Chapter 44
Chapter 44
Julie POV
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I looked at the invitation card, my mind racing with the fact that my daughter would watch her dad marry another woman. After much deliberation. I decided to stop avoiding the inevitable and just tell her about her father’s upcoming wedding. I took a deep breath and walked into her room.
“Avery, darling, we need to have a talk,” I said, trying to sound as gentle as possible.
Avery looked up from her phone, a hint of curiosity in her eyes. She pulled out her earpiece and sat upright.
I hesitated, choosing my words carefully. “You know how your father and I are divorced.”
Yes.. she answered.
“Well, he is getting married. He’s invited both of us to the wedding, but I wanted to talk to you about it first-to know how you feel.”
I waited for her to respond, but when I got no reply, I asked again, “Avery, would you like to attend your father’s wedding?”
I will pass.” She said as she put on her earpiece.
And the only wedding I will be attending is yours and Dad’s,” she said.
looked at her, trying to think of what to say.
Are you serious about not attending your dad’s wedding? You know he would want you there, don’t you?” I asked, trying hard to hide my smile. I was secretly happy she didn’t want to attend the wedding.
“Yes, I am serious about not attending my dad’s wedding. I don’t want to go, and if I do, I’ll feel out of place. Besides, I’m guessing you don’t want me to go either… or do you?”
I smiled sheepishly, feeling a sense of pride in my daughter for thinking about me. I wished she would always be like this.
Before I could say more, a knock sounded at the front door.
I frowned. “I’ll be right back.”
As I opened the door, the person standing there shocked me-it was Maria.
I gripped the doorknob, ready to slam the door shut, but something made me stop. Maybe it was the way she looked-or maybe the restaurant incident with Alex.
Look deep breath and stepped back, keeping the door open just enough to look at her. ‘You have five minutes”
Maria exhaled “Julie. I know you don’t want to see me I wouldn’t either if I were you But I needed to come.”
I crossed my arms “To say what? That you’re sorry! That it was a mistake?” I laughed, already annoyed. “You think that solves everything you did to ine?
“Julie, please
“No” I shook my head “You were my best friend. You were the one person I trusted, and you slept with my husband,” I said, remembering everything she did. Do you know what that did to me?”
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Chapter 44
She had started crying. “I do, Julie. And I regret it every single day. I was stupid. I was selfish. I-”
“You were my friend.” I interrupted. “I confided in you. Do you even remember that?”
“I do.”
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I took a step forward, closing the door behind me as I walked closer to her. “Do you remember when I found that lipstick in Alex’s car? The one that wasn’t mine?”
“I told you about it, Maria. I told you I was scared, that something felt wrong. And what did you say?”
She closed her eyes. “Julie…”
“What did you say?” I demanded.
“I said it was probably nothing. That it was a trend for men to use lipsticks.”
I let out a humorless laugh. “A trend,” I repeated.
“You looked me in the eye and told me that my husband having another woman’s lipstick in his car was a trend.” I shook my head. “All while you were screwing him behind my back and fully aware that he was cheating on me. Did you know he mortgaged my house and insured my daughter’s life?”
“I am really sorry, and I know I don’t have an excuse. I was wrong, Julie. I hate myself for what I did to you.”
I scoffed. “Hating yourself doesn’t change what happened.”
“I know.” She sniffed, rubbing her eyes. “But… don’t you think I’ve suffered too?”
I let out another scoff. “Suffered?”
“Yes,” she said. “Julie, you made me lose everything too. I lost our friendship. I lost my husband. I lost the respect of everyone in our community. You think people don’t whisper when I walk by? You think I don’t hear the things they say
about me?”
1 rolled my eyes. “You think that makes us even?”
“No. But it means you are not the only one who lost something.”
1 stared at her.
“You really are audacious,” I scoffed.
“Julie, you have made me suffer. You made sure I suffered for what I did to you. Isn’t that enough?” she asked.
“No, it’s not enough!” I screamed.
“I’m not asking for your forgiveness, Julie. I don’t deserve it. I just… I just wanted you to know that I never meant to hurt you.”
“You never meant to hurt me, but you slept with my husband and made me look like a fool as you hid the fact he was cheating on me.”
“I am sorry.”
I took a deep breath. I was tired of all this. I had been wronged by her, and she had paid for what she did, but I just couldn’t
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Chapter 44
forgive her.
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“I really don’t know what you expect from me, Maria. But we can’t go back to normal, like the way we used to be, and I will never forgive you. We are even now, and that is enough.”
“You know, in all the mess I created, I suffered the most…” she whispered.
Without waiting for her to say another word, I opened the door and slammed it shut.
As I fell to the ground and held my knees, I wept. I really missed Maria; she was the only one I confided in about my problems, about my life. But what she did to me was unforgivable.
3:03 pm
Olivia Harris is an emerging author celebrated for her captivating romantic and steamy DaisyNovel. With a talent for crafting deep emotional connections and fiery chemistry between her characters, Olivia’s stories offer readers an escape into worlds filled with passion, intrigue, and heart-stopping drama.