Broken Oath: I Left, He Regretted-Chapter 169: Julian Sinclair and Naomi Sawyer

Chapter 169: Chapter 169: Julian Sinclair and Naomi Sawyer

At that moment, Timothy Xavier walked over, holding Doris by the hand.

His expression was deliberately gentle, but there was a trace of displeasure in his eyes as he said, "Zoe, it’s getting late. We should go."

Saying that, he reached out, trying to grab my wrist.

I instinctively dodged his touch, then turned to Madam Sinclair and bowed politely. "Grandma, we’ll head back now. You should rest early too."

Madam Sinclair glanced coldly at Timothy, then took my hand and squeezed it tightly, her tone full of concern. "Take care of yourself. Call Grandma anytime if you need anything."

Timothy listened impatiently on the side, still maintaining his gentlemanly facade, but his words were laced with sarcasm: "Rest assured, Madam, Zoe is my wife. Naturally, I’ll take good care of her—absolutely won’t give those ’weeds’ outside any chance to take advantage."

Madam Sinclair snorted coldly and retorted without courtesy, "Then I hope you can keep your word, President Xavier! Don’t end up making big promises and then failing spectacularly."

Timothy’s face stiffened, but he didn’t argue. He just pulled Doris along and urged, "Let’s go."

I followed him out of the mourning hall, not saying a word along the way.

Just as we were near his car, Timothy suddenly stopped and muttered in a lukewarm tone, "That old woman is really nasty. At her age, still so bitter, probably won’t live long."

"Timothy Xavier!"

I spun around abruptly, glaring at him, my voice full of fury, "Watch your mouth! You’re a grown man, cursing an old woman in front of your kid—do you have no shame?"

Timothy’s expression shifted, glancing down gently at Doris. "Sweetheart, Daddy and Mommy have a few things to talk about. Go wait in the car for us, okay?"

Doris had already sensed the tension earlier; now, hearing this, she hurried into the car.

Watching the car door close, I said, "What now? Suddenly worried about hiding things from Doris? Afraid she’ll see what a shameless father she has?"

Timothy stepped closer, face dark, lowering his voice, "I’m afraid she’ll find out that when her father was being taken down in the worst time of his life, her mother was lying under the man responsible for it!"

Just as he finished, I slapped him across the face.

Timothy’s head snapped to the side. Silence descended, broken only by the wind rustling through the leaves.

After a long moment, he slowly turned back, his gaze flickering with a fanatic obsession.

"Did I hit a nerve? Did I get to your pain?"

He stepped forward, staring hard at me. "I used to want to make it up to you, even thought about letting you go. Divorce? I might’ve agreed. But now?"

He sneered, his tone full of malice. "If you’re so eager to play dirty with another man, so desperate to cheat on me, then for the rest of your life, don’t even dream of leaving me! I can throw away The Xavier Group! But Julian Sinclair will never get you! Zoe Ellison—either you die, or I do!"

I was startled by the burning determination in his eyes; my fingertips felt icy cold.

I yanked open the car door, pulled Doris out, and left with her.

...

The next day.

In the afternoon café, sunlight poured through the floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating the pale-skinned woman at the window seat, making her seem even more cool and transparent.

Naomi Sawyer stared at the stern man across from her. "Did Ethan send you?"

Julian Sinclair’s tone was calm and steady. "Ethan Xavier doesn’t know I came to see you."

Naomi smiled faintly, a little self-deprecating. "I’ve always heard Mr. Sinclair is capable—now I see it’s true."

She lifted her gaze to Julian, eyes clear and complicated. "Ethan hid me this deep, this long, and still you found me. Then I suppose you already know what happened between me and Timothy, and about my connection to Zoe?"

Julian didn’t waste words, only nodded, letting her know he was aware.

"Mr. Sinclair, you’re here for something—just say it."

Naomi wasn’t one for beating around the bush. Her slender, rosy fingertips absentmindedly caressed the edge of the coffee cup.

"You should know about me and Zoe Ellison."

Julian Sinclair spoke slowly and deliberately. "I can’t let her marry Timothy Xavier, so I need your help."

Naomi lowered her eyes, masking the struggle in her gaze.

She’d already planned to help Zoe—in recent days, she had even considered returning to Timothy, just to pull Zoe out of the mess.

But Julian’s blunt request made her instinctively resistant.

She hated being coerced, especially after years of confinement by Timothy—it made her despise being manipulated even more.

So Naomi appeared cold, her amber eyes revealing her discontent. "Mr. Sinclair, why do you think I’d agree to your terms? Even if Zoe is my own sister, I don’t think I owe her anything."

