CHAPTER 101: "LEWIS AND CASSANDRA... THEY’RE NOT YOUR BIOLOGICAL PARENT

"I’m also human, Roman," Julie’s voice cracked as she turned away, her chest rising with the weight of every buried emotion.

"I have a heart that feels hurt and a brain that thinks, but all these years... I was treated like I was some kind of robot. Like I didn’t bleed like everyone else... like I didn’t matter."

Her voice was rising, trembling with pain, her pitch climbing with each word until Roman instinctively stepped forward and pulled her into his arms, silencing her anguish with a firm, desperate embrace.

Julie didn’t resist. She collapsed into him like a wave finally reaching shore after years of trying.

Her fingers clutched the fabric of his shirt tightly, and her sobs were no longer held back—they came raw, unfiltered, soaked in betrayal and exhaustion.

Roman said nothing at first.

What could he possibly say?

She looked so pitiful, so breakable in that moment that something inside him cracked.

His beautiful wife—his Julie—was wronged. She wasn’t weak, no. She had held on far too long.

And now, in this moment of crumbling, he understood the full weight of the silence she had carried for years.

In the stillness of the room, only her soft sobs filled the air. No wind. No footsteps. Just Julie falling apart in the only place she felt safe.

And Roman held her tighter.

"Roman..." her voice was muffled in his chest, small and broken. "Am I not worthy of love?"

That question pierced through him like a blade.

He pulled back just slightly, enough to see her face. Her eyes were swollen, red-rimmed and glassy, her lower lip trembling. Roman’s heart clenched.

"You are," he whispered with sincerity so deep it rattled his own chest. "Julie, you are more than worthy."

His fingers brushed through her hair, pushing a few damp strands from her tear-streaked face and tucking them gently behind her ear.

The movement was tender, careful, reverent—like he feared she might shatter from too much force.

Julie took a shaky breath, steadying herself on the edge of vulnerability. "It all started with a photo."

Roman’s gaze darkened immediately. He recognized the weight behind those words.

He didn’t interrupt, only cupped the side of her face to let her know he was listening—truly listening.

So she spoke. Her voice was low, slow, haunted.

She told him everything—the edited photo, the scandal, the shame, the betrayal, the venomous whispers that haunted her steps.

She poured it all out like poison being drained from a wound.

By the time she finished, her cheeks were streaked with drying tears, though fresh ones still welled silently in her lashes.

Roman swallowed hard. He felt a mix of emotions so violently that it made his stomach churn—rage, heartbreak, guilt, helplessness.

"I’m so sorry, dear," he finally said, his voice barely above a whisper.

He felt nauseated with sorrow, the kind that sits like a stone in your gut, the kind that words could never fully heal.

Julie looked up at him weakly, and Roman knew there was something else he needed to tell her—something heavier. His grip tightened slightly.

"There’s something I found out, Julie," he began, hesitating. Her brows furrowed, her lips parting slightly as she braced herself for more pain.

"But before I tell you... promise me something."

Julie’s eyes flickered, cautious and curious.

"Promise me you won’t do anything rash," he said firmly, holding her hands in his. "Promise you’ll think clearly before reacting. I need you to tell me your thoughts. Don’t run. Don’t shut down. Just... stay with me in this."

Julie’s heart thumped heavily in her chest. There was gravity in his tone that made her nerves tighten.

But she nodded. Slowly, wordlessly. She could sense this was going to change everything.

Roman exhaled and said it.

"Lewis and Cassandra... they’re not your biological parents."

It was as if the entire earth paused.

Julie blinked. Once. Twice.

"Wh-what...?" she stammered, her voice thin and frail.

The shock hit her like cold water—no, like ice. It splintered inside her chest and then cracked her open from the inside. Her legs went weak.

Roman nodded solemnly, unable to speak further for a moment.

Her reaction... the disbelief, the silent pain blooming in her eyes—it was too much.

Julie didn’t scream. She didn’t speak.

