Chapter 20
A year had gone by, and Nathan’s sharp, handsome features had grown leaner, touched by a new depth–he looked older now, more seasoned.
He wasn’t just known for his looks or his talent, but for the kind of devotion that turned into city–wide legend.}}
Everyone in The Capital knew about Nathan’s love for his ex–wife, Julia.
At the airport, Julia caught snippets of a conversation between a group of girls nearby. She couldn’t help but smirk, her smile edged with
sarcasm.
“Did you see the huge screen on the Haskins International building? Every day there’s a new message from Mr. Haskins, looking for his ex–wife. He’s always apologizing or asking her to come back. It’s never the same, and honestly? It’s so romantic!“}
“For real! When am I ever going to meet a guy like that? If I had someone like him, I’d never let him go. I’d stay with him forever!“}
A quieter girl spoke up, uncertainty in her voice. “But if he loved her so much, why did they get divorced? Unless something really unforgivable happened, a man like Mr. Haskins–with his face, his status–why would he end up alone?”
The others hesitated, but still defended Nathan, unwilling to let go of their fairy tale.
Julia pushed her sunglasses up, unfazed by their dreamy chatter.”
Let them talk. None of them had lived it. None of them could ever understand.
Forgiving Nathan? Impossible.
So what if he’d changed? So what if he’d gotten back at Sarah and her friends?
He was the reason her fathe
gone. That was something she’d never forgive.
Her face hardened as she walked toward the North Cemetery, where her parents were buried.
At the cemetery, Julia set fresh flowers on the graves, laid out some favorite foods, and, after burning a few offerings, she started talking quietly:
“Dad, Mom, I spent this year traveling all over, and i was happy. I made new friends, saw so many beautiful places.”>
“You never got to leave the country, not even once. That’s my fault as your daughter. But look, I brought pictures of everywhere I’ve been for you to see…“}
“Are you two okay, wherever you are? I miss you so much. If I could do it all again, I wish I’d never met Nathan. Maybe then, I wouldn’t have lost Dad because of him.”
At some point, she realized she wasn’t alone.
A tall shadow fell across the grass behind her.}
“Is that really how you feel?” Nathan’s voice was rough,
Julia paused, then turned, not the least bit surprised
with emotion.
he was there.
“Yes,” she said, calm and certain.”
Nathan’s eyes went red instantly, shining with unshed tears.}
For a long moment, neither of them said a word.”
Seeing Julia again hurt Nathan more than it made him happy. The ache was sharper than ever.
Julia wanted nothing more than to get away from him. After saying a quick goodbye to her parents, she started to leave.
2 2 8 3 3 7 ± 2
But as she passed, Nathan caught her hand, pulling her hard into his arms.
“How can you be so heartless, Julia? You know how much I love you…
He pressed his jaw against her neck, holding her tight, like he could somehow keep her from slipping away ever again.
As he spoke, he bit down on the edge of her ear he knew exactly where she was most sensitive.§
Back when they were together, just this would make her go weak in his arms.
But now, instead of feeling anything close to desire, Julia’s stomach turned. All she felt was disgust.
“Get off me! Don’t touch me!”
She shoved Nathan away with all her strength and slapped him, hard.
A red handprint bloomed on his pale cheek, but he didn’t even flinch.
He pressed his tongue to the inside of his cheek, still holding his face, and let out a low, shaky laugh, his eyes bright with tears.
Chapter 20
“So you really can’t stand me now, Julia?”
“What did you think, Mr. Haskins? There’s nothing between us anymore. And for you to pull something like this at my parents‘ graves… It’s disgusting.“%
Julia’s glare was ice cold as she turned and walked away, not giving Nathan so much as a second look.
