Chapter 8 - Your Family
Clara’s words remained inside Julian’s head.
Your family.
Not Eleanor.
Not Dominic.
Not your mother.
Your family.
It was the cruelest answer because it was not specific enough to let him escape.
He wanted a name.
A clean villain.
A single person to blame so he could protect the rest of the structure he came from.
But Clara had said your family because that was how it had reached her.
Through Eleanor’s confidence.
Through Dominic’s documents.
Through Julian’s absence.
Through hospital staff who listened to the wrong last name.
Through assumptions about money, motherhood, and weakness.
Julian turned toward Clara.
“Did they say I wanted this?”
She nodded once.
His face broke.
“Did you believe them?”
Clara’s lips trembled.
“I didn’t want to.”
That answer hurt more than yes.
Because it meant he had left enough doubt inside their marriage for Eleanor to enter.
He lowered his eyes.
“I’m sorry.”
Eleanor exploded.
“This is pathetic.”
Julian turned.
His face hardened.
Eleanor pointed toward Clara, finger stabbing the air.
“She is using tears because she knows you are weak around guilt.”
Clara flinched.
Julian did not.
“Maybe guilt is what happens when you finally see something you helped cause.”
Eleanor stared at him.
Dominic looked toward the door.
Julian saw that too.
“Do not leave.”
Dominic froze.
“No one is detaining me.”
“No one is done answering me.”
The attorney’s expression sharpened.
But he stayed.
The hidden camera glinted above them.
Clara looked at it again.
Julian followed her gaze.
This time he understood.
The room had already answered more than any of them wanted.
The real question was not whether something had been recorded.
May you like
It was who would fear it most.
Read Chapter 9 👉 Because Julian finally understood that Clara’s accusation included his absence, and Eleanor’s rage proved the hidden camera had shifted the power in the room.