Julian replied calmly, "Ethan may be The Xavier Group’s president now, but he’s not strong enough yet. Timothy has too many spies and loyal followers at The Xavier Group. Without my support, do you think Ethan can hold that position for long?"

Those words hit Naomi right where it hurt.

She was silent for a few seconds. When she looked up again, her eyes shimmered with resolute coldness. "With those words, I’ll agree. Just remember your promise—when he’s in trouble, you must help him."

Julian nodded, but then changed the subject. "But I have a condition too."

Naomi didn’t wait for him to finish, calmly cutting in. "I won’t let Zoe know I’m her sister, so she doesn’t feel conflicted; and I won’t tell Ethan you came to see me today."

Julian’s eyes flashed with clear appreciation.

He finally understood why Timothy Xavier could never forget Naomi Sawyer.

She knows the ways of the world but isn’t jaded; not a stunning beauty, yet her elegance and clarity are rare, and even more so her perceptiveness and wit.

Thinking back to when Naomi and Timothy first met, Zoe was just an unworldly high schooler.

Timothy’s changing heart wasn’t hard to understand.

But what he absolutely shouldn’t have done was, after falling for someone else, returning to Zoe, keeping her in the dark and dragging her into this mess.

Naomi just looked at him calmly, not shrinking away like others tended to in front of him.

She softly asked, "Can you accept my condition, Mr. Sinclair?"

Julian raised his untouched coffee, gently tapped Naomi’s cup—a silent agreement.

Then he waved for the bill, saying to Naomi, "I’ll have the driver take you home."

Naomi stood, politely refusing, "No need, I can go myself. Otherwise if Ethan or his mother see me with you, it’ll just cause unnecessary trouble for everyone."

Julian looked somewhat satisfied, though barely visible.

Naomi was tactful and smart, though unfortunately ended up with someone like Timothy.

But right now, all his attention was focused on Zoe Ellison.

To get what he wanted, sacrifice was necessary—that’s a lesson written in his bones since childhood.

As for what Naomi would face returning to Timothy, he didn’t have energy left to care.

Just as he was about to leave, Naomi called out behind him, "Mr. Sinclair."

Julian paused, turning to look at her. "Something else?"

Naomi’s gaze was earnest, her tone softening. "Please... be good to Zoe."

She looked down, adding, "I haven’t lived with her, but she’s my only sister. I know what kind of man Timothy is, so I understand how much she’s suffered these years. I hope you... won’t let her suffer more."

Julian nodded firmly, promising, "I will treat Zoe well. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have gone through all this trouble for so long."

With that, they parted ways.

Julian went straight to the car, telling the driver to take him to Zoe Ellison’s.

A few days ago, he’d asked Sharon privately and knew Zoe’s mood had been awful.

Since he’d warned Timothy at the hospital, that bastard hadn’t backed off, but got even worse.

X saw updates from him almost daily, all about wedding preparations.

Naïve netizens honestly believed he and Zoe’s wedding was near.

Even though he posted Diana Caldwell’s obituary, even knowing his grandmother had just passed—spectators only watched for drama; who really cared?

More outrageous, Timothy raised the wedding cash gift to one hundred million, saying he’d distribute it on the payment platform for netizens to claim on the wedding day.

Now, even more people anticipated the wedding, and online chatter grew louder and louder.

Just then, his phone rang. Leo Grant’s voice came through: "Attorney Sinclair, the financial reports for The Xavier Group under Timothy Xavier, everything you asked for, I’ve pulled it all. Want to see now?"

"Yes. Wait for me at Apex Law Firm."

After that, he told the driver, "Head to Apex first."

...

Meanwhile, at The Xavier Manor.

Timothy Xavier had already been discharged and returned home.

He’d long stopped wanting to stay at the hospital.

Lately, high-level executives from The Xavier Group kept visiting under the guise of concern, but they were really Douglas Xavier’s loyalists and those supporting Ethan Xavier, coming just to mock him and watch him fall.

He’d always been proud—how could he stand being ridiculed? He might as well move straight back home.

Now at home, Serena waited on him like an emperor, seemingly willing to give her heart.

Sophia was also completely obedient, terrified he might despair after being ousted as president.

But today, after Timothy posted on X, Sophia finally exploded.

"A hundred million?" She pointed at her phone, voice shaking. "Is Zoe Ellison worth that much? Are you insane!"

Serena sat quietly to the side, not daring to speak, but gave Sophia a secret look.

