Can’t Win Me Back by Ginger Sue

Chapter 2264

Jonah? There was a mystery surrounding Jonah?

Every word was like a blooming poppy, drawing Julien in, tempting him to the point where it was difficult to resist. But that was only because of how deeply he loved Jonah.

And that love was the chink in Julien's armor, leaving him vulnerable to manipulation.

In the end, Julien wavered. In a heavy voice, he asked, "How long will this take? I need to go home to celebrate my lover's birthday.'

"It'll be quick."

Uri Holland shut his gloomy eyes. He turned to his side and slipped a hand into his pocket. He gestured to Julien. 'Let's take my car. This way."

As the black vehicle sped through the dark winter night, colorful lights flashed past them on both sides. Seated in the passenger seat, Julien held onto that bouquet of white roses in his arms as he gazed out the window with a restless, doubtful expression.

As Uri drove, he glanced at Julien's strikingly handsome, almost ethereal face as he drove, his gaze unreadable. "What's your name?" Julien asked, trying to gather some sense of security from the man's identity. Not knowing anything left him uneasy.

Uri directed his gaze away from Julien and looked straight ahead. Tightening his grasp on the steering wheel, he answered, "My name is Uri Holland. Spelled U-R-I."

Julien mentally repeated the name. Then, he asked, "You know Jonah? How did you guys meet? Do you have a grudge against him? Or is it some kind of resentment?'

Uri did not look at him again or answer any of his questions.

An hour later, the black car pulled into a deserted courtyard and stopped in front of an abandoned villa.

Despite its state of disrepair, Julien could see the villa's potential-it could be a beautiful house if cared for. Its retro Sedonian design immediately caught his eye.

Uri was quite a gentleman. He got out of the car before Julien and opened the car door for him.

In truth, Julien felt a twinge of regret, but at this point, it seemed too late to turn back.

Uri walked ahead without a word while Julien followed behind. Curious, he asked, "Where are we?"

Uri stopped briefly, his voice cold. "Didn't Jonah ever mention that he has a house here?"

Julien's eyes dimmed. Shocked, he exclaimed, "Are you saying that this house is Jonah's? Why did he abandon this place then?"

Uri clenched his teeth as he pushed open the heavy door to the villa. "Because a particular incident happened, and he decided that this place no longer meant anything to him."

Inside, the furniture was draped in white cloth. The air was cold, dusty, dark, and oppressive.

As a doctor, Julien was quite particular about cleanliness. Yet, he didn't feel filthy being there. On the contrary, this place somehow evoked sorrow within him. It was as if time and space in this villa had come to a standstill, giving off an explicable feeling of dread.

Uri led Julien to a room upstairs. To Julien's surprise, it was a home theater.

Julien knew that Jonah had a hobby of watching movies.

They, too, had a home theater in their love nest in Mosgravia. Many nights had been spent on that soft sofa bed, Julien lying in Jonah's arms, both of them wrapped in contentment.

They would listen to the tender lines from Grunslandish films, holding each other close, exchanging kisses, and sharing moments of intimacy.

This room was nearly identical to the one they had in Mosgravia.

"What are you trying to tell me?"