Chapter 17 - The Truth About His Father
“Your father knew he was sick.”
Julian sat across from me.
His eyes never left mine.
“How long?”
“Eight months.”
His face changed.
“You told me it was sudden.”
“I lied.”
“Why?”
“Because you were sixteen.”
“He had cardiomyopathy.”
“The doctors warned him that stress could kill him.”
“He refused to slow down.”
Julian’s eyes filled.
“Did he know he was dying?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t he tell me?”
“He wanted your last months with him to feel normal.”
Julian stood.
“That wasn’t his decision to make.”
“No.”
“It was ours.”
He turned away from me.
“I had a right to say goodbye.”
“Yes.”
“I had a right to know.”
“Yes.”
Every answer hurt because every accusation was true.
He looked at me.
“You spent all this time accusing Chloe of manipulation.”
“And you manipulated me.”
I could not defend myself.
“I thought I was protecting you.”
“So does everyone who hides the truth.”
He walked out.
I did not follow.
An hour later, he returned.
His face was calmer.
“I’m still angry.”
“You should be.”
“But Richard doesn’t get to use Dad against us.”
I looked up.
“What are you saying?”
“The wedding happens tomorrow.”
My chest tightened.
“Julian.”
“Not because of Chloe.”
“Because Richard believes he owns the ending.”
He sat beside me.
“Let him believe it until the last possible second.”
The next morning, three hundred guests filled St. Matthew’s Cathedral.
Reporters gathered outside.
Chloe arrived in an ivory designer gown.
She looked radiant.
Untouchable.
Perfect.
I arrived ten minutes later.
Whispers spread through the church when people saw me.
Chloe’s eyes narrowed.
Richard sat in the second row.
He smiled.
I sat directly behind him.
The ceremony began.
Julian stood at the altar.
Chloe walked toward him.
For one terrible moment, he looked like a man about to marry her for real.
The minister spoke.
Then Chloe took Julian’s hands.
Richard turned slightly and whispered to me.
“After the vows, you resign.”
I looked straight ahead.
“No.”
His smile vanished.
At the altar, the minister asked Julian the question everyone had come to hear.
“Do you take Chloe Bennett to be your wife?”
Julian looked at Chloe.
Then he smiled.
“I have something to say first.”
May you like
And the cathedral doors suddenly locked.
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