Chapter 137: DIVORCE 2
"Grandfather..." he called out, shock and desperation etched on his face.
He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Divorce? Already? A few months ago he would have been over the moon if he were to get a divorce but not anymore.
"Why the sudden divorce?" he asked, his voice laced with disbelief.
He felt like he had been punched in the gut. "Are you asking
that question when I just made things easier for you?" he fired back.
Becky quickly stepped forward trying to ease the tension.
"Father, please listen," she said, her voice soft but firm. "They can’t just get a divorce, their marriage isn’t even up to a year," she tried convincing him.
The old man scowled, his face a map of disapproval. "I don’t care about that," he snapped.
"What I care about is that he’s not good enough for my granddaughter. He doesn’t treat her right."
Julian felt a surge of defensiveness, but he bit it back. He knew he hadn’t been the best husband, but he was trying. He was really trying his fucking best to balance things out, it isn’t easy for him to.
"Please, Grandfather," he said, his voice low and urgent. "Don’t do this to , give
a chance." The old man raised an eyebrow.
"Another chance?" he repeated. "You’ve had plenty of chances. It’s ti for you to prove yourself."
"Father, please," she said. "Don’t be too hard on him. Actually, they can’t get a divorce until after a year" she butted in again, while Desmond just smirked at his wife’s cunning ways.
The old man sighed, his expression softening slightly. "Fine," he said finally.
"I will give you till then to prove yourself. If you can’t be a good husband, then you are out of her life. And you will go back to Mattie, the one you like," Julian eyes lit up at this.
Just then, Mattie wheeled into the room, a curious expression on her face. "What’s going on?" she asked.
"Well, we are talking about him not getting divorce until then real ti, if he can’t prove himself right then fine."
"What?" Mattie asked in shock, as she wheeled down to where he stood.
"Grandfather, I can’t allow this," she refused but he shook his head.
"Sorry little one but they can’t divorce according to the law, if she doesn’t want it anymore then fine." he explained.
"Grandfather!" She snarled but he sighed now squatting to Mattie, "If I wasn’t here he would still be her husband anyways you don’t have to keep forcing yourself on your cousin’s husband," he let out calmly.
"No! He was mine before her." he looked irritated by her action, this was so familiar with him.
It had once happened between Elizabeth and Tonia, his eyes t with Tonia as if she could recall
"They are both going to be together for years as the rules but after a year they can divorce and everyone gets their lives back again."
With that, he stord out of their presence finding his way down to the Chairman’s Office.
Tonia moved towards Julian, her hand raised as if to slap him, but Miles intervened, grasping her arm.
"Mum..." he warned.
Julian swallowed hard, his eyes fixed on Tonia’s angry face. "Julian, you would divorce her after a year, right?" Mattie asked.
She was getting scared of this Julajm he no longer cared for her like the Julian she once knew.
"You wouldn’t get to be with her forever, right?" she asked again.
Tonia rolled her eyes. "Get a hold of your feelings," she snapped at her daughter.
Then Julian tried to reassure her, "Maybe we should wait until you regain your mory. I think everything will be easier then."
Miles scoffed. "You really think that’s going to make a difference, Mattie?" She let out in a teasing way.
Only then did Astrid push the door open, her eyes red-rimd from crying. "I need so alone ti," she said, her voice trembling.
Maren moved towards her, concern etched on her face. "Astrid, are you okay?"
Astrid’s eyes t Julian’s, and for a mont, they just stared at each other. The pain and hurt in her eyes cut through Julian like a knife.
"I am fine, Maren, thanks for the concern," she answered, her gaze still locked on Mattie and Julian.
Mattie’s eyes narrowed, her gaze fixed on Astrid. "Do I get the chance to talk to him in the anti, alone?" Astrid asked now.
Becky smirked, moving towards Julian and pulling his arm. "Astrid, of course, he can," she said quickly, her eyes glinting with amusent. "He wouldn’t dare say no to you."
Julian breathed out in orelief as Becky pushed him towards Astrid. He knew he was in trouble.
"Thanks mum," she answered and walked into her ward, Julian calmly walked behind her and shit the door beside him.
The whole thing was silent with Julian trying to make her feel better and trying to find sothing to do.
"Hey Astrid, you can sit here, it isn’t a good idea to stress yourself."
"Mattie or ?" she let out, making him halt his track, "Who do you want to be with?" she asked this ti about her eyes eting with him.
"What if I can’t choose?" he replied and she cracked looking downward and she tried to hide her tears.
"It’s an easy answer, Julian, you have always made
know that you love Mattie so much so why?" This ti her voice cracked in pain.
"Why are you making things so hard for
Julian!" He rushed toward her trying to touch her but she slapped his hands off.
"You hated knowing soone kissed , you cared for
like your own," she moved closer to him as she tried to smack his chest, tears trickling down her face.
"Why did you care for ? Why did you take
to the hospital? Why were you there in the room?."
"Astrid! Careful... calm your episode may begin," he tried calling her but she slid his hand off her hand grabbing his collar.
"It’s easy, Julian... please just tell
you don’t want
to stop leaving
hanging," tears trickled down her eyes as she crouched down to the ground.
Julian felt bad for this seeing how weak she is, "I am so sorry..". He let out but she pushed him away.
"Tell ... who do you want? Tell
no... leave.."
"Astrid..." He called and this ti she gestured for him to leave, "Please let’s talk, we can’t depart this way again." he pleaded.
Astrid nodded her head in acceptance, "Yeah, I agree let’s talk." wiping her tears off.
"Let’s find a way to divorce, go back to Mattie, and leave
be," Astrid said, her voice cold and detached.
Julian felt a chill run down his spine at the ntion of Mattie’s na. He didn’t want to lose Astrid, but he didn’t know how to express his feelings.
"I don’t want to be with a husband who doesn’t care about
anymore," Astrid continued, her eyes flashing with anger.
Julian grabbed her arm, but she shook him off. "Go away," she spat.
"No, please," Julian begged, his voice cracking with desperation. "I don’t want to be with Mattie. I don’t feel the sa way about her as I used to. I am frustrated, Astrid. I don’t know what I want anymore."
Astrid raised an eyebrow, her expression skeptical. "You are just saying that because you don’t want to lose ," she accused.
Julian shook his head, in panic. "No, Astrid, that’s not true. I am scared of losing you. I have always felt guilty about Mattie, about the way our relationship started. I didn’t want to hurt her, so I always accepted anything she threw at . But being with you... it’s different. I feel like I’m alive when I am with you."
Astrid’s expression softened slightly, but she still looked uncertain. "I don’t know, Julian," she said. "I need ti to think."
Julian felt a wave of desperation wash over him. "Please, Astrid," he begged. "Don’t leave . I will do anything. Just give
a chance to prove myself to you."
Astrid shook her head, her eyes welling up with tears. "You don’t care about , Julian. You only care about her."
"That’s not true!" he yelled in frustration. "I do care about you. I am going crazy without you. Fine, leave
then. See if I care."
Astrid’s eyes flashed with anger, but Julian could see the hurt and vulnerability behind them. "I am glad I am leaving then, let’s agree to the divorce" she spat.
Julian felt a pang of regret and realization. He was scared of losing her.
He was scared of being without her. And in that mont, he knew that he loved her, but he didn’t know how to express himself.
"Astrid.."
"Get out!" she cut him off, "Please..."
"Get ready for the divorce,"
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