Julian took a step back, his eyes wide with absolute horror and shock as he stared down at his wife's familiar face. The maid uniform, the messy hair, and the dirty apron could not hide the truth of who was standing right in front of him in the bright morning light. Elena looked up at him with dark circles under her eyes, her lips trembling as she held her hands over her baby bump. Julian's mind raced as he tried to connect the painful story Victoria had fed him with the real woman kneeling on his floor. He looked at Victoria, who was now standing completely still near the table, her face draining of all color as she realized the disaster unfolding.
Julian: YOU TOLD ME SHE HAD LEFT!
Victoria: Julian, listen to me! She came back weeks ago begging for money and a place to stay!
Julian: Shut up! You told me she ran away to Europe with another man and took my money!
Victoria: She lied to you back then, Julian! I was only trying to protect you from her greedy games!
Julian stepped around Victoria, ignoring her nervous hands as he rushed to drop to his knees right beside Elena on the stone floor. He reached out with shaking fingers, gently touching Elena's cold face as tears began to well up in his own dark eyes. He felt the warmth of her skin and heard her broken sob, realizing in an instant that he had been completely fooled by his own family. For six months, he had suffered through deep depression, believing his wife had tossed their love away for material wealth. Now he found her working as a abused servant in the very house they were supposed to share together as husband and wife.
Elena wrapped her arms around Julian's neck, leaning her heavy head against his shoulder as she let out all the pain she had kept bottled up for months. She held onto his black suit jacket tightly, terrified that if she let go, Victoria's guards would drag her back down to the dark basement room. Julian held her close, pressing his hand against the back of her head while feeling the strong kicks of their baby against his own chest. The realization hit him like a heavy hammer—the baby was still alive and growing inside her, proving that every word Victoria had ever spoken was an absolute lie designed to control his wealth.
Julian: YOU TOLD ME SHE LOST THE BABY!
Victoria: Julian, please! You do not know the whole truth about what happened back then!
Julian: I am looking at the truth right now! My wife is here and my child is alive!
Victoria: She was going to destroy our family business! I had to do something to keep us safe!
Julian stood up slowly, bringing Elena up with him and keeping a firm arm wrapped around her waist for support. His face was twisted with intense anger as he looked at Victoria, his eyes burning with a deep sense of betrayal that he had never felt before. He remembered how Victoria had taken over the firm's trust fund accounts right after Elena disappeared, claiming she needed control to handle the legal mess. She had stolen millions from the company while keeping his pregnant wife locked away like an animal in the lower quarters of the mansion. Victoria backed away toward the dining room table, her confidence completely destroyed as Julian stepped toward her with cold fury.
Julian: How could you do this to my wife? How could you do this to my unborn child?
Victoria: I did it for the family name, Julian! She was just a common girl who did not belong here!
Elena: She threatened to hurt the baby if I ever tried to talk to you, Julian.
Julian: She will never touch you or our child ever again. I swear that to you right now.