Chapter 17 You Need to Show Up Tonight
In the past, Elizabeth was always the one hanging up on me. If I ever dared to hang up first, she wouldn’t call me for ages.
Our relationship would only return to normal after I couldn’t take it anymore and apologized to her.
But seriously, Elizabeth, nobody actually fell apart without someone else.
I was just trying to give you an easy way out.
This time, looking at her dozen missed calls and the phone that kept ringing, I didn’t hesitate to put it on silent and turn the
screen off.
I was going to sleep. She could do whatever she wanted.
After silencing my phone, I had no idea if Elizabeth called again, but my world became completely quiet.
Soon enough, I drifted off to dreamland.
Sometime later, I woke up needing to pee. I opened my drowsy eyes and headed to the bathroom, habitually grabbing my phone to check the time.
Chapter 17 You Need to Show Up Tonight
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What shocked me was that Elizabeth still hadn’t given up trying to contact me. And it was already 2:30 in the morning.
She’d called me over a hundred times with no answer.
When Elizabeth realized her calls weren’t getting through, she switched tactics and started texting me.
As luck would have it, I spotted her messages when I got up to use the bathroom in the middle of the night.
The first text read: [Julian, you need to show up tonight. I’m standing alone outside this bar and I’m freezing.]
The second: [What’s your problem, Julian? Even if we’re getting divorced, I’m still your wife now. How can you just leave me stranded outside a bar by myself?]
The third: [If you don’t show up tonight, I’m going home with some random guy. I don’t care where he takes me. I look really hot tonight.]
Below this message, Elizabeth had attached a selfie.
In the photo, she was wearing the outfit I’d seen in the video, her eyes glazed from drinking, and her gorgeous face flushed.
She looked like a sexy kitten in distress, the perfect target for some predator.
I couldn’t tell if Elizabeth had done it intentionally, but her photo’s background captured several men eyeing her hungrily.
Chapter 17 You Need to Show Up Tonight Looking at this, I could hardly believe my eyes. The ice queen
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CEO of Bennett Group was actually degrading herself like this to pressure me into picking her up?
I typed back with a smirk: [You really think these threats are going to work on me?]
Elizabeth replied instantly: [Why don’t you want to see me?]
Julian: [It’s pretty simple. You’re the one who told me to stay out of your sight. What’s wrong? Did you go drinking with your old flame and he ditched you?]
I smirked as I flushed the toilet and fired off another text.
Once again, Elizabeth responded immediately.
Elizabeth: [Gideon’s afraid to sleep alone at home, so I sent him back. I’m by myself now. Will you come over?]
Julian: [No thanks. Don’t take me for an idiot. Someone with your status as CEO of Bennett Group could flash that title and no guy would dare make a move on you.]
After I sent that message, Elizabeth didn’t reply right away. She seemed to have fallen into a long silence.
It wasn’t until I’d finished in the bathroom and gotten back into bed, ready to go back to sleep, that she finally responded..
Elizabeth: [What will it take for you to come see me?]
Chapter 17 You Need to Show Up Tonight
Seeing her persistent messages, I was completely fed up:
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[ Elizabeth, we don’t have any reason to meet. If we do, it’ll be at the courthouse on Monday to finalize our divorce.]
Julian: [When we were together, it seemed like I didn’t exist in your life. Now, I’d appreciate it if you stopped disrupting mine. Got it?]
Julian: [That’s all. I’m turning off my phone.]
After sending that final message, I’d completely run out of patience with her. I switched off my phone and crashed into sleep.
Meanwhile, Elizabeth stood outside the bar, staring at the string of messages popping up on her screen. Her eyes glazed over with pain as she whispered to herself, “Does he really care so little
about me?
“How can he not even react when I’m like this? Why won’t he
come see me?”
Elizabeth wondered, her voice barely above a whisper. “What happened between us?”
Before Elizabeth realized it, a tear slipped down her cheek.
Anyone standing nearby would have felt the weight of her sadness, sensing the vibe of a beautiful woman falling apart.
Just then, the group of men who had been hovering behind her
Chapter 17 You Need to Show Up Tonight
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finally made their move. They approached quickly, surrounding Elizabeth.
“Hey gorgeous, going through a breakup?” one asked, leaning in too close.
“These young guys nowadays don’t know how to treat a woman, especially someone as stunning as you. It’s not worth crying over some jerk,” another chimed in.
“Yeah, looks like you’ve had quite a few drinks already. Why don’t we take you out for a late–night snack? Keep you company, let you vent a little. What do you say?”
As the men moved closer and got a better look at Elizabeth’s beauty and figure, their expressions grew even more eager.
“We’re not bad guys, really. After we eat, when you’re feeling better, we’ll take you home. We promise-”
“Come on, this lady’s drunk and can’t walk by herself. Let’s be gentlemen and help her. Watch your step now.”
While talking, the men surrounding Elizabeth couldn’t contain themselves anymore and started to reach for her
But in the next second, Elizabeth’s face turned ice–cold as she shoved their hands away.
“Get lost! Stop trying to play your stupid games with me. He’s not a jerk. We’re just going through a rough patch…”
Chapter 17 You Need to Show Up Tonight Elizabeth pushed past them and stumbled out of the bar.
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The group of men exchanged glances, still unwilling to give up on the beautiful woman who seemed within their grasp. They eagerly followed after her.
“You’re right, gorgeous, but everyone needs to blow off steam when they’re fighting,” one called out.
“A pretty face like yours shouldn’t be all scrunched up with anger. You’ll get wrinkles,” another added.
“Tell you what. Forget the late–night snack. Let’s just get your home safely. It’s not right for you to walk alone this late with so many creeps around.”
In seconds, they surrounded Elizabeth again. They grabbed her arms and sandwiched her between them, forcing her forward.
Meanwhile, one of them darted ahead to the corner to hail a taxi.
If Elizabeth got into that car, they’d be in control of where she ended up.
“I’d be less safe with you guys than alone,” Elizabeth said coldly. “I’ll say this one last time. Back off!”
Elizabeth saw right through their game. A cold smile crossed her face as she struggled to break free.
Even if Julian truly wouldn’t come for her, she’d never walk off with random men.
Chapter 17 You Need to Show Up Tonight
One was her lawful husband. These other men were complete strangers.
“You’re drunk, sweetheart,” one said with a sneer.
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This time, the two men holding Elizabeth tightened their grip, making it impossible for her to escape. Their friend had successfully flagged down a cab, and they were about to force her inside. All of them wore greedy expressions, certain of their victory.
But Elizabeth remained calm. Her smile turned icy as she warned, “I gave you a chance. Don’t say I didn’t.”
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