Chapter 16 - Julian's Apology
Julian and I met again four years after our divorce.
Not intentionally.
Vale Meridian hosted a memorial event honoring several early executives, and someone had invited him.
He almost left when he saw me.
I stopped him.
“You can stay.”
He looked older.
Not dramatically.
Just softer around the edges.
“I wasn't sure you'd want me here.”
“This isn't about us.”
He nodded.
Later, we stood near Dad's photograph.
Julian said, “He gave me everything.”
“He gave you an opportunity.”
“Yes.”
He looked at me.
“And I confused that with entitlement.”
There was no reason to argue.
He continued.
“I've wanted to apologize without asking you to forgive me.”
“You already apologized.”
“Not correctly.”
I waited.
“I betrayed you. I abandoned you when you needed me. I used your trust in me to increase my own power. And when the consequences came, my first instinct was to blame your grief instead of myself.”
My throat tightened.
He didn't mention Chloe.
He didn't mention pressure.
He didn't mention Victor.
For once, there was no explanation attached.
“Thank you,” I said.
His eyes filled.
“I think about Daniel every day.”
“So do I.”
We stood quietly.
Then I surprised both of us.
“I forgive you.”
He stared at me.
“But Julian?”
“Yes?”
“That doesn't change anything.”
“I know.”
May you like
And I believed him.
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