UNREACHABLE AFTER BREAK UP

Julie Morgan stepped into the grand halls of the Taylor Estate for what she knew would be the final time, a bone-deep chill settling in her chest.

A handful of staff lingered nearby, whispering under their breath:

"Did you hear Mr. Taylor was with Miss Chavez last night? Why the hell is she back here, anyway?"

"Must not care if she makes a fool of herself. He gave her an opportunity, and she still won't take it."

"Pretty ballsy."

"Let's just see how long she lasts..."

Julie climbed the stairs to the master suite—stairs she’d walked up every single day for seven years—but they’d never felt half as steep, half as daunting, as they did right now.

Aitana Lee, the housekeeper, trailed right behind her. When Julie reached for the bedroom doorknob, Aitana stepped right into her path. "Miss Morgan, Mr. Taylor isn’t here right now. It ain’t proper for you to go in. If anything goes wrong, we can’t be held responsible."

Julie had made up her mind yesterday to end things with Cameron Taylor for good. It was only now that she was seeing this side of Aitana. The housekeeper who’d once greeted her with open warmth now only looked at her with open disdain.

Julie held her gaze steady. "Don’t worry. I’m just here to pick up my things."

Aitana sneered. "Oh, I didn’t realize Miss Morgan owned anything here that she bought with her own money."

The Taylors had supported Julie for over a decade. If she had any sense, she’d walk away empty-handed and let Sophie Chavez take her place as Cameron’s fiancée. No fuss, no fight.

Julie’s eyes hardened, every last trace of warmth draining away. "Aitana. Servants shouldn’t speak out of turn."

Whatever drama was between her and Cameron was none of this woman’s business.

Aitana’s face went white as a sheet. Resentment flashed hot in her eyes before she dropped her gaze, stiff and respectful. "Mr. Taylor..."

Julie turned around.

Cameron Taylor was standing right behind her.

Morning light flooded through the floor-to-ceiling windows, gilding his tall, sharp-edged figure in warm gold.

For a split second, Julie swore his sharp features and piercing eyes looked less cold than usual.

"Leave us," he dismissed Aitana with a cool flick of his wrist, that commanding aura of his never fading, even when he was reprimanding someone.

"Aitana has worked here for seven years. You have no right to speak to her like that."

So what?

Julie almost laughed at how absurd it was.

Should she remind him she’d been part of the Taylor family for thirteen years? That she was once his fiancée?

And still, she mattered less to him than a damn housekeeper.

That’s enough. She’d accepted it.

What was she even still holding out hope for?

If she meant anything at all to Cameron, he wouldn’t have thrown her aside for Sophie Chavez yesterday, throwing away thirteen years of her devotion like it meant nothing.

Maybe the sardonic twist to her mouth