Edward Phillips blathered on now and in Michael’s opinion acted offended, as if it was his wife Michael gave an apology to but ignored her as he’d said this. “Michael, we’re all friends here and I thought I was giving both of you an apology right now.” “I’m surprised your marriage has lasted this long, Edward. Because the apology you just gave me would be what you would give me if you were apologizing to me and my pet cat for accidentally tripping over it. Is that how you see your wife? As a pet or an object? That might have flown six months ago with me, but here’s the rub. I’ve learned a hell of a lot of things in those six months and the months building up to it about my wife and myself. I’m sure many of you will agree I can be an ass, and I still am an ass. But I’m that ass who realized his mistake about his wife. You sir, I think you need to wake up and see I’m not like that anymore, but you still are. Aria has done a lot of damage to Juliette’s reputation before she e
“Oh, no, Rebecca won’t make it for the meeting today. Uh, how do I say this? They arrested her and her father on a variety of charges.” “Oh really? It doesn’t have to do with what happened last week at that board meeting dinner, does it? My husband told me all about it. Who would have thought they could or would try to pull such a thing? Sex tapes that weren’t even real. Who does that today? We all know about his wandering. How Rebecca could think that Michael would be that easy to manipulate or that Juliette didn’t know about it amazes me. For that matter, I’m astonished that she’s still with him. My husband told me he bought the house because Juliette’s pregnant. Do you think she got pregnant, so he had to stay with her?” “No, I don’t. Not with the way she left him after the mess at that party with those divorce papers. I got it clarified just yesterday. I can’t say who told me, but they saw her sign the divorce papers, she took the blame for their divorce.
Michael’s day started out normally. He’d finally returned to the office for the day. His mood had completely changed. Michael saw how his world view shifted since his eyes opened. He now acknowledged things were different than he’d earlier believed. Even now he took an interest in the fact checking as he never had before and found so many things weren’t as he believed they were. Julie’s existence in his life held more influence over him now than ever before. But he realized it wasn’t new, it was only his recognizing her influence. She did the trivial things that eased his life and success throughout the day by cutting out the tedious work he’d have to do. The fact is, she didn’t demand recognition or reward for doing these things. That floored him. Anyone else he knew would expect payment of some sort. Instead, she didn’t ask for anything but to go unnoticed and she had. Until she wasn’t there, and his life suffered for it. Michael ha
Julie didn’t know what Aria planned. Or if this was part of Aria’s rehabilitation. So, Julie went along with Aria out of morbid curiosity. She half expected Aria to leave her with the bill for the coffee. Julie had no expectation for a decent conversation of any kind. “What’s up Aria? I don’t see the usual crowd you run with or Leon, so what’s up? But thank you for the coffee.” Julie carefully called out Aria to see what she’d do. “That’s why I asked you to have coffee. I know I’ve been beyond horrid to you. After a lot of work with a few specialists and getting off those medications…” Aria’s voice trailed off. Julie could see the changes in Aria’s manner and appearance. Before this, she wouldn’t allow the public to see her in anything less than some over-the-top outfit and what Julie saw as too much makeup. Oh, she applied it well, but Julie saw it as a mask. Perfect on camera, but too much for reality. Julie’s focus was on gett
Aria couldn’t help it, she was excited. Everything felt bright, new, and the only reason Aria could attribute it to was Leon pushing her to be the better person. Sure, she hated apologizing to people and admitting she’d screwed up. But Aria learned things about herself. Things she didn’t believe she had in her. Aria believed she’d been weak. If she allowed anyone else to step into the spotlight with her, then they’d push her into the shadows, and everyone would forget about her. Her weakness would show how powerless she really was. She’d finally learned that wasn’t the case. Her fears and jealousy were unfounded. Created by her father and his people to control her to help her father’s reputation and career. She was his embarrassment, so he could look like a patient, kind, and loving father. Willing to forgive her for anything. Even her mother pawning off Aria who was another man’s child as his. Lies all around from both her parents. Aria hated everything aroun
Julie sat there in the conference room with her lawyer. They’d been hashing out exactly how things would go from here on out. Michael had given her a file of documents which gave her terms he was willing to work with and he’d changed all the wording. Her lawyer had to review it all over the last few days and he had admitted to Julie that the generosity in the new offer was off the charts compared to the first time they sat down to get through this. But to stay was more beneficial for both parties. However, he warned her not to do anything if it wasn’t in her heart, or best for her safety. She should do what she believed was best for her and her child. “I will, I promise you that. But I will have to say that things have changed greatly in the last six months. I’m still unsure what changed things. If it was a single event or multiple events, but he’s not the same man. No, before you say it’s temporary, understand he’s happier now with the changes he’s made. It’s
