Broken Vows and Buried Twins novel Chapter 114

Julian met her gaze, a heavy silence stretching between them before he finally spoke. "Hester, if I told you that I never laid a finger on Melody Monroe, that things weren't what they looked like on the surface... would you believe me?"

"Whether I believe you or not is completely irrelevant now. To me, the things you did caused very real, very deep damage. That is my reality. The agony I went through during that time can't be erased by a flimsy, belated excuse. So yes, I am getting a divorce. I will see it through."

Julian stiffened.

He stared at her, the conflict in his eyes deepening into something fractured.

"We know each other well enough, Julian. I know for a fact that the moment you decided to set this plan in motion, you had already calculated the fallout."

Hester's lips curved into a bitter, mocking smile. "So don't stand there playing the victim. Stop acting like your hands were tied. We're adults. The cruelest, ugliest betrayals are the ones done 'in the name of love.'"

"If you show up on the 17th, we can end this with some shred of dignity. If you don't, I'll see you in court. And when that day comes, don't expect an ounce of mercy from me."

Without waiting for his response, Hester turned on her heel and walked back into her bedroom.

The door clicked shut.

Cutting him off completely.

Julian stood rooted to the spot, staring at the closed door, the light slowly dying in his eyes.

...

Exhaustion had seeped into Hester's bones, and she fell asleep the second her head hit the pillow.

She drifted in and out of a restless, feverish slumber. When she woke up, her clothes were drenched in sweat.

She wiped her damp forehead with the back of her hand and glanced at the digital clock on the nightstand.

It was already 12:30 PM.

Propping herself up, she grabbed her phone and dialed Celeste. "Are Julian and Caden gone?"

"Mr. Weston left shortly after you went back to your room this morning."

"Good. Is lunch ready?"

"Just finishing up the last stir-fry now."

Hester hummed in acknowledgment and went to freshen up.

After a quiet lunch, she curled up on the sofa with a book, but soon felt her eyelids drooping again.

Just as she was nodding off, the doorbell rang.

The sudden noise jolted her awake. She sat up.

"Of course!" Sabrina agreed. She paused for a beat before asking casually, "So... when are you leaving the country?"

"If Julian cooperates and we finalize the divorce on the 17th, I'll probably fly out on the 18th or 19th."

"That soon?!" Sabrina frowned. "Can't you wait a bit? At least until you're past the first trimester? Flying right now seems risky."

Hester hesitated. "I'll see how I feel when the time comes. But I'm leaving by the end of the month at the latest."

Sabrina's eyes darted around the room before she tested the waters. "And... what if Mr. Weston refuses to sign the papers?"

Hester carefully folded the tiny pink onesie and placed it back in the bag. Then, she lifted her gaze to meet Sabrina's directly.

"Did Julian send you here to play peacekeeper?"

Sabrina winced. "..."

Hester's expression hardened. "Sabrina, you know exactly who I am."

"I know, I know! I knew I couldn't talk you out of it!"

Sabrina let out a long sigh. "I just think that even if you two really go through with this divorce, there are things that need to be cleared up. You've been through hell together. Ten years of loving him from afar, all that effort to finally marry him. Five years as husband and wife, surviving storm after storm. If it all ends now because of a misunderstanding... it's just such a tragic waste!"