Chapter 14 - I Gave Julian One Choice That Had Nothing to Do With Teresa
Julian asked to meet me alone.
We sat in the empty dining room.
The damaged section of wall where my phone had struck had been repaired.
The table was still there.
I hated that table.
Julian did not sit across from me.
He remained standing.
“I'll sign whatever financial settlement is fair.”
“This isn't about buying your way back.”
“I know.”
“I won't live with you while I'm afraid you might hit me again.”
His face tightened.
“I understand.”
“Do you?”
“Yes.”
Then I gave him the only choice that mattered.
“You can spend the next year proving your mother caused everything.”
He said nothing.
“Or you can spend it dealing with what you chose.”
He looked toward the place where I had fallen.
“I chose it.”
“Yes.”
“I hate that.”
“You're supposed to.”
He nodded.
His voice dropped.
“Is there any chance for us?”
I answered carefully.
“There is a chance you become a better man.”
He waited.
“That isn't the same promise as saving our marriage.”
He accepted it.
Later that afternoon, Teresa called.
I answered once.
“What?”
“Marcus may lose his company.”
“Then Marcus will deal with that.”
“My house may have to be sold.”
“Then you'll deal with that.”
“Julian won't speak to me.”
“Then you'll deal with that too.”
She started crying.
Months earlier, those tears would've triggered guilt.
Not anymore.
“Clara, what do you want from me?”
“The same thing you demanded from everyone else for years.”
“What?”
“Live with the consequences.”
I ended the call.
May you like
The next morning, the final financial agreements and formal claims moved forward.
Nobody in the Vance family could stop them by calling it a private matter.
