his life and didn’t know how to continue without her. Julian never remembered anything other than his mother’s warm smile and hugs. His aunty had helped raise him and Rob while their father slowly accepted and recovered from their mother’s death.
While Julian climbed the steps to the main entrance of the clubhouse, he noticed one of his best friends with a woman, arguing. He held the handle of his suitcase tighter and walked up the remaining steps.
“You need to leave¸ Sarah. You can’t be here!” Max growled.
“Max, please! Just talk to me. I’m sorry. Please. I love you!” Sarah desperately begged.
Julian set his suitcase down and then cleared his throat. They both turned, their eyes wide and surprised to see him. “Not missing the party, am I?” Julian asked, raising his eyebrow at Max.
Sarah glared at him with her harsh blue eyes. He knew the kind of woman Sarah really was, even as a teenager. He had caught her terrorising Clara back when Alex had dated her. Clara had begged him not to say anything to her brother, and he had listened. Looking back, he should have told Alex the verbal assault his sister had endured.
“Julian, you finally made it,” Max said, eyes flashing in relief.
“Can’t miss this. Clara would kill me!” He moved towards them.
Max snatched his arm back from Sarah’s hold and held them out for Julian. After a quick embrace, Julian scowled at Sarah.
“And what are you doing here?” Julian asked in a rough tone.
“I’m talking to my boyfriend,” she said matter-of-factly. The sunshine hit Sarah’s hair and toned it down from its harsh colour. Julian knew Max had always had a thing for Sarah, but Alex had dated her first.
“I’m not your boyfriend,” Max stated in a disgusted tone.
“Max,” she cried, offended by his statement.
“You broke them, Sarah! You lied. You’ve always lied. If it weren’t for Valerie, the truth would never have come out. I let you in and you manipulated me. You say you love me, and how do you prove it? By hurting my two best friends. You don’t give a fuck about anyone but yourself. How I wanted a future with you, I don’t know. Everyone warned me about you, but I thought I saw a good person.” Max paused then took a deep breath before he roared, “I never want to see you again!”
Julian flinched. Max had always been a gentle person, so it came as a surprise to see him so enraged.
“Max, plea—” Tears began to well up in Sarah’s eyes.
Julian kept quiet, allowing Max to properly end whatever it was that they had together.
“Leave. Before Alex or Noel find out you came and crashed the wedding. I’m done with you.”
“You have to believe me. I meant it when I said I love you!” Sarah cried.
Max just shook his head and walked past Julian. Sarah’s tears continued to slide down her face as she watched him walk away. Turning around, Julian stared at Max as he fished out his keys from his pocket and picked up Julian’s suitcase.
“You packed light,” Max pointed out, ignoring Sarah’s presence.
“Didn’t bring much from Milan. I don’t have baggage like you,” Julian replied.
Max tensed. “I did have baggage,” he stated as he went down the steps. Julian followed.
As they got closer to the car park, Julian could hear Sarah sobbing. But it wasn’t his business to make her feel better. Her lies had come between Noel and Clara. For that, he could never forgive her or feel an ounce of pity towards her.
The moment they reached the Porsche Cayman, Max unlocked his car and set Julian’s suitcase on the ground.
“Nice car,” Julian praised.
Max leant on the car and shrugged. “The pros of being a lawyer. I get paid too much to represent assholes. Just like you and advertising.”
“Don’t remind me. I used to love my job… the idea of my job. So, you and Sarah?”
“Sorry you had to see that. I had no idea she’d just show up. I came out to take her call and there she was. Don’t tell Noel or Alex. I don’t want to upset Clara,” Max said, staring at his keys.
“You liked her that much, huh?” Julian asked.
“I thought I did. When Noel found out, I just changed. He told me he wanted to break up with Andrea and I just started to see Sarah differently. Then…then I found out what she did. I’m the reason they broke up. I brought her to that club and to Katie’s party. I