The cool night air stung Angela's skin as she stepped off the grand terrace of the estate, her crimson gown fluttering in the faint breeze. It was an oppressive kind of cold, sharp and unforgiving, much like the thoughts battering her mind. Julie's biting words still rang in her ears, their venom impossible to ignore, each syllable a dagger carving into her chest.

　　He's lying. Just like your father.

　　Beside her, Edmund walked in silence. His jaw was set in a way that betrayed his inner turmoil, his hands clenched into tight fists at his sides. For all his usual composure, Angela could see the cracks now, tiny fractures in his unshakable demeanor. It was a rare sight, and it only fueled her own anger.

　　The expansive garden stretched out before them, its beauty a cruel contrast to the chaos brewing between them. String lights dangled from the trees, casting a soft glow over the carefully manicured hedges and flower beds.

　　"Angela…" His voice was low, hesitant, as if afraid one wrong word might shatter the fragile calm between them.

　　She stopped abruptly, turning to face him. Her crimson gown caught the faint glow of the string lights, and the tears that clung to her lashes sparkled like crystals. "Did you know?" she demanded, her voice trembling with a mix of fury and desperation.

　　Edmund turned to face her, his dark eyes searching hers. "Know what?"

　　"Don't play games with me," she snapped, stepping closer. The faint glow of the lights caught the tears clinging to her lashes. "Did you know about my father? About any of this?"

　　He held her gaze, his voice steady but edged with something raw. "No," he said firmly, his voice steady despite the storm raging around them. "I didn't know, Angela. I swear to you."

　　She laughed bitterly, the sound cutting through the quiet of the night. "Do you really expect me to believe that?" Her voice cracked, the betrayal cutting through her like a blade. "You've been a part of her world for years. You know how she operates, the secrets she keeps. How could you not know?"

　　Edmund closed the gap between them, his hands hovering near her shoulders as if he wanted to touch her but thought better of it. "Because Julie doesn't tell anyone the whole truth. Not me, not you, not anyone. She controls people by keeping them in the dark, by twisting the truth to serve her own agenda."

　　Angela wanted to believe him, to let his words soothe the ache in her chest, but doubt clung to her like a second skin. She shrugged off his hands, taking a step back. "I don't know what to believe anymore," she whispered.

　　Edmund's gaze softened, and for a moment, the mask he wore for the world slipped. "Then believe this," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "I love you, Angela. Whatever happens, whatever your mother throws at us, that hasn't changed."

　　The raw vulnerability in his eyes caught her off guard, and for a brief moment, her anger faltered. Before she could respond, the sharp click of heels against the stone announced Julie's arrival.

　　Julie emerged from the shadows, her emerald gown shimmering like the scales of a serpent. Her smile was sharp, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. Her presence was suffocating, her smile a dagger disguised as charm.

　　"Well, isn't this touching? The star-crossed lovers united against the wicked queen. Truly, it's almost poetic." she drawled, her voice dripping with mockery. "Or the forbidden lovers, standing together against the cruel, wicked mother."

　　Angela's stomach twisted as Julie sauntered toward them, her presence suffocating. "What do you want, Mom?" she snapped, her voice laced with defiance.

　　Julie arched a perfectly sculpted brow. "Oh, darling, you already know what I want. I want the truth to come out. I want the world to see you both for what you are a disgrace. o remind you both that actions have consequences.""

　　Angela's fists clenched at her sides. "And what about you?" she shot back. "Are you planning to confess all your crimes? Or does your transparency only apply when it serves you?"

　　Julie's smile faltered for the briefest of moments before she recovered, her expression hardening. "Don't you dare try to turn this on me," she hissed. "You slept with my husband, Angela. Do you even understand what you've done?"

　　The accusation hit like a slap, the words hanging heavy in the air. Angela glanced at Edmund, who stood tense and silent beside her, his jaw clenched.

　　"You were never really his wife," Angela said quietly, her voice trembling but resolute. "Not in any way that mattered. You might've had the title, but there was nothing real about your relationship. Your marriage was a facade. It was all about power and appearances, wasn't it?"

　　Julie's laugh was sharp and cold. "Spare me the amateur psychoanalysis. Whatever you think of my marriage, it doesn't change the fact that you betrayed me."

