The door slammed shut behind Julian with a finality that reverberated through the room. Cambria's heart raced, but her face remained a mask of cold precision. She had spent years mastering control of herself and of every situation she found herself in, and Julian's sudden appearance wouldn't change that.
He stood by the doorway, his posture tense but confident. His usual calm demeanor was gone, replaced by something darker and more desperate. He knew something. And that was never a good sign.
"You look surprised," Julian said, his voice tinged with amusement. "Were you expecting someone else?"
Maddox, who had been standing in the background, frozen in place, took a step forward. His jaw clenched. "What the hell are you doing here, Julian?"
Julian's eyes never left Cambria. He wasn't interested in Maddox's questions; his attention was fixed solely on her. The intensity in his gaze sent a ripple through Cambria, but she pushed it down, focusing instead on the one thing that mattered now, her plan.
"We need to talk, Cambria," Julian continued, his tone low, his words deliberate. "I know you've been busy building your empire, but it seems you've forgotten a few things. Things that matter more than your little war with Elena."
Cambria's eyes narrowed. She had no intention of giving him the satisfaction of reacting, but the presence of Julian in her space, after everything that had passed between them, unsettled her. Her mind raced, calculating her next move. His appearance wasn't a coincidence. And neither was the message he had just sent.
"I haven't forgotten anything," Cambria said, her voice smooth and cutting. "You've already shown me where your loyalties lie."
Julian tilted his head slightly, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips. "You misunderstand me. My loyalties are with myself, and I think you're beginning to realize that. This war you've started… It's bigger than both of us."
He stepped forward, his shoes clicking against the marble floor, the sound echoing through the vast space of her penthouse. Each step felt like a challenge, but Cambria didn't flinch. She had no time for his games.
"I don't need your help," she said, her eyes steely. "If you've come here to try and stop me, you're wasting your time."
"Stop you?" Julian scoffed, walking closer until he was standing just a few feet away from her. "I'm not here to stop you, Cambria. I'm here to show you the bigger picture. What you're doing isn't just about revenge anymore; it's about survival. For both of us."
There was something in his voice that made Cambria pause, a flicker of doubt she quickly squashed. Julian had always been able to manipulate the truth to fit his needs, and this wasn't any different. He wanted something. The question was, what?
"What are you getting at?" Cambria asked, her voice low but steady, keeping her emotions carefully guarded.
"I've been watching you," Julian continued, his gaze locked on hers. "I know what you're doing with Elena. But you're missing a critical piece. A piece I'm willing to offer. If you're willing to listen."
Cambria's breath hitched, but she didn't let it show. "And why would I listen to you now?"
Julian's smirk faded, replaced by something far darker, something more dangerous. "Because I know who your real enemy is. And it's not Elena."
The words struck like a dagger to her chest. For a moment, the room seemed to tilt, the air growing thick with the weight of what he had just said. She steadied herself, her hand gripping the edge of the desk, her heart pounding in her ears.
"I already know who my enemies are," Cambria said, voice trembling ever so slightly. "And you're at the top of the list."
Julian's laugh was bitter, filled with a rawness that made her skin crawl. "You don't know the half of it."
He leaned in closer, his face inches from hers. She could feel the heat of his breath on her skin, the closeness of him bringing memories rushing back, memories she had buried deep within herself. He was too close, too dangerous.
"I'm not your enemy, Cambria," Julian said softly. "I'm the one who's been trying to warn you."
She stepped back, putting distance between them. She needed space. "Warn me about what?"
"There's a truth you're ignoring," Julian continued, his tone uncharacteristically serious. "Something you should have figured out by now. The thing that Elena's been keeping from you. The one thing that will destroy everything you've worked for."
Her pulse quickened as his words sank in. There was a threat in his eyes, something darker than anything she had faced before. Was he playing her, or was there more to this than she understood?
"What are you talking about?" Cambria asked, trying to steady her breathing, trying to piece together what he was implying.
Julian stepped back, his gaze never leaving hers. He motioned toward Maddox, who had been standing silently, a witness to their exchange. "It's not just Elena who wants to destroy you, Cambria. It's the people you trust. The ones closest to you. Including him."
Her eyes shot to Maddox, who had been eerily quiet throughout the entire conversation. His face had hardened, the expression unreadable. But inside, Cambria's mind was racing. The thought of Maddox betraying her was unimaginable. It couldn't be true. He couldn't be involved in this.
"Don't listen to him," Maddox finally said, his voice low but forceful. "Julian's just trying to manipulate you."
But Julian wasn't finished. His gaze never wavered from Cambria, his words like poison dripping from his lips.
"I'm not the enemy, Cambria," Julian said. "But you might want to watch your back. Because the real threat isn't Elena. It's the people who think they control you."
The air seemed to freeze. The room fell into a deafening silence. For a long moment, Cambria was caught between the two men, her thoughts a swirl of confusion and betrayal. Was Julian lying? Was he telling the truth?
Her eyes flicked to Maddox, her heart beating erratically in her chest. She couldn't ignore the doubt creeping into her mind. She had spent years building walls around herself, guarding against the pain of betrayal, but Julian's words… they cut deeper than anything she had ever expected.
And in that moment, Cambria realized something chilling.
She didn't know who to trust anymore.
The game had changed, and it was no longer just about Elena. It was about everyone she had ever let into her life.
But one thing was certain.
The war was far from over.
Before Cambria could speak, her phone buzzed again, this time with a new message. The sender was unknown, but the contents were unmistakable.
"I know what you're planning. And you've made a mistake. You're already too late."
The message was signed only with a single word.
"Trust."
Her breath caught in her throat.
Who was it? And how did they know?