Sophia stared at him in disbelief. “What… what did you say?” she stammered, her hands falling limply to her sides as her eyes remained locked on his figure.

Her heart literally stopped. She had felt it skip beats many times before, especially whenever her gaze fell on Julian.

But today, the way it ceased beating was terrifying. It felt as if her entire world had collapsed, and every part of her being could only register those few devastating words that had just left his lips.

Words she could scarcely believe had come from him—the same man who, only a few hours earlier, had told her she was the only one...