The Twin Revelation

The rhythmic tap of Julian’s fingers on the leather armrest did not falter. He sat with his shoulders back, his posture radiating a cool, detached elegance that made him look like a mere observer rather than a participant in the unfolding drama.

Behind the heavy velvet curtain, Sylvie held her breath, her chest tight. Every muscle in her body was locked in terror. She closed her eyes, her mind racing through a dozen terrible explanations she could offer when the fabric was pulled back. She could hear the sharp, metallic click of Giselle’s high heels.

*Click. Click. Click.*

The sound stopped right in front of her hiding spot. Sylvie’s heart hammered against her ribs so loudly she was certain Giselle could hear it. She squeezed her eyes tighter, preparing for the inevitable confrontation and her impending doom.

Just as Giselle’s hand reached out to grasp the edge of the curtain, Julian’s voice broke the suffocating silence.

"Giselle, there is no more red wine in the villa. Go out and buy a bottle for me."

Giselle’s hand froze in midair. She turned back to look at him, her brow furrowing slightly. Julian was notorious for his impossibly high standards. He was a man who only drank vintages from exclusive cellars, so the idea of him asking her to fetch a bottle from a common local store was bizarre. How could he possibly drink red wine bought in such a small place? Yet, she had never dared to refuse anything he said.

"Okay," Giselle said, smoothing down her designer dress. "I’ll go right now."

She turned and began walking toward the foyer. But as she neared the front door, her eyes swept over the floor one last time. There, poking out from beneath the bottom hem of the dark curtain, was a pair of sneakers.

Giselle’s expression changed in an instant, a cold wave of fury washing over her. She knew Julian’s tastes, and she knew those cheap shoes did not belong to him. Did he really think she was blind? How could she not notice such an obvious pair of feet?

She really wanted to see what kind of woman actually dared to try and seduce her fiancé. What kind of woman was precious enough to make the noble Julian cheat on her? Forcing her features into a calm mask, she stepped out of the villa, her mind spinning with a quiet, lethal rage. She would locate this homewrecker and destroy her later.

Inside the living room, the heavy front door clicked shut, cutting off the noise from outside. The silence that followed was heavy and absolute.

Sylvie let out a long, trembling breath, her shoulders sagging in relief. Her suspended heart finally fell back into place. That was incredibly close. Fortunately, Giselle hadn't pulled back the drapes. But the fact that Julian had helped her out in that situation made it seem as though they really had some sort of shameful, secret relationship.

Blushing deeply, she stepped out from the velvet drapes.

"Thank you for just now," Sylvie muttered, her eyes darting toward the exit. "I’ll leave first…"

"Leave?"

Julian’s voice was like ice, freezing her in her tracks. He snorted coldly as he locked his sharp gaze on her. He slowly rose from the sofa, his tall, imposing frame casting a long shadow across the room. He didn't look like a man who had just saved her; he looked like a predator interrogating a prisoner. His dark eyes scanned her face, looking for any trace of deceit. The intense pressure in the room made it hard for her to breathe.

"Why do you look exactly like Giselle?" he demanded, his voice low and dangerous.

Sylvie’s footsteps came to an abrupt stop. Her mind scrambled for a safe response. She and Giselle were identical twins, which was why they looked exactly the same. Even they had been shocked when they met for the first time. But what could she say now without letting the cat out of the bag?

Her hesitation did not escape his sharp eyes. Julian took a step closer, his gaze sweeping over her face with ruthless scrutiny.

"Plastic surgery?" he sneered, his lips curling in disgust. "Were you thinking that you could be a substitute for Giselle? Seduction?"

Each word he spoke carried a heavy hint of sarcasm.

Sylvie’s brows knitted together in deep anger. Plastic surgery? Seduction? Her entire body, down to her very eyelashes, was all natural. How could he possibly think she had undergone surgery? She thought Julian’s whole family looked like they were the ones who needed their eyes checked instead!

"Sir, you were the one taking advantage of me first, okay?!" Sylvie snapped, her voice trembling with anger.

"I just came here to deliver the takeout you ordered. You grabbed me, talked about roleplay, and you even kissed me! You were obviously harassing me! I can sue you for it!" Sylvie was still blushing, feeling a little ashamed as she spoke of their previous physical interaction, but her anger kept her standing tall.

Julian had never been spoken to in such a manner before. Even powerful figures had to be courteous toward him. Now, this girl was actually saying she wanted to sue him for sexual harassment?

He narrowed his long, dark eyes coldly. "Go ahead and sue me. Let’s see whether the police will think that I was harassing you or whether they are going to convict you for deliberately trying to approach me with my fiancée’s face. Let’s wait and see then."

His beautiful, attractive voice was thick with danger.

He was a powerful, influential figure, and she was nothing more than a poor civilian. It was already obvious who would win and who would lose, and who the world would believe was the predator.

Sylvie felt deeply wronged. She hadn't approached him on purpose at all! It was bad enough that he refused to apologize for hugging and kissing her, but now he was framing her with something so unreasonable. Did he really think she was so weak that he could suppress her just because she was a normal citizen?

She stared back at him, her clear, bright eyes flashing with righteous fury.

"Sir, have you never heard of twins before? My name is Sylvie Bancroft and I’m the twin sister of Giselle!" she declared, her voice loud and clear. "I only met you by accident, and the reason why I was hiding is because it is not convenient for me to show up in front of my sister for certain reasons. I was afraid she would misunderstand. You can investigate this matter if you don't believe me!"

Julian’s brow furrowed. Twins? He had never once thought of this possibility. When did Giselle ever have a twin sister?

Before he could process the revelation, Sylvie raised her chin, looking at him with utter disdain.

"Also sir, I’ll never like or try to seduce a blind man like you who can’t even recognize his own wife! Never in this lifetime!"

With that final, biting remark, Sylvie raised her chin, her eyes flashing with pure scorn. She turned on her heel and walked away, her steps arrogant and resolute. She did not look back once as she made her exit, leaving him standing there in the middle of his quiet living room.

Julian stood alone in the center of the spacious room, his handsome face turning dark. A blind man? She would never like him? She made it sound like he was desperate for her affection.

Yet, as the echo of the slamming door faded, his lips suddenly twitched.

He raised his fingers to touch his mouth. Why did he have feelings for her?

When he thought of the kiss they had shared earlier, a strange sensation washed over him. The warmth of her lips, the unique sweetness of her breath... it felt exactly like that deeply satisfying, unforgettable night four years ago.