My Stepbrother Wants Me-Chapter 125: Julian Vaughn Is A Liar

JULIAN’S POV

I stood behind a sleek podium in the City Hall press room, the "Vaughn" crest gleaming beneath the harsh LED studio lights. Richard stood to my left, his hand resting on my shoulder in a grip that looked supportive to the cameras but felt like a vice to me.

"Set the feed to live," Richard commanded, his voice cutting through the chatter of the crew. "I want the whole state to see this. No delays, no edits. Just the truth of our family’s unity."

"Senator, we usually run a five-minute delay for security," the lead technician stammered, adjusting his headset.

Richard leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. "Did I ask for a security protocol? I asked for a live link. This campaign is built on transparency. Now, do your job or I’ll find someone who can."

I felt the familiar, cold knot of dread tightening in my gut. I looked over at Catherine, who was seated in the front row next to her mother. She looked pale, her fingers digging into the fabric of her cream-colored slacks.

"We are live in five, four, three..."

The red light on the main camera came to life. Richard’s face transformed instantly. The predatory snarl vanished, replaced by the charismatic glow of a statesman.

"Citizens of this great state," Richard began, his voice projecting with effortless power. "I stand here today with my wife and children, especially my son, Julian, and Catherine. We’ve faced challenges, but as a family, we have emerged stronger. Julian has spent the last few months reflecting, and today, he is ready to—" 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

"He’s ready to lie to you again!"

The shout rang out high from the back of the hall, cutting through Richard’s rehearsed monologue. The reporters turned as one, their cameras swiveling toward the entrance.

My heart stopped. Standing in the doorway, her hair disheveled and her eyes burning, was Lucy. She was dressed in a tattered trench coat, looking like she’d crawled out of a storm.

How the hell did she get here?!

"Julian Vaughn is a liar!" Lucy screamed, pointing a shaking finger at me. "He’s a liar and a thief! He stole from me, and he’s stealing the truth from all of you!"

The room erupted. The sound of camera shutters was deafening. I felt the blood drain from my face. A thief? What did she mean? I hadn’t stolen anything from her. What could I have possibly stolen from her? I was the one who had been paying for her expenses since she arrived my city.

Richard’s hand dropped from my shoulder. His face turned a shade of purple. "Cut the feed!" He roared, turning to the tech crew. "I said cut the damn feed! Now!"

"But Mr. Vaughn, we’re live! We can’t just—"

"End it all. No more cameras!" Richard lunged toward the main camera, his composure shattering in a display of rage. The screen went black for the thousands of people watching at home, but the reporters in the room were still recording every second.

Richard didn’t care. He stormed down the steps of the podium and marched straight toward Lucy, who stood her ground, with her chin tilted up.

He’s going to kill her, I thought, my feet frozen to the stage. He’s going to snap her neck right in front of the press.

"You," Richard hissed, stopping inches from Lucy’s face. His voice was a low and terrifying. "You dare come here? You dare interrupt this event with your delusions?"

"Delusions?" Lucy let out a jagged, hysterical laugh. "Get out of my way, it’s Julian I want to talk to."

Richard froze. The anger didn’t leave him, but it changed.

"Is that so?" Richard whispered, turning back to Lucy.

"I know everyone’s scared of you but I’m not," Lucy spat, though she leaned in closer to Richard, her voice dropping so only those of us nearby could hear. "But I have the copies, Sir. Julian was too sloppy to check the lining of my suitcase. I have the dates. I have the names. And I’m not as ’gentle’ as your son. I don’t want your protection. I want your seat at the table."

Richard stared into Lucy’s eyes for a long minute. A slow, terrifying smile spread across his face. He let out a short, bark-like laugh and adjusted his tie.

"I like your spirit, Lucy. Women like you are usually the strongest," Richard said, his tone suddenly conversational, almost pleasant. He turned back to the room, ignoring the reporters. "Ladies and gentlemen, it seems there has been a... misunderstanding. A private family matter that has spilled into the public eye."

He turned back to Lucy and lowered his voice. "If you really have what you say you have, then we have a lot to discuss. And I’d prefer to do it over something better than hotel coffee."

"I’m not going back to the hotel that Julian caged me in," Lucy snapped.

"No," Richard replied, his eyes gleaming with a new idea. "You’re coming to my house. Tonight for dinner. I think you’d make a fascinating addition to the guest list. After all, if my son is ’thieving’ from you, I should be the one to mediate the settlement."

I felt sick. My stomach did a slow, nauseating roll. Richard wasn’t inviting her to dinner to be kind; he was bringing her into the lion’s den to see if he could break her—or use her as another campaign tool.

"I’ll be there," Lucy said, her voice hard as flint. "But don’t expect me to bring the wine."

"I expect nothing but the truth," Richard said, patting her. He turned toward the stage, his gaze moved to be for a while but I tore it off real fast and looked at Catherine.

She was staring at me too, I could tell with her widened her eyes that she was confused and had a lot of questions to ask.

Richard walked back to the podium, ignoring the chaos of the room. "The press conference is over," he announced. "My family and I have some... private business to attend to."

As he walked past me, he leaned in, his breath hot against my ear. "Who is this woman? Once we get home, you have to fully explain who she is."

He walked away, leaving me standing in the dying glow of the studio lights. My whole body was shaking in terror. I had tried to save Lucy from Richard, but in her angry state, she had just handed Richard the very rope he needed to hang us both.