It drizzled softly the day of the funeral.!!
Chapter 9
Julia held her father’s urn close, her eyes dry, all her tears spent. She went through the motions, numb, like a puppet with no will of her
own.&
When she got home, Sarah’s latest post flashed across her screen: a photo of Sarah leaning into Nathan’s embrace, the caption bright and sweet-“Thank you to someone for taking such good care of me! He even turned off his phone for me~”
Julia set her father’s portrait down, lips twisting into a smile that looked more painful than tears.
The door lock clicked. She startled.§
Nathan hurried in, rainwater still clinging to his suit.
“I just heard about your dad…” His voice shook. “Julia, I swear, I didn’t turn off my phone on purpose. I didn’t mean to disappear. I’m sorry, I really am…”
He rushed over, grabbing her shoulders. “Yell at me, hit me, do whatever you want–just don’t shut me out like this.“)
But Julia only looked at him, a long and empty stare. Then she slipped out of his grip and walked to her room, saying nothing.”
After that, Nathan went to every length he could think of to make up for it.
He hired the best gardeners to fill the yard with camellias–her father’s favorite flower.
He bought an entire island, named it after her dad.}
He bid on rare sapphires, claiming they were her father’s favorite stone.
Every gift was extravagant, every apology perfectly crafted. But it was all too late. Her father was gone. He would never know any of this. No matter what Nathan did, Julia felt nothing. She barely even looked his way.
Eventually, Nathan snapped.§
He grabbed her wrist, pressed a cold knife into her palm, his voice rough and desperate. “Julia, if you hate me, just stab me. Please. Just don’t keep looking past me like I’m not here.”>
“It’s all my fault,” he choked out, tears in his eyes. “Please, just forgive me…“}
Julia’s fingers stayed cold and still on the knife handle. Her eyes were flat, lifeless–like Nathan was a stranger.”
Seeing her indifference, Nathan suddenly wrapped his hand over hers and tried to drive the blade into his own chest.
“You’re crazy!” Julia broke free, the knife clattering onto the floor.”
Her chest heaved. Her hands shook. She never expected he’d go that far.§
“Nathan, I’m not going to hurt you.” She took a breath, her voice ice cold. “From now on, you need to live. Really live.“}
Live and learn what it means to hurt so much you wish you could disappear.
Live and watch her fade out of his life, for good.”
Nathan missed the meaning behind her words. He thought she was softening.
Joy flashed in his eyes as he pulled her into a hug, tears soaking her shoulder.”
“I knew it. I knew you couldn’t let go of me…“}
Julia didn’t push him away, but she didn’t hug him back. She just stared out the window, gaze landing on her father’s picture and the gentle smile frozen there.!!
After that, Nathan never left her side. He bought her all kinds of jewelry, spent every night holding her–even though she lay stiffly, always turned away
He even put his work on hold, desperate to “make things right.“8
To him, Julia was a beautiful doll, silent and compliant, letting him arrange her life as he pleased.
But late at night, when the house was quiet, Julia would stare at the date circled in red on her calendar.
The day the divorce cooling–off period ended.
It was coming.
Soon, she’d finally be free.
