Broken Vows and Buried Twins novel Chapter 152

"Julian, if you want me to drop the divorce and come home with you, fine. I have exactly one condition. Just tell me—where were you five years ago? What were you doing? Tell me the truth, and I will go back to Stellamare Villa with you."

Julian's hands balled into fists at his sides. "Hester, I can't talk about that. Pick another condition."

"That is my only condition." Hester gave a bleak, chilling smile. "You said you were just putting on an act with Melody Monroe? Fine, I believe you! You said you didn't cheat and never betrayed our marriage? Fine, I believe that too!"

"Right now, the only thing standing between us is the endless string of missed calls from five years ago. It haunts me. I just want to know what you were doing at that exact moment."

Hester kept her eyes locked on his. This time, she wasn't screaming or hysterical. Her tone was unprecedentedly calm.

She wasn't crying anymore, either. Asking him today was simply about getting closure for herself and the children she had lost.

But Julian remained resolutely silent.

Hester waited and waited, but there was still no response.

She scoffed softly. "Is it really that difficult? What amazing, world-saving thing were you doing that you're so terrified to let me know? I honestly can't fathom what could have been so important that you'd repeatedly ignore your own wife and children calling for their lives."

Julian's Adam's apple bobbed as he slowly brought his gaze back to hers.

As their eyes met, Hester could see the turbulent struggle and agony churning in his dark depths.

Her heart involuntarily clenched.

Just as she thought he had finally made up his mind to confess, his phone buzzed, shattering the heavy silence.

He pulled it out, paused for a fraction of a second when he saw the caller ID, and pressed accept. Turning away, he walked a few steps to the side. "Seraphina... what's wrong? Press the call button for the nurse, I'll be right there."

Julian hung up and turned back to Hester, his face taut with urgency. "There's a situation with Seraphina. I need to go check on her first. Eat your breakfast, and I'll come back to pick you up."

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