That look seemed to say: If you can’t talk your son out of this, you’re doomed.

Sophia was scared and desperate. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

On one hand, she dreaded Serena making trouble for her later; on the other, she couldn’t bear her son wasting money like this.

She held her patience and tried to advise him. "Timothy, you’ve been removed as president! Do you know what that means? Our family’s assets will shrink dramatically—you can’t spend money like before!"

Timothy shrugged off her worries, leaning back on the sofa, his tone indifferent. "It’s only one hundred million—I can afford it."

"More than a hundred million!"

Sophia stamped her foot, voice rising. "The dress, diamonds, banquet—they all cost money! The cash gift is a hundred million, what about everything else? Besides, Zoe has already slept with Julian God knows how many times! Bottom line, she’s trash—is she worth your money?"

Timothy’s face instantly darkened, rage swirling in his eyes. "Exactly because she dared to betray me, I have to throw this wedding! I want her to know the price of betrayal!"

With that, he turned to Serena, pulling her into his arms, his tone unusually gentle, "You, on the other hand, are good—obedient and sensible, never giving me trouble."

Serena instantly flushed, snuggling closer into his embrace.

Timothy let out a languid sigh, looking as if he’d just slipped into that drugged relaxation after a cigarette.

He didn’t actually like smoking, nor did he really like Serena.

But he coveted the emptiness smoking gave him, and Serena’s blind devotion and need to please him.

All things he could never get from Zoe Ellison again.

Thinking about Zoe’s and Julian’s betrayal, his fingertips lightly traced Serena’s cheek, voice tinged with gloom. "Don’t worry. Marrying Zoe is just for show. This wedding is meant to torment her, make sure those two lovers never end up together."

He paused, gazing deeply at Serena. "And you—you’re the one who’ll stay at my side from now on."

Serena was so excited she could barely contain herself.

She quickly looked up at Timothy and said, "Timothy, I’ll always do what you say, won’t chase after anything else, only want to stay by your side forever!"

Meanwhile, Sophia had gone pale, clutching her clothes in terror.

If Serena stayed with Timothy for good, what would happen to her own future?

Watching Serena snuggled into Timothy’s arms, Serena was as anxious as a cat on hot bricks, but didn’t dare refute a word.

If the truth about the person she’d killed ever got out, her life would be over.

So, no matter how dissatisfied, she could only swallow her words.

Timothy didn’t even notice his mother’s ugly expression; his fingers stroked his phone screen, his thoughts drifting to Zoe.

The surgery for his gastric bleed was serious, but Zoe?

She’d only visited twice, and only because he forced her.

She used to fret endlessly if he missed a meal, always trying new recipes just to please him; now, it was obvious she gave all her care to Julian.

Thinking that, his rage deepened. He dialed his stalker, his voice icy: "You’re supposed to be watching Zoe Ellison—any movement? Has Julian Sinclair visited her?"

The person on the other end hurried to reply, "Julian Sinclair visited the madam once."

"Heh, visited?"

Timothy snorted, voice dripping with mockery. "So what if he visited? He still lets me post wedding announcements; they still can’t break us up. In the end, all they can do is sneak around like a couple of mutts!"

He paused, then instructed, "Send out photos of Julian Sinclair coming and going from Zoe Ellison’s neighborhood—hint it’s where she lives, but don’t say he went specifically to see her."

After he hung up, Sophia finally dared come closer, her face full of confusion. "Timothy, what are you doing? If you don’t directly say they met, how will you nail them to the pillar as adulterers?"

Timothy turned to her, lips curling in a sly smile, like a cat playing with a mouse. "If I ruin them completely, how can I control Zoe?"

He lounged on the sofa, fingers tapping the armrest with cruel calm. "If we tear off all masks, it’ll be a bloodbath. Right now I want to string them along—let Zoe understand, as long as she doesn’t obey, Julian, Madam Sinclair, everyone she cares about will suffer. My head for all of theirs? I think that’s worth it!"

His tone grew even colder as he added, smirking, "That Madam Sinclair is old—if she gets hit with a little more drama, who knows if she’ll survive the year? Unless things get desperate, I don’t want bodies piling up."

Serena’s gaze shifted as she mused, "Timothy, if you ask me, it’d be better to expose their sneaking around, maybe even a secret pregnancy! Once that hits the internet, Madam Sinclair will get trashed by netizens. After all, she personally vouched for her grandson! If she gets pissed to death, how could Julian ever forgive himself? Won’t he always feel disgusted whenever he’s with Zoe?"