“Julie love, you fell asleep. We’re here now. Let’s go in for our appointment.” Julie woke up to Michael’s voice. During their trip to her doctor’s appointment, she’d fallen asleep. Today she would talk to the doctor about her pregnancy and what to expect, including her birthing plan. Something she’d been avoiding because it absolutely terrified her. With pain, she had an odd relationship with it. There was no normal response to it for her. It either didn’t register or she was in a world of hurt that no one understood. Medications didn’t seem to work correctly either when dealing with pain. She’d believed that she was imagining this issue for most of her life, but Julie learned not too long ago that wasn’t the case. Her body resisted many pain medications, and she did in fact register pain differently to other people. “Great, let’s get this over with because there’re things I need to get done today.” She’d been grumpy for most of the day. Between
Christiana brought Aria upstairs, showed her the room, and helped her to unpack her things. Aria had to wait an hour before Leon came upstairs to her. But once Christiana ended with that, she gave Aria an odd warning before she left Aria to her own devices. “My dear, you’re not as sweet as you pretend to be, but that’s not a mark against you with me. The problem you will have been with the men of this family. They run this family with an iron fist, and we are not part of the conversation or the family business. So, if you think you will control anything or anyone within this family, then you’ll be walking a thin line between surviving or disappearing within an unfortunate accident. Please be careful what you say and do. This is something we say to all women who enter this family. Think carefully and long. If you stay, learn to keep your head down and your mouth shut. You can do and say anything outside of the family but don’t allow the bad to reflect on the family.”
Julie removed her earbuds as she sat at her desk. She’d just listened to the ready-to-print version of her fifteenth novel. It was survivable, at least. She felt Stephen and her publisher would love it. She could hear everyone out at the pool having fun. Michael entertained the early bird parents and kids as they slowly arrived for Johnathan’s birthday pool party. Their children’s parties seemed to be an event where people wanted invitations and their presence recognized by their peers. Julie couldn’t believe the changes that had happened over the last few years. Johnathan’s birth shone in her brain as the mark when Julie knew Michael was hers. He’d not settled, but he’d found a different direction for his life that made him happier. Michael had help from the parents, nannies, and several staff members minding the chaos of children everywhere. They’d long ago child proofed the house, and currently Michael hid his genuine prized items in a series of locked rooms away from t
Aria’s honeymoon was so much more than she had expected, and she used her social media accounts to poke the bear that was her father. She posted teasing photos of the place where she got married. Sold a few of her wedding photos to a couple of magazines with an interview hinting at why her father really wasn’t at her wedding and how disappointed she was at his betrayal of family ties. At the end of the interview, Aria made it good and clear that she’d broken off all ties with her father and she wasn’t interested in ever reconciling at any time in the future. He and his staff burned those bridges. As she went around Europe and saw the unique way of life there, some of it initially felt confusing and complicated. But she investigated other differences in how they treated people. It was something she’d not given much thought about until her life spiralled out of control and she finally understood why she was the way she’d become. It wasn’t pretty, and she had the photos and v
“Edward has everything in the car, Julie. We’re ready to head for the hospital. Now, you’re sure you’re okay with going through with a c-section? I mean, if you change your mind, you can still back out.” Michael could see how large Julie grew and wondered how his son hadn’t torn his way out. Michael worried Julie could no longer stand and walk safely. Life kept changing and he couldn’t believe he’d once thought this part of his life could go on without him. Over the last eight and a half months, he’d learned so much about a woman’s body he had to wonder if they were the same species. Women were so complicated, and Julie had some unique complications. A common comorbidity Julie had called EDS would complicate even the epidural she would need. Her joints had more range, and it caused her shoulders, back, and hips to be uneven. It could complicate administering the epidural. If she couldn’t get it, then she’d have to give birth naturally without it. This terrified Julie, alon
