Juliana Salazar POV:
Dalton was in the dining room, hunched over his tablet, the blue light reflecting off his chiseled jaw. He was scrolling through financial news, oblivious to the world outside his screens. The aroma of stale coffee hung in the air.
He barely looked up when I entered. His eyes, usually so keen, just flickered over me, a brief acknowledgment. Then he frowned. "You look terrible, Juliana. You should really get some more rest. Don't overdo it." His concern felt like an obligation, not genuine care.
I walked to the long mahogany table, the same table where I’d celebrated countless milestones with him, the same table where he’d proposed. I sat across from him, the silence thick and heavy. "We need to talk, Dalton."
He sighed, an exasperated puff of air, and slowly lowered his tablet. He leaned back, crossing his arms, his posture radiating impatience. "What is it now, Juliana? I'm busy."
I pushed a stack of meticulously prepared legal documents across the polished table. They slid smoothly, a stark contrast to the turmoil in my chest. "I want to amend our prenuptial agreement."
He raised an eyebrow, picking up the papers, his eyes skimming the clauses. His expression shifted from annoyance to shock. "What is this? You're waiving... all your rights? To everything?" He looked up, his eyes wide with disbelief. "Are you serious?"
Perfectly, I said, my voice flat, devoid of emotion. "In the event of my... untimely demise, all my assets, everything I own, should go directly to you. My company, my patents, my personal fortune." I paused, letting the words sink in. "And the trust fund our parents left for Elwin. I want you to have full control of it, to manage for him."
His eyes were still fixated on the papers, his mind clearly racing through the zeroes. "But... the art collection? Your mother’s jewelry? The rare books?" He looked up again, his voice strained. "You're giving everything to me? Even the pieces you swore you'd never part with?"
No, I corrected, a faint, humorless smile touching my lips. "The art collection, the jewelry, the rare books... those are for Debbra. She has a much better eye for beauty, a finer appreciation for sentimentality, don't you think? She'll manage them beautifully." I met his gaze, my eyes unwavering. "Consider it a special gift."
The air in the room crackled, instantly charged with an unspoken tension. His cold eyes narrowed into slits, suspicion hardening his handsome face. "What game are you playing, Juliana?" His voice was a low growl, dangerous. "What do you want?"
I want nothing, I replied, my voice a whisper, almost lost in the sudden silence. "I'm tired, Dalton. Just so very tired. I'm letting go."
His expression flickered, a complex mix of fear and dawning realization. He leaned forward, his voice barely audible. "Juliana, why are you doing all this? Is this about... us?" he asked, the words careful, testing the waters.
I laughed, a dry, rasping sound. "Perhaps I was not an easy woman to live with," I said, my voice quiet. "Always some new patent to file, some market to conquer. A man like you requires a softer harbor. A place of rest." I paused, a bitter taste in my mouth. "And Debbra provides that, doesn't she? She is all gentle agreement. A sweet, untroubled mirror in which you can see yourself reflected as a king."
He fell silent, his face ashen. The weight of his guilt, finally exposed through my passive observations, seemed to crush him.
I am not blind to the arrangement you two have made, I continued, my voice surprisingly gentle, almost forgiving. "I am simply tired of fighting it. Tired of fighting everything."
My eyes hardened. "She's perfect for you, Dalton. Absolutely perfect."
Juliana... He started, his voice a choked whisper, reaching across the table as if to touch me.
