Chapter 2 - The Sanctuary of the Penthouse
Julian did not take Mara to the staff quarters, nor did he leave her in the main mansion where Vivienne’s toxic influence lingered. Instead, he drove his sleek black SUV straight to his private, high-security penthouse overlooking the frozen city harbor.
Throughout the drive, Mara sat in the passenger seat, wrapped in Julian’s heavy, snow-dusted wool overcoat. She stared blankly out the window, her body shivering despite the blasting heater. The reality of what had just happened was crashing down on her. The secret they had kept so desperately for seven months—the secret of their quiet, legal courthouse marriage and the child growing inside her—was now exposed to the most ruthless wolves in high society.
When they arrived, Julian carried her inside, laying her gently on the plush, cream-colored sofa. He immediately knelt before her, gently removing her worn, wet shoes and replacing them with warm cashmere socks.
"I’ve called Dr. Sterling," Julian said, his hands gently rubbing her cold ankles. "He’s on his way. He’s private, loyal, and won’t leak a single word to the press."
"Julian..." Mara’s voice was barely a whisper. She reached out, her fingers catching the sleeve of his shirt. "Your mother will never let this go. You saw her face. She looked at me like she wanted me to disappear. And my hair..." She reached up to touch the jagged, uneven strands where her long braid used to be. A fresh tear escaped her eye. "I look like a monster."
Julian’s heart broke. He sat beside her, pulling her into his arms and tucking her head under his chin. He ran his fingers through her shortened hair, his touch infinitely tender.
"You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen," he murmured, his voice thick with unshed tears. "I am so sorry, Mara. I should have been there sooner. I should have protected you from her. I thought that by keeping our marriage a secret until the baby was born, I was keeping you safe from her political games. But I was a coward."
"You weren't a coward," Mara wept, her face pressed against his collarbone. "We both knew what she would do. We wanted to protect our baby."
"And we will," Julian said fiercely. "No one is touching you or our child ever again. From today on, you are the only Mrs. Mercer that matters."
The door to the penthouse opened, and Dr. Sterling hurried in, carrying his medical bag. His expression was serious. "Julian, I saw the news alerts on my way here. The press is already camped outside the Mercer mansion. What happened?"
"Vivienne assaulted her," Julian said, his eyes darkening again. "Please, check her and the baby. She’s eight months along, and the stress is too much."
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As the doctor began his examination, checking Mara’s blood pressure and performing a portable ultrasound, Julian stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, watching the snow fall over the city. His phone was vibrating nonstop. Messages from board members, threat letters from his mother’s lawyers, and alerts from gossip blogs were flooding his screen.
He deleted them all, his gaze hardening. He had a war to plan.
