Chapter 53
Julie POV
The car ride home was just so quiet.
She didn’t say a word as she left the house.
Avery sat in the back seat, staring out the window, barely looking at me. She was crying; I could see the tears falling down her face.
I sighed as I drove, wondering what to say to her. I knew she might have been shocked by the argument between Alex and me.
“Avery, dear, you can talk to me. Is there anything on your mind?” I asked, glancing at her before focusing my eyes on the road.
No answer.
I tried again. “I know tonight was hard for you, sweetheart, and what you saw between me and your father-you really weren’t supposed to hear that. I’m sorry.
“Just stop,” she cut me off.
Can you just stop already, ma’am.” She said
She had called me ma’am and not mom.
She was definitely angry.
“I know this is so hard for you to process, and shit, no one deserves to go through this. No one deserves to watch their parents fall apart,” I said, barely controlling my tears.
“Can you just drive.” She sobbed as she put an earpiece in her ear.
I wanted to comfort her, but I just didn’t really know how. I wanted to tell her that I love her. But I knew that right now, she didn’t want to listen
So I said nothing.
The rest of the drive was quiet.
When we finally reached home, Avery got out of the car without a word. She walked straight to the house, unlocked the front door, and slammed it shut as she ran upstairs.
By the time I stepped inside and walked toward her room, she had already locked the door.
1/4
my
on the doorknob.
“Avery,” I called out her name, as I knocked twice.
But she didn’t answer.
I tried again while fighting my tears from falling. “I know you don’t want to talk right now; you’re angry, but I need you to know that I love you”.
Still nothing.
I let out a slow breat already exhausted from the day’s events.
Still nothing.
I let out a slow breath.
“When you get older, you will understand, you will understand why I did this. Why I’m protecting you” I muttered, already exhausted from the days event.
“Goodnight, sweetheart,” I whispered before walking away.
I made my way to the study, hoping that burying myself in work would distract me from everything that had happened. I just couldn’t deal with it now.
Sitting at my desk, I grabbed a pencil and started sketching—anything that came to my mind. Sketching was a way I relieved my stress, and it also took me away from reality.
But as I sketched, I couldn’t stop thinking about Bella, Damien, and the house. As I sketched, it turned into a design of a wedding gown.
It didn’t take me long to realize that the gown I was drawing was Bella’s wedding gown.
I sighed and dropped the pencil. This was clearly not working.
Sketching clearly could not solve that I sighed, as I relaxed on my seat.
The house, the whispers, and everything. How the house looked like a replica of our former one was scary, but that wasn’t what bothered me the most.
It was Avery.
The way she had looked at me when she came out of the wardrobe. The way she refused to talk to me, or the way she called me “ma’am” instead of “mom.”
I had fought so hard to keep her safe, to make sure she didn’t experience what was going on
2/4
“Shit!” I cursed, pushing all the drawing papers off my table.
this, but now it felt pointless.
“Shit, shit, shit, shit,” I said over and over again. I didn’t want to think of this.
Then I thought of Damien.
I hesitated for a moment before calling him.
“Hey.” I said casually.
“Are you back home?”. He asked.
Yes I am.” I said.
“Thanks for today.” I said.
*Don’t mention it, you know too well that I would do anything for you.” He said.
Then we paused for a bit as I thought of what to say.
Are you okay?” He asked.
‘No I am not.”
‘Is it, that bad?” he asked
I sighed, leaning back in my chair.
‘Avery won’t talk to me. She locked herself in her room the moment we got home. And I am sure she would never want to talk to me again after what happened.”
“She just needs time,” Damien said. “She’s trying to process everything.”
“I know,” I muttered. “But the way she looked at me today was different from others.”
She will get over it,” He said,
Then there was a pause from both lines.
66
Do you have any questions to ask?” He asked.
I hesitated for a bit as I answered. “Yes.”
“Let me
guess, about Bella and what she said?” he asked.
3/4
Chapter 53
“Yes.” I said.
“I think it’s better if we talk in person.”
I frowned. “Why?”
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“You’re already dealing with enough tonight. Trust me, you don’t need to hear this over the phone.”
The way he said it made me realize it was serious.
“Damien, just tell me,” I said, sitting up, I was already curious already.
I will,” he said. “Tomorrow. In person.”
wanted to argue, to demand he tell me now, but then I yawned. I was sure I might fall asleep
any moment.
Fine,” I said. “Tomorrow.”
Get some rest, Julie.”
nodded, even though he couldn’t see me. “You too.”
And with that, the call ended.
sat there for a moment, staring at my phone, as I thought about what kind of relationship he had with Bella.
Maybe
This ex. Wow, Bella sure had a way of dating any man I met in my life.
Or maybe his business partner.
Gosh, I hated being in suspense,” I muttered.
田
AD
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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.