, threatening to tear away what little control he had left.

He couldn't stand being cut off like this, especially not by the woman who had always bent to his will.

"Shut up!" he snapped coldly.

Jace was caught off guard by his 

Julian watched Jace set his sights on winning Avery back and felt his chest tighten. Irritation and heat surged through him, but he didn't have any reason to stop Jace.

He could only stand there, clenching his fists until his knuckles cracked.

Even with that restless unease gnawing at him, Julian stuck to the plan. On the day the direct admission slot was officially secured for Tessa, he confessed to her.

Under the prettiest blooming tree on campus, Julian opened a velvet box and held out a diamond necklace. His handsome face softened with just the right touch of warmth. "Tessa, will you be my girlfriend?"

Tessa gasped, clapping her hands over her mouth as tears welled in her eyes. She launched herself into his arms. "Julian! Yes, yes! I've waited forever for this!"

Applause broke out around them, cheers rising as if a fairy tale had finally reached its happy ending.

Julian pulled 

Julian called the police and reported Avery for intentional assault.

Avery had nothing left to fight with. Fresh off a forced blood donation and barely on her feet, she was booked and taken to a detention center.

Those three days were the darkest of her life.

The women in her cell noticed that she was a pretty university student and singled her out for amusement. They slapped and punched her, yanked on her hair, and twisted the soft skin of her arms until it bruised.

They took her tray, even though the food was barely edible. They shoved her to the filthy floor and laughed as she choked on the taste of blood and despair.

Every minute stretched like an hour. The pain in her body didn't come close to the ruin inside her.

Pride, dignity, and every dream she still held for the future—everything was trampled into the dirt.

By the time she was released, she felt less than alive.

She reached her apartment building and was searching for her keys when a sharp pain shot up her neck. Then, a sack was yanked over her head, and everything went black.

The next second, metal bars slammed into her shoulders and ribs over and over. Blood filled her mouth, and the pain was so sharp that she thought her bones might shatter.

Through the pounding pain, she caught a voice she knew all too well—Jace's.

A man asked, "Didn't Julian already punish her for messing with Tessa's brakes? Why are we..."

"Julian has punished her, but I haven't," Jace said coldly. "She dared to lay a finger on Tessa. She'll pay for it ten times over! This is just the beginning."

Rough hands yanked the sack open a few inches. Then, something cool and slick slid inside, coiling around her throat and wrist. A faint hiss made her blood run cold.

It was the thing she feared most—snakes.

Terror crashed over her, tightening her chest until she couldn't breathe. She struggled desperately, but no sound came out.

The sack cinched tight again. In the next instant, she was lifted off the ground and hurled into the air.

She crashed into water so cold that it knocked the breath from her chest. Water rushed into her nose and mouth as panic and terror swallowed her whole.

"Help... Help me..."

She had no idea how long she had fought before someone pulled her up and tossed her onto a deserted road like trash.

The sack was torn open, and Avery coughed violently, choking up muddy water as her vision blurred.

Soaked through, her wounds stung and went numb from the cold, her teeth chattering uncontrollably.

With the last of her strength, she clawed her way out of the sack as icy rain beat against her face and mixed with her tears.

She forced herself to stand, but her vision went black, and she collapsed into unconsciousness.

When she woke, she lay in a hospital bed again.

A nurse walked over and said matter-of-factly, "You're awake. Go pay your medical bill."

Avery pushed herself upright, swung her legs over the side, and leaned against the wall as she slowly made her way down the hall.

She turned the corner and almost ran straight into Julian and Jace as they stepped out of a VIP suite.

Both of them froze for a moment when they saw her.

Julian recovered first, his brows pulling tight. "What are you doing here?"

His gaze flicked over the hospital gown and the bruises peeking above the cuff.

Avery didn't answer. Her gaze shifted to Jace beside him—the same face, only with a different smile.

Julian's expression shifted, and his voice softened, as though this were nothing more than a casual introduction. "This is my brother, Jace Mercer. He just got back and came to see Tessa."

Then, Julian turned to Jace and said, "Jace, this is Avery Whitlock. My... girlfriend."

Jace managed a flawless smile, as if this truly were their first meeting. "Nice to meet you, Avery."

They kept the act going right in front of her. Suddenly, she laughed, and the sound broke apart into tears.

Her sudden laugh unsettled them both in a way that neither could name.

Julian's frown deepened. "Your detention is over, so take it as a lesson. Behave yourself from now on and stop hurting Tessa," he said coldly.

Just then, a nurse stepped out of Tessa's room and spoke to Julian and Jace. Without a second glance at Avery, they turned and went back inside.

Through the narrow strip of glass, Avery saw them sitting beside Tessa, looking careful and attentive. Tears welled in her eyes, but she wiped them away.

Right then, her phone rang. It was from the registrar's office.

"Your withdrawal was finalized."

"Thank you," she answered calmly.

Avery hung up and went home to pack her luggage. Then, she headed straight for the airport.

By nightfall, she was on a flight to Ardenia.

...

Two weeks later, Tessa was discharged from the hospital, glowing under the attention of Julian and Jace.

The university released its decision that same day. The direct admission slot went, unsurprisingly, to Tessa.

Tessa was overjoyed and clung to Julian's arm. "This is perfect! I'm throwing a party! You and Jace have to come!"

When Tessa walked away, Jace elbowed Julian with a grin. "Now that Tessa's slot is secured, when are you dumping Avery? And before you do, do you think I could get one last night with her? Might be my last chance."

The words stirred a sharp, uneasy feeling in Julian's chest. Almost without thinking, he blurted out, "Was she really that good in bed?"

Jace let out a low laugh, his eyes glinting with mischief. "Absolutely! You missed out. Try her once, and you'll be hooked."

Julian's face hardened, anger burning through him. He didn't say anything more and just muttered coldly, "She'll be waiting at the apartment tonight."

He pulled out his phone and called Avery.

But the call went straight to an automated voice.

Julian's expression darkened as he stared at the screen.

Jace noticed something was off and leaned closer. "What's wrong?"

Julian ground the words out through his teeth, sounding furious. "She blocked me?"

What Julian heard wasn't Avery's soft voice, but a cold recording. "Sorry, the number you've dialed is busy. Please try again later."

Julian clenched the phone so hard, the veins on his hand bulged.

He called again and again, but the same message hummed through the line no matter how many times he tried.

A hard chill settled over his face, and something darker flickered behind his eyes.

Avery had actually blocked him?

Noticing Julian's stormy face and his repeated dials, Jace let out a mocking laugh. "She blocked you? Good. You're dumping her anyway. Now, you don't even have to bother."

The jab cut straight to Julian's heart. Anger surged through his chest, threatening to tear away what little control he had left.

He couldn't stand being cut off like this, especially not by the woman who had always bent to his will.

"Shut up!" he snapped coldly.

Jace was caught off guard by his sudden outburst. He only shrugged and stayed quiet, though curiosity lingered in his amused gaze.

J

Chapter 9