Her lips trembled as tears came rushing again, not from confusion but from a lifelong ache that had finally been given a name.

Roman stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her again. This time, more carefully—more protectively.

He held her like he was afraid someone might steal her from his arms if he loosened his grip even a little.

He couldn’t fully understand what it felt like, but he knew pain. And this—this was primal.

He let her cry.

He let her fall silent again.

And as minutes passed, as the clock ticked on unnoticed, Julie didn’t say a word.

Her body eventually went still in his arms, her breathing slow and steady. Exhaustion had won.

Roman looked down, noticing her limp frame.

"Julie?" he whispered.

No reply.

"Julie," he called again softly, brushing her cheek.

Still nothing.

She had fallen asleep.

Emotional exhaustion had taken its toll, and her body had surrendered to rest.

Roman sighed, his heart aching.

But the pain in his expression softened as he saw her now—peaceful, even if slightly troubled in sleep.

A small frown still lingered on her lips, but the storm had paused.

"Rest," he murmured, brushing a strand of hair from her cheek. "Just rest... I’ll take care of the rest."

He slowly stood and lifted her gently into his arms. She didn’t stir—her body completely surrendered to the weight of emotion that had finally overflowed.

Carrying her carefully, Roman made his way to the bed and laid her down with quiet reverence.

The afternoon light slipped in through the curtains, painting soft golden streaks across the sheets.

It was still daytime—but for Julie, the world had faded to silence.

Roman didn’t leave her side.

He sat on the edge of the bed, watching her as she slept, one arm resting protectively beside her as if he could guard her even in dreams.

Her breathing had evened out. Her lashes rested gently on her cheeks, and the faint trail of dried tears still clung to her skin.

He reached for a tissue and gently wiped her face clean, being careful not to wake her.

Then, with a sigh, he leaned forward and whispered, "Don’t worry. I’ve got you now. No more pain. No more lies."

He stayed like that for a long time, his eyes never straying from her peaceful form.

The world outside could wait. For now, Julie needed peace—and Roman was going to make sure she had it.

Even if the sun was still up, in this room, time had stopped—for healing, for truth, for love.

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Hi lovelies ❤️

Just a quick note for my amazing readers who want to read ahead and unlock more Chapters in advance:

When you click "Purchase Privilege" on Webnovel, you might see multiple options or tiers available — like 3 coins, 5 coins, 15, etc. These are all great ways to get ahead in the story, but they unlock different amounts of Chapters.

👉🏽 Lower tiers usually give you access to just 2 or 3 Chapters ahead.

But if you’re really enjoying the story and want to get the full experience, I highly recommend going for Tier 5.

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📌 So... Why Tier 5?

✨ It unlocks a full 7 Chapters ahead — that means you’re far ahead of the regular release readers, with no breaks or cliffhangers stopping you from diving deeper into the story.

✨ You get early access to all the emotional, dramatic, and romantic scenes before anyone else. Whether it’s a major twist, a heart-melting confession, or a shocking betrayal — you’ll experience it first.

✨ It directly supports me as your author. Every time you unlock a Chapter, especially through Tier 5, you help me continue creating this story daily. It keeps the updates consistent, high-quality, and filled with heart.

✨ Tier 5 is the ultimate way to support the story and stay ahead. You won’t have to wait days for the next part. You’ll already know what happens next — while others are still gasping over the last Chapter!

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I put so much time and love into every update — and your support through Privilege, especially Tier 5, means more than I can say. 💖

So if you’ve been hooked on the story and can’t wait to know what’s coming next — or if you simply want to show your love and support — thank you for choosing Tier 5. You’re not just reading ahead — you’re helping build this world with me.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for being on this journey. Your encouragement and support make every word worth it.

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💬 If you’ve unlocked Privilege, let me know in the comments! I absolutely love seeing who’s ahead — it keeps me motivated and smiling all day. 👀💕

You can also find me over on Instagram if you want to connect more or share your thoughts!

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With all my love and gratitude,

[MIDNIGHT_STAR07] ✨