Chapter 8
felt so secure with him by my side.
Clark was very pleased with Zack, admiring
his abilities and his father’s influence.
They knew each other because he and
Zack‘ s father moved in the same business
circles.
Zack’s father was famously henpecked, devoted entirely to his family when he wasn’t working.
It’s precisely this kind of wholesome family environment that could raise a son like Zack.
The marriage was practically settled in no time.
I thought I would never see Julian again in this lifetime.
After my brother mentioned I was getting married, I never expected Julian to fly to Danilon overnight.
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In the middle of the night, he called me on the street from a payphone.
It took me a second to recognize his voice when I heard it.
Remembering my brother’s words and considering I had already let go of the past,
I didn’t hang up. Instead, I asked, “What do you want?”
He seemed to exhale in relief when I didn’t hang up.
“Wanda, I’m downstairs at your place. Can you come down and meet me?”
I glanced at the night sky outside, feeling a bit confused.
“Why?”
He was silent for a long time before saying softly, “Wanda, I regret it.”
His words were like a pebble tossed into a calm lake, stirring my heart into a chaotic
mess.
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“Julian, what exactly do you want? You have Jennie now and I’m about to get married. What does this phone call mean?”
“I don’t, Wanda. There’s so much you don’t know and that’s why I’m here. I need to explain everything to you. Please come down–let’s not leave any regrets behind, okay?”
His voice was shaky, almost on the verge of
tears.
I tightened my grip on the phone.
Though I felt there was no longer any need for us to meet, I feared he would cause a scene and alarm my brother.
So, I changed my clothes and quietly snuck downstairs.
Julian emerged from the phone booth and hurried towards me, his steps growing faster until he was running.
“Wanda.”
He stopped three steps away, his gaze
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tracing every detail of my face.
“How have you been?”
I didn’t want to make small talk. I averted
my gaze and asked bluntly.
“Julian, speak your mind. Once you’ve said it, let’s put the past behind us.”
Julian’s eyes dimmed slightly, but his lips curved into a wry smile.
“Wanda, if I say you were the one I’ve always loved, would you believe me?”
I frowned, feeling for the first time that Julian had changed.
“Julian, don’t you realize you’re insulting me, yourself and even Jennie by saying that?“.
“What is love to you? You disregard those closest to you, only to cherish them when they’re lost. Julian, do you even understand what love is?”
“It’s not like that, Wanda.”
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Julian took a step forward, his expression twisted in agony.
“I never loved Jennie. The reason I wavered so much was because of your brother.”
“You know, I’m much older than you. When he asked me to look after you, he’d never have guessed I’d develop feelings like these. If he had, he’d not only have taken you away but cut me off entirely:”
My mind was racing. I’d never imagined the truth would be like this.
But, so what?
I stared at Julian, my gaze hardening.
“You couldn’t even admit to your feelings back then. How can you talk about love now?”
“Besides, all of that is in the past, Julian. I don‘ t love you anymore.”
Julian’s pupils trembled as he stared at me in disbelief. “No … you don’t love me
anymore?”
