Chapter 181: GAINING HER FORGIVENESS
Astrid’s eyes seed to bore into Julian’s soul as she spoke. "Agreeing with
ans you will never go near Mattie again. Do you understand that part?" she asked, snatching her arms from his grip.
Julian nodded fervently, his eyes locked onto hers. He took a step closer, his hand reaching out to touch her, but he hesitated, his nerves getting the better of him.
Instead, he moved to stand in front of her, his eyes pleading. "From now on, I will do whatever you say, Astrid, as long as I can get your forgiveness."
For the first ti, Julian saw a look of pure hatred in Astrid’s eyes. It was as if he was staring at a different person altogether.
Her voice was icy cold as she spoke. "Do you an that? You will do whatever I ask?"
Julian nodded again, his heart racing with anticipation. "Yes, I will... Astrid. Anything."
Astrid’s eyes seed to gleam with a sinister light as she asked her next question. "What about Stephan? What would you do to him?"
Julian’s expression faltered for a mont before he spoke. "His company’s stocks are currently...floppy."
Astrid’s smile was a thin, cruel line. "Can you wreck him for ?"
Julian’s eyes widened in shock, and he was left speechless for a mont. "Astrid, I...I don’t know if I can do that. Stephen is still family..."
Astrid’s brow furrowed and she took a step closer to Julian.
"Family?" she spat. "You want to still call him family for the one who forced himself on
multiple tis, warning
not to make Mattie cry? For the one who ordered those boys to almost sleep with ?"
Julian’s face contorted in rage upon hearing those words. Listening to her say it over again really proves how painful she feels.
He grabbed Astrid’s shoulder, his voice shaking with anger. "Why didn’t you tell
about this? Why did you keep it to yourself all this ti?"
Astrid’s smirk was a bitter, hurtful thing. "What choice did I have? I’m just a poor girl who accidentally got married to you, it was my fault."
Julian’s grip on her shoulder tightened. "I would have believed you, Astrid."
Astrid’s laughter was a cold, mirthless sound. "Believe ? Dude you only believe that bitch over
all the ti! I almost lost my life because you trusted that bitch!" she yelled.
"I was just a burden to you, a ans to an end. You only cared about Mattie, not ."
Julian’s face twisted in anguish. "That’s not true, Astrid. You were never a burden to . You have always been important to , from day one."
Astrid’s eyes seed to bore into his soul, searching for the truth. "Prove it," she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I will... Astrid... what do you want
to use in proving it?"
Astrid’s eyes locked onto Julian’s. "I want you to investigate my mom’s death," she announced and Julian’s brow furrowed. "Why?"
Astrid’s voice dropped. "I don’t trust Mattie, I feel there is sothing connected with mum’s death and also with her." has admitted her doubt as those words echoed in her head.
Julian chuckled. "Mattie? She’s harmless, she might be a bully to you but I promise she can’t kill, she isn’t a murderer."
Astrid’s face twisted in anger, and she slapped Julian. "Leave if you won’t do what I ask!" she announced and turned for the stairs but Julian grasped her arm embarrassing her from behind. "Fine, I will do it, I promise I will," he assured Astrid who got a little smirk on her face until Julian’s next question ca up:
"How did you know the baby isn’t mine?"
Astrid’s laughter erupted, loud and manic, her eyes glinting with crazed amusent, she disengaged from his right-back embrace staring at him.
"You’re the most gullible person I’ve ever t! Though everyone respects you for being smart and the top five richest n you can’t tell
this is the sa brain you use."
She sneered, her voice dripping with contempt. "Astrid... enough just tell
how?"
"I overheard Stephan and Mattie talking about it when I went to the bathroom. They have been cheating on you for five years, and Stephan also doesn’t want you to be the father."
Julian’s eyes went wide, his face pale. His hands trembled, and he felt like he’d been punched in the gut.
"How...how could I not know?" he stuttered.
Julian’s face crumpled as he processed the betrayal. He clenched his fist, stumbling backward until he found a chair to collapse into. Astrid approached him, her expression hurt.
"Are you hurt that your lover has been cheating on you?" she asked, her voice soft.
Julian looked up, his eyes trembling. "I...I don’t know, but I feel betrayed" he stamred.
"But the fact that she’s been cheating on
with my best friend...Stephan’s not only hurt my wife but he’s also been sleeping with the girl I almost married."
Julian’s hands shook as he pulled out his phone. Astrid’s eyes narrowed.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"I am going to ruin Stephan," Julian spat. Astrid grabbed his hand, her grip firm.
"No, you won’t. You will only do what I say. I want the whole world to watch their embarrassnt, but first, we need to make sure they had nothing to do with my mom’s death."
Julian’s frustration boiled over. He grabbed his hair, pulling it in anguish.
"Why does this hurt so much?" he muttered.
Astrid stood up, her eyes flashing with anger. "You never reacted this way when I told you about my predicant with your people. You were never this sad."
Julian looked up to her and said"Astrid...I’m sorry," he whispered, his voice cracking. "I am always reacting this way because Mattie is the only reason why I am still alive. She saved
once when I was a kid."
Astrid’s expression softened slightly, but she still held that angry look.
Julian took a deep breath. "I had an accident that could have taken my life when I was a kid at a family gathering."
"It was a horse-riding accident, I was suffering from night blindness, you know. I fell off the horse and was trapped underneath in the water, in a swapping pool," he looked up at Astrid to see the way her attention had been piqued.
"There was no adult around, she couldn’t swim but she still jumped in to save
from the water."
"Mattie saved ...she was only 12, but she was so brave."Astrid’s eyes widened, surprise etched on her face.
"I had no idea," she whispered a bit, understanding if only the Mattie she knew now was the sa one then.
Julian’s grip on her arm tightened. "I think that’s why I have always been so soft on Mattie. I felt indebted to her, grateful for what she did. But now...now I realize that doesn’t excuse what she’s done."
"Astr..." he called a bit slowly, "Guess it’s ti I let go of my past and face the punishnts and fight for the one who cares about ."
"Then begin with making her apologize to , on her kneel,"
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