CHAPTER 35: BARGING INTO HER ROOM

Julian’s POV

Lucy tugged on my arm, her soft fingers sliding between mine. "Come swim with me," she said, tilting her head with that practiced, innocent pout.

I shook my head, forcing a lazy smile. "Not tonight. I’m not in the mood for a swim."

Her shoulders fell, her lips pulling into a slight frown.

Ethan, who was lounging on a chair beside me with a drink, chuckled and came to my rescue. "Don’t take it personally, Lucy. The mighty Julian Vaughn just doesn’t like sharing pool water with the rest of humanity."

Lucy giggled lightly, the sound half shy, half seeking attention. "Oh," she said, glancing between us. "Then... maybe next time?"

"Yeah," I replied, keeping my tone light. "Next time, I promise."

She smiled again and without another word, reached behind her neck and untied the straps of her sundress. I tried not to look, but the motion was impossible to ignore.

In one smooth pull, the fabric slipped down, revealing a sleek red bikini. She tossed the dress aside and moving toward the pool, hips swaying, before diving in.

Ethan let out a low whistle. "Nice ass."

I didn’t respond.

He leaned back in his chair, grinning. "You’re not even gonna look? Damn, you’ve really got something else on your mind tonight."

I took a sip from my drink, my jaw tightening. "I’m fine."

"Right," he said with mock disbelief. "So you’re not thinking about Catherine and Collins being alone in a room right now?"

I froze for half a second, my gaze still on the pool. Lucy surfaced, laughing as someone splashed her. I forced a dry chuckle. "Don’t be stupid."

"Oh, come on," Ethan said, turning toward me. "It’s written all over your face. You’ve been on edge since she showed up with him. Don’t tell me this is just you being the protective brother."

"I’m not—" I began, then stopped myself. "I just don’t like that guy, alright? He’s not good for her. He’s a bastard. I’ve tried to warn her but she never listens."

Ethan raised a brow, swirling his drink. "And I keep trying to understand why it bothers you so much."

I glared at him. "Because she’s my responsibility while she’s here."

He gave me a knowing smirk. "Sure, that’s what you tell yourself."

I rolled my eyes. "You’re reading too much into this. Catherine might be hot, but I haven’t fallen for her. I’ve got my mind set on what actually matters."

"Your plan," he said, nodding slowly.

"Exactly. The only reason I haven’t tried to get a video to implicate her is because Richard deserves to enjoy his little honeymoon before his empire crumbles. That’s my focus." I leaned back, setting my cup down with a bit too much force. "For now, I have to keep tolerating Catherine till the voting period starts. Besides, she has started falling for me."

Ethan let out a slow whistle, unimpressed. "You can keep lying to yourself, man. She hasn’t fallen, else she wouldn’t be with Collins in her room. You’re the one who is halfway gone, whether you admit it or not."

I laughed, sharp and humorless. "Whatever makes you sleep at night."

With a grin, he leaned closer. "So you wouldn’t care if Collins was fucking her hard right now?"

Something inside me snapped. I clenched my jaw, staring straight ahead.

"Thought so," Ethan said under his breath.

"Shut up," I muttered.

"Relax, bro. I’m just saying—"

"I said shut up!"

Ethan’s smirk widened, that smug glint in his eyes daring me to prove him wrong. "You like her, man. Maybe not the lovey-dovey way, but you want her in your bed. Admit it."

I turned sharply toward him, my glare cutting through the noise and laughter around us. "You really don’t know when to stop, do you?"

Before he could respond, I stood and dragged him up, before shoving him hard. He stumbled backward, arms flailing, before crashing into the pool with a loud splash.

The surrounding guests laughed, assuming it was all part of the fun. My pulse hammered through my chest as I stormed inside the mansion.

The noise of the party dulled behind the glass doors, replaced by the echo of my footsteps down the hall. I didn’t even know why I was walking this fast, why my fists were clenched, why my chest burned.

All I knew was that I couldn’t shake the thought of her upstairs alone, with him.

I reached her door and hesitated for a brief second before leaning in.

"Collins, stop!" Catherine’s voice came from inside.

My blood went cold. Without thinking, I twisted the handle and slammed the door open.

The scene hit me like a punch. Collins was on the bed, leaning too close to Catherine. Her nightwear was rumpled, her hair messy, eyes wide. He froze at the sound of the door hitting the wall, turning just as I charged forward.

"Get away from her, you scumbag!" I roared, my voice was raw with fury.

Before he could react, my fist connected with his jaw. The force sent him sprawling, I dragged him out of the bed and threw him to the floor, one hand clutching his face.

"Julian, stop!" Catherine’s voice cut through the haze, but I was already grabbing Collins by the collar, hauling him up and shoving him toward the door.

"You think you can just walk into this house and put your hands on her?!" I shouted, my knuckles throbbing as I threw him again.

"What are—" Collins tried to speak, coughing. "You’ve got it wrong!"

I didn’t listen. The only thing I could see was her standing there in that half-cut top and those shorts, looking too vulnerable.

"Julian!" Catherine stepped between us, grabbing my arm. "Stop it, you’re hurting him!"

"He should be grateful that’s all I’m doing," I spat, my breath uneven.

"Nothing happened!" she yelled. Her eyes blazed, tears glimmering at the corners.

"What the fuck is your problem?!"

I refused to listen.

Collins groaned from the floor, wiping the blood from his lip. "You’re insane, man."

"Get out," I said, my voice dropping low.

He glared at me but didn’t argue, pushing himself up and storming past me. The door slammed behind him.

Catherine stood a few feet away, her chest rising and falling. "You are fucking pissing me off, Julian Vaughn."

"He was too close," I said, softer now. "I heard you telling him to stop."

"I was telling him to stop tickling me, you idiot!" she snapped. "He was playing around, not whatever you were thinking."

My stomach twisted. I looked away, running a hand through my hair. "Well, it sounded different from outside."

She gave a humorless laugh. "You always think the worst of everyone but yourself."

"Maybe I just know people better than you do."

She shook her head. "No, Julian. You don’t know anyone. You just assume and attack."

I opened my mouth to reply but stopped.

She sighed, stepping back toward her bed. "Just leave. I don’t want to talk right now."

"Catherine—"

"Go!" she snapped.