Chapter 82: I’ll tell Clara everything

Meanwhile, the moment Julianna’s assistant informed her that Alex had come to meet her, she immediately left her office. Without drawing anyone’s attention, she hurried him toward a secluded area away from the company where they wouldn’t be seen.

"What the hell are you doing here, Alex?" Julianna hissed. "Why would you show up at the company? What if my father had seen you?"

She was so furious that she didn’t even care how disheveled she looked.

All she had wanted was for Alex to give her some space, yet the idiot had shown up at her workplace without warning.

Alex frowned, his patience wearing thin.

"What was I supposed to do when my girlfriend wouldn’t answer any of my calls?" he shot back.

He had been putting up with Julianna’s attitude because he was benefiting from their arrangement. But lately, she had been ignoring him more and more, and seeing her treat him with such blatant disrespect despite being the one avoiding him finally pushed him over the edge.

Julianna let out a short, humorless laugh.

"Your girlfriend?"

Alex went silent.

"Since when did I become your girlfriend?" she asked, her smile disappearing completely.

"Julianna—"

"I’m not your girlfriend, okay?" she cut him off. "So stop calling me that. I paid you for your company. That’s all this ever was."

Alex’s expression hardened.

"I’ve been paying you for what you provide. Don’t start imagining that this means I’m going to take you seriously or bring you into my life."

Her words struck harder than he expected.

Alex knew there was truth in what she was saying. He had entered this arrangement knowing exactly what it was.

But hearing her say it so coldly was different.

He had been the one following every demand she made, dropping everything whenever she called, and tolerating her moods without complaint.

And now she was reducing everything between them to a transaction.

His jaw tightened.

"So that’s all I am to you?" he asked quietly.

Julianna looked away. Alex gave a bitter laugh.

"Just a man you paid whenever you wanted something?"

She didn’t answer. But then a sinister laugh suddenly escaped Alex.

"Then don’t forget..." He paused, turning toward her. "I can also be the man who exposes you."

Julianna’s face changed instantly.

"You used me for your own benefit," Alex continued, his voice turning cold. "So maybe I should return the favor and expose you to Clara."

He stepped closer, making a chill run down Julianna’s spine.

"I’m done behaving like a dog, wagging my tail every time you call." His eyes hardened. "If you’re going to throw me away like I mean nothing, then I’ll make sure you don’t walk away untouched either."

"I’ll tell Clara everything," he said. "How you manipulated her into trusting you. How you planned to ruin her life in the Hayes household."

Julianna’s lips trembled.

Alex watched her fear with a satisfied smirk before turning to leave.

But before he could take another step, Julianna rushed forward and wrapped her arms around him from behind.

"Alex, stop." Her voice trembled. "I didn’t mean to hurt you."

A victorious smile tugged at his lips.

He had known exactly what he was doing.

Julianna’s biggest fear was being exposed, and now he had something powerful enough to keep her from throwing him away.

Alex slowly turned to face her, his expression deliberately stoic.

"I’m sorry, okay, babe?" Julianna said, forcing a smile. "I won’t ignore you anymore. But please don’t make this harder for us. You know how much I want to be with you."

She hesitated before lowering her voice.

"But with Clara around, it’s not possible."

Alex’s expression finally softened.

"Then don’t give me a reason to make Clara your problem."

Julianna nodded, and Alex immediately pulled her into his arms.

"Good girl," he murmured, a faint, satisfied smile tugging at his lips. But little did he know Julianna’s expression had already turned bleak.

***

Later that evening, on the lawn of the Sterling Mansion, Clara looked at the three girls with intrigued eyes.

Lily, Silvia, and Gen stood before her, looking as though they were waiting to be scolded for whatever had happened at the bakery.

What they didn’t know was that everyone had already witnessed the entire incident through the livestream.

They exchanged nervous glances, clearly expecting Grace to have told Clara everything.

They had no idea that Clara already knew exactly what had happened.

"Why are you three looking at me like that?" Clara finally asked, raising an eyebrow.

The girls exchanged another nervous glance. Then, as if they had silently reached the same conclusion, Lily and Gen suddenly bowed their heads.

"..."

Clara blinked. What exactly was going on?

Lily cautiously lifted her head to peek at Clara, only to notice that Silvia was standing perfectly straight beside her.

Her lips twitched. Of course. This woman had absolutely no idea what was happening.

Lily immediately grabbed Silvia’s hand and forced her into a bow.

"Madam, we’re sorry for the trouble we caused at the bakery," Lily said quickly. "We promise it won’t happen again."

Gen nodded furiously beside her.

"Yes, Madam. We’re really sorry."

Silvia shot back up the moment Lily released her.

"What are you two apologizing for?"

Lily froze.

Silvia looked between them, genuinely confused.

"We weren’t wrong in the first place."

Gen slowly turned toward her.

"Silvia..."

"What?" Silvia frowned. "We only told that woman the truth."

Lily’s eyes widened. "That’s exactly why we’re apologizing!"

"But why?" Silvia insisted. "She was the one who started it."

"Because you don’t apologize only when you’re wrong!" Lily whispered desperately.

Silvia stared at her as though Lily had just invented the most ridiculous rule in the world.

"Then when do you apologize?"

"When you cause trouble!"

"We didn’t cause trouble. The livestream did."

Clara’s lips twitched as she tried desperately not to laugh.

Gen covered her face with one hand.

"We are never bringing you anywhere again."

Silvia looked offended.

"Why? I behaved perfectly."

"You almost started a war in a bakery!"

"Almost?" Silvia scoffed. "I was being restrained."

Lily stared at her in disbelief.

"That was you being restrained?"

Silvia nodded proudly.

Clara, who had been quiet all the time, finally couldn’t hold it in and burst out laughing.

The three girls immediately turned toward her.

"Madam..."