　　Angela stepped forward, her chin lifting defiantly. "You don't get to play the victim here, mom. You've lied to me my entire life. You've controlled me, manipulated me, used me as a pawn in your games. And now you want to stand here and lecture me about betrayal? No. This mess is yours."

　　The fire in Julie's eyes blazed brighter, but before she could respond, Edmund's voice cut through the tension. "Enough."

　　Both women turned to him, their eyes narrowing in unison.

　　"This isn't going to solve anything," he said, his voice calm but firm. "Julie, you're angry, and you have every right to be. But don't act like you're blameless in this. You created this mess. You pushed Angela away long before I ever entered the picture."

　　Julie's eyes narrowed, her lips curling into a bitter smile. "And you were all too eager to pick up the pieces, weren't you? Tell me, Edmund, did you enjoy seducing her? Did you feel powerful, knowing you'd stolen something that belonged to me?"

　　Angela's temper snapped. "That's enough!" she shouted, her voice ringing out like a whip. "I'm not some possession for you to fight over. This isn't about you, Julie, or your twisted sense of ownership. This is about me taking control of my life, for the first time."

　　Julie's expression hardened, her eyes narrowing. "And look where your control has gotten you. You've ruined everything."

　　Angela took a step closer, her voice low and fierce. "No, Mom. You ruined everything when you decided that your ambition was more important than your family. You think you're untouchable, but you're not. And I'm done letting you dictate my life."

　　For a moment, silence stretched between them, heavy with unspoken words. Then Julie's gaze shifted to Edmund, her expression darkening. "You think you've won, don't you?" she said, her voice a venomous whisper. "But this isn't over. Not by a long shot."

　　With that, she turned and strode away, her gown billowing behind her like a storm cloud.

　　Angela watched her go, her chest heaving as the adrenaline began to fade. She turned to Edmund, her voice barely above a whisper. "What happens now?"

　　He stepped closer, his hand brushing her cheek. "Now," he said softly, "we fight. Together."

　　Later that night, Angela and Edmund retreated to the privacy of his penthouse. The confrontation with Julie had left them both raw, their emotions frayed and exposed. Angela paced the length of the room, her crimson gown now rumpled, her bare feet silent against the plush carpet, her mind racing as she replayed the evening's events.

　　"I can't believe her," she muttered, her voice filled with frustration. "She always finds a way to twist everything, to make herself the victim."

　　Edmund leaned against the wall, his arms crossed as he watched her, his eyes dark and intense. "That's who she is, Angela. She thrives on control. But tonight, you stood your ground. You didn't let her win."

　　Angela stopped pacing, her gaze locking with his. "And what about us?" she asked, her voice trembling. "What if she's right? What if we've destroyed everything?"

　　Edmund pushed off the wall, crossing the room in a few swift strides. He cupped her face in his hands, forcing her to meet his gaze. "We haven't destroyed anything," he said firmly. "We've just exposed the cracks that were already there."

　　Angela's breath hitched as his hands slid down her arms, his touch igniting a fire beneath her skin. "Edmund…" she began, but her words were cut off as his lips captured hers in a searing kiss that stole her breath. It was a collision of anger, passion, and desperation, a fiery release of everything they'd been holding back.

　　The tension that had been building between them all night erupted in a torrent of passion. Angela's hands tangled in his hair, pulling him closer as his arms wrapped around her, lifting her off the ground. They stumbled toward the bedroom, their kisses growing more urgent with each step.

　　Clothes were discarded in a frenzy, leaving a trail across the floor as they fell onto the bed. Edmund's hands roamed over her body, his touch both soothing and electrifying. Angela arched beneath him, her nails digging into his back as he whispered her name like a prayer.

　　For a few blissful hours, the world outside ceased to exist. There were no secrets, no lies, no Julie. Only the two of them, lost in each other.

　　When dawn broke, Angela lay in bed, her head resting on Edmund's chest as his fingers traced lazy patterns along her spine, a soothing contrast to the chaos in her mind. The events of the previous night felt distant, like a bad dream that had yet to fade completely.

　　"I don't know what's going to happen next," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

　　Edmund's hand stilled, his lips pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. "We'll figure it out," he said. "Whatever it takes, we'll figure it out."

　　But as the sunlight streamed through the window, Angela couldn't shake the feeling that their battle with Julie was far from over. The road ahead would be fraught with challenges, but one thing was certain, she wasn't going to back down. Not this time.