I Took Off The Dress And Took Back My Life Chapter 05

I Took Off The Dress And Took Back My Life Chapter 05

“What are you talking about? I didn’t know anything about redevelopment-” 

The speed of Scarlett’s denial was too fast- so fast she didn’t even notice her voice had 

changed pitch. 

The redevelopment staff sat in my living room for twenty minutes. As they left, they 

left behind one sentence–this loft’s land 

has been included in the urban renewal 

scope, and the preliminary assessment for compensation is no less than thirty–five 

million dollars. 

Thirty–five million dollars. 

Jax’s mouth fell open into an O–shape, and 

the milk in his hand nearly spilled. 

Julian’s face turned a ghostly pale. He wasn’t 

acting; this was the first time he had heard 

that number. 

But Scarlett was different. 

Her mouth only twitched once; she had 

better control than Jax. 

Because she already knew. 

“The three of you, get out now.” 

Scarlett grabbed Julian’s arm: “Julian, she’s framing me–” 

“Scarlett.” I interrupted her. “You worked in the urban planning department for three years and were asked to resign last year for allegedly leaking undisclosed redevelopment 

information. Do you want me to post that information, or will you tell him yourself?” 

Her face went completely white. 

Julian finally reacted, frowning as he looked 

at her: “Scarlett, what does she mean?” 

She opened her mouth, and her eyes turned 

red right on cue. 

Only this time, her tears didn’t fall fast 

enough. 

“Was the story about your brother hitting a 

Porsche a lie?” I added. 

Jax jumped off the sofa: “Don’t you dare-” 

“You deleted that Instagram story of you clubbing at 2:00 AM, but I have the 

screenshot.” 

His face flushed red, losing his defiant edge 

for the first time. 

Julian’s expression began to shatter. He 

looked at Scarlett, then at Jax, his voice. 

going hoarse: 

“Jax… did something actually happen or 

not?” 

Scarlett didn’t answer. 

“Do you still want to know where the six million went?” I walked up to Julian. “You 

can check the bank records today. See if that money paid for a Porsche or went into other 

accounts.” 

Julian’s hands hung at his sides, trembling 

slightly. 

Scarlett suddenly grabbed his arm: “Julian, 

let me explain-” 

“The pregnancy–is it real?” he asked in a 

low voice. 

Her lips quivered twice, but no sound came 

out. 

The silence was louder than any answer. 

I walked to the door and opened it. 

“Julian. The bank has already filed the 

records of you forging my signature for the 

mortgage. If I don’t withdraw the complaint. 

within twenty–four hours, they’ll hand it 

over to the police.” 

“You can’t-” 

“You still owe me my 

five–hundred–thousand–dollar down 

payment. Plus the mortgage I’ve covered for the last three months, with interest, every single cent.” 

I glanced at Jax. 

“And you. Those slippers on your feet are my 

white Ferragamos. Take them off and get 

out.” 

Jax stared blankly at his feet, showing a lost 

expression for the first time. 

Scarlett dragged Jax toward the exit, 

stopping for a moment as she passed me. 

“Audrey, you’ll regret this.” 

“Regret what?” 

“Regret pushing Julian away. Do you think he’ll come back to you once he’s done with me? He won’t.” 

Looking at her swollen red eyes, I suddenly found it somewhat laughable. 

“Scarlett, I don’t want him back. My loft is 

worth thirty–five million; he can’t pay me back in a lifetime. As for you–you can’t 

even cover your own brother’s gambling 

debts, and you thought you could have my 

compensation money? What a dream.” 

Her back stiffened like a board as she walked 

out. 

Julian was the last one. He stopped at the 

door and looked back, his lips moving. 

“That six million…” 

“Check it yourself. After you check it, if you still think she’s worth helping, go ahead. But don’t ever come looking for me again.” 

“Audrey-” 

“I’m changing the digital lock. You won’t be able to give a spare key to anyone this time.” 

The door closed in his face. 

I leaned against the door and sat on the floor 

for a long time. 

It wasn’t because of sadness. It was because I 

finally felt like I had walked out of a dead 

end.