Chapter 9

The gates of the Coral Gables mansion stretched before Julian like prison bars, black iron reaching toward a cloudless Miami sky. Two security cameras tracked his movement, their red lights blinking like judgmental eyes. The estate sprawled behind the barrier – a Mediterranean palace of white stone and terracotta tiles, worth more money than he'd see in ten lifetimes. Bougainvillea cascaded over the walls in vibrant purple waves, nature's own security system of thorns and beauty. A pair of fountains flanked the entrance, their gentle splashing a mockery of serenity in this fortress of wealth. This was Maxwell Jenkins' world now. And Chloe's. The morning sun caught the cameras' lenses, sending twin flashes across Julian's face . Even the light here felt expensive, filtered through palm fronds that probably cost thousands to maintain. Three months ago, he wouldn't have noticed these details. Three months ago, he was too busy destroying his life to appreciate the price of perfectio