Chapter 2
Julia picked up the phone, surprised to see it was Nathan’s friend calling. She barely had time to say hello before his frantic voice blared through the line.
“Julia! Please, you have to come back home, now! Nathan’s making me whip him ninety–nine times to make it up to you. He’s soaked in blood. He says he won’t get up until you forgive
him…”
Julia let out a cold, tired snort.
Nathan was always like this. Every time he hurt her for Sarah, he’d try to make up for it with some wild, over–the–top gesture–like that would fix everything.
Last time, he ditched her for Sarah, then bought out an entire rose garden the next day as an apology.
The time before that, he went to celebrate Sarah’s birthday and forgot their anniversary, so he turned around and bought Julia a ridiculously expensive diamond necklace, thinking money
could erase it all.
And now it was this–whipping himself bloody.
Did he really think shredding his back would make her forget that, when her life was on the line, he chose someone else? Did he think ninety–nine lashes could erase the terror she felt as the kidnapper ripped at her clothes, while he ran out holding Sarah?
Did he think that if he just hurt himself enough, she’d finally give in?
Not this time.
Julia gripped the divorce papers tighter, grabbed her coat, and walked out.
At home, Nathan was kneeling in a suit. His back was a mess–blood everywhere, skin torn open, red spreading through his shirt and dripping down his waist.
As soon as Julia walked in, his dull eyes caught sight of her, and suddenly, they lit up.
“Julia…” he croaked, reaching out weakly. “Please forgive me. I’ve explained everything about the kidnapping, I swear I’d never let anything happen to you… You’re the only one I love. I can’t lose you…”
Julia walked up, gaze fixed on a fresh red mark on his collarbone.
“You keep saying you only love me,” she said with a dry, almost amused laugh. “So what’s this, then?”
Nathan’s face went pale. “Sarah said she’d never had a hickey before. She begged to give me one. She saved my life. I just couldn’t say no…”
He scrambled for a knife, panic all over his face. “It’s okay, Julia. I’ll cut it off right now!”
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Chapter 2
Before anyone could stop him, he pressed the blade to his skin. Blood spilled down his neck, soaking his white collar.
“Nathan!” His friends rushed in, wrestling the knife away. “Are you out of your mind?!”
The room erupted into chaos.
Some of his friends fumbled for a first aid kit, while others, eyes red, turned to Julia. “Julia, everyone knows how much Nathan loves you. Last year when you had that allergic reaction and landed in the hospital, he stayed up with you for three days straight…”
“And just last month, you mentioned how pretty the cherry blossoms were in the south city. He spent a fortune having twenty trees moved overnight to the estate.”
“Come on, just forgive him already. It’s not that big a deal. Why do you have to push him this far?”
Not that big a deal? Making a fuss over nothing?
Julia laughed, and this time, her eyes burned with tears.
Nathan shoved everyone aside and staggered to kneel at her feet. Blood had soaked half his shirt, but he didn’t even flinch. He just looked up at her, desperate. “Julia, please… forgive me…”
Watching the man she once loved with all her heart, Julia just felt empty.
“Fine,” she said, taking a long breath. “I’ll forgive you.”
Nathan’s eyes
lit
up with hope.
“I’ve found a house I want,” she said, pulling a folder from her purse. “If you get it for me, I’ll forgive you.”
He looked relieved as he opened the folder, but before he could even read it, his phone rang.
“Nathan…” Sarah’s voice trembled through the speaker, thick with tears. “My fever’s up to 103. I
feel awful…”
Nathan’s whole face changed. Without even glancing at the papers, he scribbled his signature and stared at Julia with pleading eyes.
“Go ahead,” she said softly.
He looked at her one more time, just to be sure. “Julia, you’re really not mad?”
She shook her head, steady. “Yeah, I’m good.”
Only then did he finally relax and hurry out, his friends close behind.
As everyone left, Julia slowly opened the folder in her hands.
Divorce Agreement. The words stared up at her, his fresh signature below.
She ran her fingers over his name and, for the first time in a long while, smiled.
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11:56
