Chapter 7 - The Little GirlJulian met Lily the next morning.
She was seven years old.
She sat at a small kitchen table coloring a picture of a family.
Julian stood in the doorway.
Claire watched him carefully.
"Lily, this is Julian."
The girl looked up.
"Are you Mommy's friend?"
Julian smiled weakly.
"I used to be."
Lily studied him.
"You look like me."
Julian's eyes filled with tears.
Claire looked away.
For the first time in seven years, Julian understood what he had lost.
Birthday parties.
First steps.
School plays.
Nightmares.
Every ordinary moment.
May you like
All gone.
And somehow, the woman who had been humiliated at his wedding had carried that loss alone.
Related Stories
Chapter 8 - Audrey's World CollapsesAudrey returned to her penthouse.
Chapter 9 - The Man Behind the LieAudrey confronted Julian's mother.
Chapter 10 - The Divorce PapersJulian met Audrey at a quiet restaurant.
Chapter 11 - The Woman Audrey HatedAudrey found Claire at a small community center.
Chapter 12 - Lily Gets SickEverything changed when Lily collapsed at school.
Chapter 13 - Audrey's Unexpected ChoiceAudrey could have walked away.
