Chapter 119: Blame Game

Blood ran down Julian’s forehead in a thin red line, cutting through his pale skin. He stared at me like he couldn’t believe what had just happened. His eyes were wide. Red. Hurt.I stood there, frozen, still holding the ceramic vase I had swung without thinking.

"You actually... hit me..." he whispered.

Then his legs gave out.

He collapsed hard onto the floor.

My heart slammed against my ribs. My hands started shaking. I dropped the vase, the sound sharp and hollow, and rushed to Lewis.

"Are you okay?" I asked, my voice uneven as my eyes flicked back to Julian’s motionless body.

Lewis glanced down once, then looked back at me. Calm. Steady.

"I’m fine."

He raised his voice slightly.

"Theo. Take him to the hospital."

"Yes, sir."

Theo stepped forward, lifted Julian like he weighed nothing, and carried him out.

I stayed where I was, staring at the blood left behind. My chest felt tight. My thoughts spiraled. Lewis must have sensed it because he pulled me into his arms.

"Don’t worry," he said quietly. "He’s not dead. Just unconscious. He’ll live."

I pressed my face against his chest, my body trembling.

After everything I’d already seen death, loss, blood the sight of it still made my stomach twist. It dragged me back to moments I tried not to remember.

I wanted Julian to face consequences. But not like this. Not with my hands shaking over a broken vase.

When my breathing finally slowed, Lewis looked down at me.

"Why did you hit him?"

I lowered my eyes.

"I didn’t think. He was about to attack you. You were injured before. He’s stronger than me. I just... reacted."

If the blow had been worse, I would’ve crossed a line I could never step back from. I wasn’t trying to destroy him. I was trying to protect someone who mattered to me.

It wasn’t logic.

It was instinct.

Lewis’s arms tightened slightly.

"Whatever the reason," he said softly, "seeing you step in like that... it made me happy."

I blinked.

"Happy?"

I didn’t know if it was because I chose him without hesitation. Or because I didn’t freeze. Or because I stood my ground.

Before I could ask, Lewis went to check on Julian’s condition. I retreated to my room, trying to calm my nerves.

It didn’t last.

James stormed in soon after, his voice thundering through the halls.

"Lewis! You’re not the only one who gets to make decisions in this family! My son is already ill, already in treatment, and now this? You lay hands on him too?"

I rushed forward.

"James, stop. It wasn’t Lewis. I did it. I hit Julian. I had a reason."

His eyes burned.

"I don’t care about your reasons. Save them. Explain yourself to Jeffrey."

My stomach sank.

Ever since I bonded into this family, trouble followed me like a shadow. Jeffrey had always been kind, but I knew part of that kindness came from my resemblance to Elena.

Julian, however, was his blood.

No matter how disappointed he was in him, this wasn’t something he would ignore.

When I went downstairs, Jeffrey’s glare hit me like a wall. Vicky sat beside him, trying to calm him.

"Dad, please," she said gently. "Have some tea. Try to relax."

She held out a cup.

Jeffrey slapped it aside.

The porcelain shattered. Tea splashed across the floor, some of it landing on my feet. Thankfully, it was winter. Socks and slippers saved me from burns.

The room went silent.

Jeffrey’s anger pressed down on me. I searched for words. Any words.

Lewis reached for my hand.

"Dad," he said calmly, "this isn’t worth damaging your health."

"Not worth it?" Jeffrey exploded. "Julian is bleeding because of her!"

Everything he’d been holding back poured out.

"Riley, I thought you were sensible. I welcomed you because I trusted you. But ever since you entered this family, it’s been chaos after chaos. What did Julian do to you that you’d go this far?"

I clenched my fists.

Yes, I hated Julian for what he’d done.

Just as I opened my mouth to speak, Lewis cut in first. His voice was sharp, steady, carrying quiet authority.

"Even in court, people ask questions before passing judgment," he said. "Shouldn’t you at least find out what happened before blaming her?"

That gave me the opening I needed.

"There was an argument," I said quickly. "Julian lost control and was about to hit Lewis. Theo wasn’t there. I panicked. The only thing within reach was the vase."

Vicky didn’t miss the chance. Her lips curved into a thin smile.

"A vase?" she said coldly. "And if there’d been a knife nearby? Would you have stabbed him instead?"

She wanted everyone to see me as dangerous. As a threat. Especially now that I carried Lewis’s name.

I met her gaze without flinching.

"So what are you saying?" I asked. "That I should’ve stood there and watched Julian hurt him?"

I took a breath, forcing my voice to stay steady.

"Even if Lewis weren’t my mate even if he were a stranger I wouldn’t stand by and let someone attack him. I’m smaller. Julian is strong enough to knock me down with one hand. What choice did I have?"

My voice cracked. Not because I wanted pity, but because the fear was real.

I turned to Jeffrey.

"Dad, I know I acted without thinking. But I was scared. If someone has to take the blame, let it be me. This has nothing to do with Lewis."

My hands shook as I continued.

"Julian is your grandson. I understand that. But Lewis is your son. He carries the weight of this family. He’s still healing. Do you really think it’s right for Julian to strike him when he can’t fully defend himself? If I hadn’t been there... would you have accepted that outcome?"

The room went quiet.

Jeffrey’s expression finally changed. His anger wavered as his eyes shifted to Lewis.

People often forgot how much strength Lewis carried simply because he didn’t show it loudly.

"Are you hurt?" Jeffrey asked.

"Didn’t get the chance," Lewis replied coolly. "If Riley hadn’t stepped in, I’d probably be the one in the hospital."

His words landed hard.

James stiffened. Vicky’s lips pressed together.

Still unwilling to let it go, Vicky spoke again. "Julian’s been improving lately. If he snapped, something must have triggered it. What did you say to him?"

Lewis didn’t rise to the bait.

"If you think I’m lying," he said calmly, "then let’s wait until Julian gets back and hear it from him."

Honestly, I wanted to know too. Everything had happened too fast.

Not long after, the door opened.

Julian stepped inside.

A bandage wrapped his forehead. Snow clung to his coat, half-melted. His eyes scanned the room until they found me.

And then he stopped.

The look in his eyes made my pulse stutter. It wasn’t anger. It wasn’t blame.

Vicky rushed to fill the silence. "Good, you’re back. Julian, tell us. What did Lewis do to make you lose control?"

Julian didn’t even look at her.

He walked forward slowly, his gaze never leaving mine. Each step felt heavy, charged, like the air itself was tightening.

He stopped in front of us.

His voice shook.

"Because Uncle Lewis took something from me," he said. "Something that meant everything."

My breath caught.

He knows.

Or he’s dangerously close.

The room froze.

"What did he take from you?" Malcom asked carefully.

Julian’s eyes stayed locked on mine as his voice cracked.

"He took my "