“I’m glad you’re doing this, Julie. Honestly, I don’t know what her father is thinking. But if he thinks she could embarrass him normally, to not come to his daughter’s wedding. Campaigning or not, he’s going to look bad. He recognized her as his daughter when it was convenient for him. Now he pulls this because it’s not convenient. His poll numbers will go down and he’ll lose the public confidence. If it gets out and it will that we showed up after that entire mess that started all of this. He’s sunk.” “You don’t think this is a mistake? She will not pull something fast. Like become caught in someone else’s bed?” “Julie, Aria’s been through a lot in the last six months. Leon didn’t just send her to rehab to just get off the medication. He sent her to a location that deals with complex abuse cases. She doesn’t realize it, but they did. He had to wait for over two years to get her a place there. It’s why I took her in like I did. I admit there were other stupid
The small plane landed at the secluded island airport, and Julie sighed in relief. There was something about travelling she disliked. To come all this way for a wedding for someone she didn’t like seemed crazy. But Leon was Michael’s best friend and Julie would muddle through it for five days there. What she still couldn’t get over was Aria’s request to come and bury the hatchet somewhere other than Julie’s back. She’d apologized. The hadron collider must have tested something again, and the world altered in reaction to the outcome of that test. That’s how Julie thought of why things changed in ways she didn’t see coming. Not that she believed the conspiracies; it was just a humorous way to look at her problem because Julie didn’t believe she’d ever find out the true reason these things changed. But jumping off into another timeline felt as sane as any other reason, and perhaps sometimes more logical. They stepped off the plane with the other guests, and a protracted line
Michael had said that he didn’t want to celebrate something that didn’t change. He didn’t want to admit he’d changed, and that changed their relationship. His explanation for this was he’d not been aware that he could be any other way until he’d seen how she lived in perpetual difference. Her effort to give him an easier existence while ignoring her own struggles had him questioning and rejecting much of his father’s teachings. It’d crossed over into his work life to and several people mentioned it over the months. So much so it became part of the water cooler gossip. Julie only found out about this after they’d gone back to the gym, and she heard the gossip at the juice bar. Michael hadn’t gone with her today as he now often did. Julie still struggled to become used to his constant presence around her. But she knew why this time around she struggled with it. Julie had to fight putting up a mask for the world and in that moment with Michael at the gym, she couldn’t figure
Christiana brought Aria upstairs, showed her the room, and helped her to unpack her things. Aria had to wait an hour before Leon came upstairs to her. But once Christiana ended with that, she gave Aria an odd warning before she left Aria to her own devices. “My dear, you’re not as sweet as you pretend to be, but that’s not a mark against you with me. The problem you will have been with the men of this family. They run this family with an iron fist, and we are not part of the conversation or the family business. So, if you think you will control anything or anyone within this family, then you’ll be walking a thin line between surviving or disappearing within an unfortunate accident. Please be careful what you say and do. This is something we say to all women who enter this family. Think carefully and long. If you stay, learn to keep your head down and your mouth shut. You can do and say anything outside of the family but don’t allow the bad to reflect on the family.”
“Julie love, you fell asleep. We’re here now. Let’s go in for our appointment.” Julie woke up to Michael’s voice. During their trip to her doctor’s appointment, she’d fallen asleep. Today she would talk to the doctor about her pregnancy and what to expect, including her birthing plan. Something she’d been avoiding because it absolutely terrified her. With pain, she had an odd relationship with it. There was no normal response to it for her. It either didn’t register or she was in a world of hurt that no one understood. Medications didn’t seem to work correctly either when dealing with pain. She’d believed that she was imagining this issue for most of her life, but Julie learned not too long ago that wasn’t the case. Her body resisted many pain medications, and she did in fact register pain differently to other people. “Great, let’s get this over with because there’re things I need to get done today.” She’d been grumpy for most of the day. Between
Julie sat there in the conference room with her lawyer. They’d been hashing out exactly how things would go from here on out. Michael had given her a file of documents which gave her terms he was willing to work with and he’d changed all the wording. Her lawyer had to review it all over the last few days and he had admitted to Julie that the generosity in the new offer was off the charts compared to the first time they sat down to get through this. But to stay was more beneficial for both parties. However, he warned her not to do anything if it wasn’t in her heart, or best for her safety. She should do what she believed was best for her and her child. “I will, I promise you that. But I will have to say that things have changed greatly in the last six months. I’m still unsure what changed things. If it was a single event or multiple events, but he’s not the same man. No, before you say it’s temporary, understand he’s happier now with the changes he’s made. It’s