Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 141251 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 706(@200wpm)___ 565(@250wpm)___ 471(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 141251 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 706(@200wpm)___ 565(@250wpm)___ 471(@300wpm)
I fall into my car and put my head into my hands. Tears fill my eyes and I sob out loud.
I’m in a dark place.
Help me.
Bree
I’m sitting in the café with Frances. We have lunch twice a week.
I still adore her, despite it now being two months since Julian and I broke up.
I miss him every single day.
To the outside world, he seems fine, but I can see in his eyes that he's not.
I can’t help him. He needs to work through this, whatever this is.
His mother told me he’s been seeing a therapist twice a week, and not the kind who gets on her knees. A real one. One who I hope is getting through to him. I want him happy, he deserves to be happy.
My email pings.
Julian Masters
Requests the company of
Bree Johnston
Occasion: Conversation.
Date: 31st September
Time: 7 PM
Place: Room 612: Rosewood London
Dress code: Ears
Dear God, he wants to talk.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
I raise my hand to knock on the door, hesitating and closing my eyes.
I’m so nervous, I feel sick. I have no idea what today is about. Because it’s here at our hotel, I’m hoping it may be about us on a personal level, but I’m well aware that he may just want to fire me without the children overhearing.
But it is our Thursday, and it is 7:00 p.m.
I have hope.
I drop my shoulders, exhale, and I knock.
Knock, knock, knock.
The door opens and there he stands, dressed in a navy suit. He towers over me as his big brown eyes hold mine.
“Hello,” he says softly. “Thanks for coming.”
He gestures to the room and I walk past him to step inside.
My heart beats like crazy.
Being this close to him and the smell of his aftershave brings back so many memories. I can already feel the lump in my throat beginning to close over.
Don’t cry.
Don’t beg.
I wring my hands in front of me as his eyes hold mine. “How are you?” he asks.
I nod, unable to speak properly. “I’m okay,” I whisper in a barely there voice.
He runs his hand through his hair, his pause creating tension.
“Thank you for staying for the children.” His eyes drop to the carpet. “It would have been easier for you to leave.”
“I couldn’t leave them.”
His eyes rise to meet mine. “But you left me.” “I had to.”
“It’s been… difficult,” he admits.
“For me, too.” I tear up, unable to hold it in any longer. “I miss you,” I whisper.
He presses his lips together and nods, clearly struggling to speak, but I feel that he has so much to say to me. The room is heavy and silent. I know I’m going to have to lead this conversation. He’s clearly unable to. I take his hand in mine and I lift it closer to my mouth.
He watches me, his eyes become glazed, his pain palpable.
My face falls at his upset. “Baby,” I whisper as I take him in my arms. “Don’t look at me like that.” I hold him tight, and he clings to me as if his life depends on it.
“I can’t fucking stand being without you,” he whispers into my hair.
I smile sadly, and I kiss his lips. His face screws up against mine.
“Oh, Julian,” I whisper as I stare up at him, cupping his face in my hand. He’s so hurt.
“I’ve been working through things and…” His voice trails off. “I’m trying.”
“I know you are.”
Why am I doing to us?
“I don’t care.” I shake my head. “I don’t care if you don’t want to marry me. I don’t care if I don’t have children. I just want you,” I whisper through tears. “I can’t live one more day without you,” I breathe. “I just want you. I don’t care about the other things anymore.” I frown. “I’m sorry for doing this to us.”
He stares at me as his eyes cloud over. “You would give up what you want for me?”
I nod. “I would.”
“But you being happy is what makes me happy.”
I smile softly. “I’ll be happy as long as I’m with you and the kids. I don’t need anything else.”
His eyes hold mine, and then without a word, he drops to his knee, and his shaking hands pull out a black velvet box.
My lips part as my world stops.
His breathing quivers and he looks up at me, filled with hope. "Brielle Johnston, will you marry me?" He opens the box to reveal a huge, oval, diamond ring.
My hands cover my mouth instantly.
“Please?” he whispers.
My eyes search his for a beat too long, and I drop to my knees in front of him. “W-what did you just say?”
He pulls my face to his. “Marry me, Bree.” His face is filled with so much hope, and my heart melts at the sight of him.
“But you said…”
“Forget what I said.” His hand cups my jaw and he presses his lips to mine. My cheeks are wet with tears. “I had no fucking idea what I was talking about back then.”