Too Late, My Queen

ments in Julian' s "artistic endeavors." Tabloids splashed photos of Tori gifting Julian' s mother a luxury penthouse, his sister a contro

onomical sums for a cure. When initial treatments failed, she reportedly locked herself in her office for days, emerging only to issue increasingly desperate orders. There were whispers she' d even threatened to bankrupt a leading medical research fac

votion to Julian, the same all-consuming fervor she had once directed at him. And a bitter truth settled in his heart: her love, if it had ever been love, was not unique. It was a consuming fire th

ng treatments, but the divorce settlement, while generous, wouldn' t last forev

e was asleep, her small face peaceful against the white pillows. Her breathing was shall

from all this. Somewhere safe. Somewhere quiet. Just you and me." He talked to her for a long time, telling her about his plans, about the q

identities, far removed from VME' s sphere of influence. The process was complex, expensive, but necessary. He needed to b

dded to Maya' s trust. The expensive clothes, the designer watches, the penthouse apartment filled with art she' d chosen – he liquidated it all, meticulously erasing every trace of he

e took them to a secluded beach, far from the city, built a small fire, and watched them burn. Each curl of smoke, each flicker of flame, was a release, a painful but necessary severing. He wa

avel road behind him. He turned, his heart lurching. Tori. And

ssion unreadable. Then, her eyes landed

ulian has been admiring that old Martin you have. The one my grandfather gave me, that I gave to you.

, but more than that, it had been Tori' s most personal gift to him, given in the early days, a gesture

than. "Yeah, Miller. Hand it over.

the guitar case

t tangling. He fell, not onto the soft sand, but down a short, steep embankment hidden by

ovement, kicked a loose rock, sending it tumbling on

ieked, clutching his foot. "He pus

cern. "Julian, darling, are you alright?" She didn' t

with fury. "How dare you! After everythin

Ethan cried out, struggling to si

m the beach, her face contorted with rage. "You ungra

ht the driftwood down on his outstretched a

t with rage. She had used the full might of the Vanderbilt empire to destroy the critic' s career, to silence him, all in the name of protecting Ethan, her Etha

nt, someone more malleable, more exciting, someone who reflected her own distort