Accidental Marriage With Mr Billioniare
Chapter 138: GIVING UP ON HIM

Chapter 138: GIVING UP ON HIM

It had been two days since the funeral, and everything seemed to be shrouded in silence for Astrid.

She spent most of her time in her room, clutching her late mother’s scarf and crying uncontrollably.

No matter how hard they tried to console her, she just couldn’t shake off the feeling of emptiness.

She had been told that the CCTV footage from the day of her mother’s death had been faulty, and despite their best efforts, they couldn’t retrieve it.

Rowan had also denied any involvement, but he had paid his respects to her late mother.

Just as Astrid was lost in her thoughts, she heard a knock on the door. She didn’t respond, hoping that the person would go away. But the knocking persisted, and eventually, the door creaked open.

"Astrid..." a familiar voice called out.

Astrid looked up to see Julian standing in the doorway, a somber expression on his face.

She had decided to come home with him, because of her grandfather’s judgment.

He promised to come pick her up the moment she couldn’t take it anymore, and he would make sure to warm Julian so well.

Julian strolled closer to her, his eyes fixed on hers. "What do you want?" Astrid asked gruffly, already giving him the cold shoulder.

Julian swallowed hard before speaking. "Well, I wanted to..." He trailed off, holding out a small box in his hands. "Your mom asked me to hand this over to you."

Astrid’s eyes narrowed, suspicion written all over her face. "How?" she demanded.

Julian hesitated before responding. "I got it from her a few days before her death. She made me promise to give it to you."

Astrid snatched the box from Julian’s grip, embracing it tightly as if it were a lifeline. She looked up at Julian, her eyes brimming with tears.

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Julian nodded, his expression softening. "I’m sorry, Astrid. I am."

Astrid looked away, her gaze falling on the box in her hands.

"How? You are not even close." she whispered, "I should have given it to you for a while but, I handed it to Miles for keepsake and it took him a while to hand it over."

Astrid looked up at him, "Did you know she was going to die?" he quickly shook his head at this.

"I promise she only..." a glare from her stop midway.

"Fine" he grumbled, recalling that day she had called from him the morning he was on his way to the meeting.

FLASHBACK

"Good morning ma’am.." he greeted as he strutted into her room where he met Astrid’s mum sitting on her bed looking so weak.

He looked around trying to see if Rowan was around the corner since he knew how he loved butting into a business that wasn’t his.

"He is no longer around, he left knowing you would act like this." She explained seeing how he was looking around with a smirk appearing on her face.

He couldn’t help but wonder what kind of conversation they had both shared even though they didn’t even know one another.

"Oh, but how come you are that close to him?" That jealousy strongly pricked in his tone as he stared at her.

The room was silent for a while until she decided to break the silence.

"How did you and my daughter get married?" He knew she would ask but wasn’t expecting to hit the nail on the rod that fast.

"I..." Before he could reply she interrupted him.

"Do you like my daughter?" he blinked his eyes severally, not having an answer for it.

"Honestly the marriage was kind of rushed and unexpected so I can’t say," He answered truthfully and she smiled gently at this. She knew there was something weird about her daughter suddenly calling someone else her daughter.

"But I am promising that in the few months she will be with me, I will make sure to protect her even though we later depart in the future."

She nodded her head at this even though she wasn’t in support of it she wanted someone who would love her daughter.

"Rowan’s words were different," she let out and he clenched his fist moving closer to her.

"What did he say? Do you prefer him to me? Is she.." she cracked into a laugh and he stared at her speechless not wanting to sound offensive but it annoyed him.

"You don’t like her yet you are worried with what Rowan said," He released his clenched fist as he stared at her.

"I don’t want to know about the details that would make my heart break into pieces. As long as she never got married to you because of Josh,"

He so badly wanted to ask why she was satisfied so much about that but decided to shut his lips

"I called you here for something else," she let out truthfully and he was paying a listening ear.

Julian looked at her with a mix of concern and curiosity. "Can I ask you to go somewhere for me?" She asked, and his brow furrowed.

Elizabeth’s expression remained neutral, but Julian could sense a hint of fear behind her eyes.

"I can’t say I would be staying long beside my daughter, "She continued.

"But, I want to have the strong belief that with someone like you as her husband, for the meantime, I can count on you."

Julian’s eyes widened slightly, and she looked taken aback by Julian’s words. She seemed speechless, knowing how excited her daughter was to know she was alive.

"Are you still sick?" Julian asked, his voice laced with concern.

Elizabeth’s eyes dropped, and she nodded slightly, this made Julian’s eyes narrowed.

"You’re not getting treatment because of the money, are you? I can arrange for a better doctor abroad that would help."

She shook her head, her eyes welling up with tears. "No, there’s no treatment for it anymore. Instead of thinking about the past, let’s think forward."

Julian’s face fell, and he looked crestfallen. "Ma..." he began.

But her firm voice cut him off. "It’s something important. She will need it in the future."

PRESENT

As he finished explaining them, tears began to trickle down Astrid’s face.

She tried her best to hold them back, but it was clear that she was struggling to keep her emotions in check.

Julian’s heart broke into pieces as he watched her bear her pain. He took a step forward, his hand reaching out to comfort her.

"Astr..." he began, but Astrid gestured for him not to touch her.

"Thanks for handing this to me," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I will make sure to use it best."

Julian’s eyes locked onto Astrid’s, and for a moment, they just stared at each other.

It was the longest sentence Astrid had spoken to him since that night she asked for a divorce, which he was refusing to give her.

"Alright.." he answered, not wanting to push her to talk further since it might not end well, "I should leave now," he announced, staring at her for a while.

He walked out of the room, finding his way down to his room. His phone buzzed and it was a message from his assistant.

"Boss, you have a board meeting in the next thirty minutes," It has been hectic for Ryan because of their life situation but he is trying his best to bring things together and make it easier for his boss.

Manny on the other hand is busy spreading the news about Astrid being the title holder’s wife, and how she had gotten lucky.

Julian’s phone buzzed, and he texted back, "I will be there soon."

As he walked into his room, he stopped dead in his tracks. Mattie was lying on the bed, wearing only her pants and bra. Julian’s eyes widened in surprise.

"Mattie, get dressed," he instructed coldly, trying to make his way to the bathroom. But Mattie had other plans.

She strutted down from the bed, strolling towards him and stripping him as she embraced him from behind.

Julian tried to release himself from her grasp, but Mattie held tight. "You can now walk," he whispered in shock.

"Yes, my love," she whispered against his shoulder, nodding her head.

Julian tried to push her away, but Mattie wouldn’t budge. "Get me pregnant if you want me to believe you will leave her after a year," she said, her voice husky.

Julian’s eyes widened in shock. "What? I..." he stuttered.

Mattie let go of him and turned to face him, her eyes flashing with annoyance. "You can’t promise?" she asked.

Julian shook his head. "Yes, I can’t get you pregnant."

Mattie’s face fell, and she looked annoyed. "Don’t say that again," she warned.

Julian tried to push past her, but Mattie grabbed his arm, pulling him back. Just then, the door swung open, and Astrid walked in.

Mattie saw this as an opportunity. She sprinted towards Julian, pulling him back and locking her lips with his lips, leaving Astrid standing there, lost.

Astrid sighed, rolled her eyes, and walked out of the room. She had planned to wait as long as Julian didn’t go close to Mattie, but it seemed like that would be a hard decision for him.

"I can just give up on him," Astrid thought to herself, feeling a pang of sadness and frustration.