Chapter 229 A Filthy Mistake Roman “It’s a good thing we’re skipping introductions,” I said calmly, though every muscle in my body was locked tight. “You already know Paula. And that means you know exactly why she’s here. You know why we’re here.” Julius stood near the center of the living room like a man who still believed he owned the ground beneath his feet. His posture was stiff, his expression carefully blank. He’d perfected that look over decades—feigned confusion layered over arrogance. “I don’t have the slightest idea what you’re talking about,” he said lightly. Too lightly. “Why are you all in my house?” I took a slow step forward. “You’ve been my father’s loyal dog for years,” I said. “You cleaned up his messes. Covered his crimes. Bent yourself into whatever shape he demanded. And in doing his bidding, Julius, you destroyed lives. You shattered families. You left scars that don’t fade. Scars people carry into the grave.” His eyes flicked around the room. He was counting. Measuring. Realizing, finally, that he was surrounded. “What is this?” he demanded. “What’s going on here?” His gaze snapped to Flora. “You said you were coming to pick up your things. You said you were done with me. What is this circus you’ve dragged into my home?” Flora said nothing. She sat rigidly, hands clenched in her lap, eyes fixed on a point somewhere beyond him. Julius let out a low chuckle. A brittle sound. “I suppose today’s the day we’ve both been dreading,” he said. His eyes slid to Jace. “Isn’t that right, brother?” “Keep quiet,” he snapped immediately after, panic flickering across his face. “I don’t know what these people are talking about.” Before I could speak, Savannah rose to her feet. Her movement alone shifted the air in the room. “You knew,” she said, her voice shaking—but steady enough to hurt. “You knew what Kingston was planning. You knew the sick thoughts he had. You knew he raped me.” The word dropped like a gunshot. She paused, dragged in a breath that sounded like it tore her apart. “You knew everything. And you let it happen. You blamed me. You called me a slut. You forced me to get rid of my baby.” Her voice cracked. “You made me miserable. You made me hate myself. And in the end, you made me hate you, Julius.” His eyes widened. Just a fraction. Enough to tell me she’d hit something vital. Savannah straightened. “Oh, and I know the truth now,” she continued. “I know you’re not my father.” She pointed across the room. “He is.” Jace didn’t move. Didn’t deny it. He simply stood there, grief etched into every line of his face. Julius laughed. Actually laughed. A sharp, humorless sound ripped from his throat as he turned to Flora. “Ah. So you told her.” He sneered. “We’re airing secrets now? Is that today’s agenda?” Flora’s eyes remained on the floor. “I had to,” she said hoarsely. “You kept it from her for thirty years.” “You let your disgusting friend put his hands on me,” Savannah said, stepping closer. “I’ll always hate you because you ruined my life.” “Savannah,” Julius said coldly, “the feeling is mutual.” His lip curled. “And since we’re discussing ruined lives, let’s talk about how your existence ruined mine.” A tear slid down Savannah’s cheek. “How could I ever love you?” he roared. “You were a mistake. A filthy mistake. A living, breathing proof that the woman I loved spread her legs for my own brother!” His voice exploded through the room. Savannah flinched. Alyssa gasped. Flora stood. The movement looked like it cost her everything. She crossed the room and slapped Julius hard across the face. The crack echoed. Silence fell instantly. “You speak as though I ever loved you,” Flora hissed. My stomach tightened. “What?” Savannah whispered. “Mom… what are you saying?” Flora didn’t look at her. Her eyes were locked on Julius, blazing with decades of pain. “If you hadn’t done what you did,” she said, her voice trembling with fury, “if you hadn’t forced me into marrying you when you knew I loved someone else—” She choked. “When you knew I was your brother’s girlfriend—none of this would have happened.” She jabbed a finger into his chest. “If you had accepted rejection like a man, Julius, we wouldn’t be here.” “Mom,” Alyssa whispered. Flora turned to her daughter, eyes red. “It’s true. I never loved your father. We grew up together. The three of us. I fell in love with Jace first. He was my choice. Julius was never my choice.” Julius’s face twisted. “I told him no,” Flora continued. “Over and over. I told him I already belonged to his brother. That I would never love him. But he wouldn’t stop. He pursued me relentlessly. Violently.” My gaze drifted briefly to Chloe and Paula. Paula watched with sharp, focused attention. Chloe sat utterly still—eyes distant, expression unreadable. Like she was already somewhere else. “When his father found out,” Flora said, “he made sure his favorite son got what he wanted. My father agreed under pressure. And just like that, my life was decided.” Her voice dropped. “You can’t force someone to love you, Julius. You can’t erase a lifetime of feelings.” Now I understood. And still, Julius refused responsibility. “You think I’m to blame?” he bellowed. “I fought for the woman I loved! And I won! If you had kept your legs closed and focused on being a wife instead of a whore just like your bastard daughter, none of this would’ve happened!” The slap came again. Savannah’s hand trembled in the air. “Don’t you ever speak about me like that,” she said. “Ever.” It happened too fast. In a flash, Julius grabbed her hair and yanked. Alyssa screamed. “Dad! Stop!” Flora shrieked Savannah’s name. “Let go!” Savannah cried. “How dare you!” he snarled. “You think you matter now? You think you're worth something now, Savannah?!” Something inside me snapped. I tore him away from her and drove my fist into his jaw. He hit the sofa hard.I turned to Savannah immediately. “Are you hurt, baby?” She shook her head. I faced Julius again. “You touch her again and I will end you. Haven't you done enough?” He laughed through blood. “Enough? It’ll never be enough. She should never have been born.” And through it all—Chloe watched. Silent. Still. Waiting. And something about that bothered me.