Ungodly Rich - Katharine McGee - Chapter One - Julia

Aug 7, 2026

102

Ungodly Rich tells a high-stakes coming-of-age story through Julia’s first steps into danger during a bungee jump at Kawarau Bridge. Her moment of vertigo and fear collides with a craving for thrill, underlined by Harry’s teasing confidence and the rush of adrenaline they share. The narrative then widens to Julia’s life in New Zealand, her past work on Elysian Cruise Line, and the choices that led her to love, restlessness, and a seemingly bold new future shaped by ancient mythology.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryStory & Novel

FormatPDF

Pages351

Reading Time9 h 1 min

AccessFree to download

Chapter One: Julia

Bungee jump and adrenaline

Relationship with Harry

Life in Queenstown and cruise past

Meeting Harry at Lenore

UNCORRECTED MANUSCRIPT IMPORTANT NOTICE: This electronic manuscript has been authorized by Penguin Random House for internal distribution only. It should not be reproduced, transmitted, or disclosed to anyone not employed by Penguin Random House LLC. Ungodly Rich A Novel Katherine McGee Crown Old gods, new rules. New York Times bestselling author Katharine McGee puts a modern-day twist on ancient mythology in this bold reimagining of the Greek gods as a family of billionaires—with all the messy drama that entails. Chapter One Julia I am going to die, Julia thought, as she stared down at the surface of the river that looked as hard and unforgiving as concrete. The logical part of her brain, the part that had once studied for law school, wanted to say that yes, of course she was going to die; it was part of being human. Standing at the top of the Kawarau Bridge was just a stark reminder of her own mortality. She’d felt this close to death once before, a long time ago. But in this moment, Julia scolded herself, quickly pushing those memories aside. Nothing good came from dwelling on that night. “Come on, Jules,” her boyfriend Harry said encouragingly.“You can do this.” “Right,” Julia rasped, but didn’t move. She longed to lean back into the safety of Harry’s body, to grab his hand and drag them both off this bungy platform. “One,” Harry began counting.“Two ” Before he got to three, Julia closed her eyes and leapt into the void. For a heart-stopping moment, the air howled around her, raking delicate claws over her skin. It almost didn’t feel like falling, but like flying. Up was down, and down was up. Everything had become a chaotic blur of noise and color. Julia’s body somehow managed to elongate into her old diving form from swim team, arms flinging up around her ears. Her eyes closed as she sliced through the river’s surface. She’d gone deep, so far that the water closed over her pointed toes. Then the bungee cord yanked her right back into the air, dripping wet—and laughing. When she climbed into the waiting motorboat and unclipped her harness, Julia was breathing fast. Harry stood on the platform far above her, wearing his yellow KAWARAU BRIDGE employee shirt. The motorboat driver shouted an all-clear, and Harry took off running. As he jumped into the air, he curled his body into a somersault and flipped once, twice, a third time, each revolution as perfect as that of an Olympic gymnast. “Show-off,” Julia muttered when he finally joined her in the motorboat. She shivered a little; May in New Zealand was usually the beginning of winter, though it was unseasonably warm today. It felt almost like Harry had conjured up this weather specifically so that they could go bungee jumping.“And why am I the only one who got wet?” she added. Harry flashed an eager, impish grin.“I loosened the cord so you would have a full dunk. Newbie special. So, how do you feel?” Electrified, exhilarated, untouchable.“I feel high,” Julia declared. Unlike some of the kids she had crossed paths with at Harvard, she’d never experimented with drugs. But she imagined this was how it must feel—like you were somehow more alive than everyone else. “Adrenaline, the most powerful drug on earth,” Harry agreed. “I thought that was desire. You know, pheromones.” Julia’s tone was flippant, a touch flirtatious, yet a cloud passed over Harry’s expression at her words. It was gone in an instant. “I love you.” He leaned over to brush a kiss on her temple.“Ready to head home?” Home, the apartment they had rented together after only a few months of dating. It was small, and always smelled like a deep fryer thanks to the fish-and-chips shop on the ground floor below—but Harry was right; it felt like home. The two of them had met here in Queenstown, at a bar called Lenore: the sort of place with cheap beer and stickers on the walls, with a boisterous jukebox that played everything from K-pop to Elvis. It was one of the

FAQs

What happens to Julia at the beginning of Chapter One?

Julia stands on Kawarau Bridge, feeling certain she is going to die, but closes her eyes and leaps into the void. She plunges into the river, then is yanked back up by the bungee cord and returns laughing.

How does Harry react and what does he say about Julia’s experience?

Harry counts her jump, encourages her, and later explains he loosened the cord so she would get a full dunk. He also frames the feeling as powerful adrenaline.

What background does the chapter provide about Julia before she meets Harry?

The chapter describes Julia’s job history with Elysian Cruise Line, including traveling routes like the Mediterranean, and her move to New Zealand. It then recounts how she met Harry in Queenstown at a bar called Lenore.

Aug 7, 2026

102

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