When It Finally Snows in Manhattan Chapter 10

When It Finally Snows in Manhattan Chapter 10

Before the trial, I tried everything to avoid Julian.

His influence in New York was massive. I could run into his eyes and ears anywhere.

So I stayed temporarily at Sebastian’s place. He was well-respected in legal circles, so no one would dare try anything reckless.

After a couple of stable days, the first person to actually show up at the door was—of all people—Yvonne.

The second the door opened, Yvonne rushed at me like a madwoman.

“Claire! You’ve got a hell of a nerve, actually filing a report?”

“Julian is just angry for a bit. There’s no way he’ll actually abandon me. You are dead!”

Before she even finished, I slapped her hard across the face with a crisp crack.

She was so shocked she couldn’t even close her mouth.

“You… you actually dare hit me?”

In response, I slapped her again. “What makes you think I wouldn’t dare hit you? And what makes you think I’m afraid of Julian?”

At first, I’d thought she was just another mistress Julian kept around, like all those other girls.

So I hadn’t taken her seriously, much less hated her.

But the moment I learned she was the one who’d crippled my mother, my hatred for her had consumed me.

And on top of that, she’d killed my mom.

I glared at her in warning.

“Those two slaps were just a warm-up. I’ll make sure you rot in prison. Not even Julian can pull strings for you this time.”

Hearing that, she laughed hysterically and wildly.

“Who do you think you are? You’re just a washed-up weather girl. Now that you’ve left the station, you’re nothing!”

“Go ahead, wait and see. Julian will definitely—”

Before she could finish, a massive force ripped her violently away.

“Julian…”

Julian slapped her without any mercy.

“Don’t you fucking call me that!”

“Yvonne, how much nerve do you have to come after Claire? Do you want me to make sure you rot in prison for life?!”

Then he turned to me urgently, his face flooding with worry. “Claire, what did she do to you?”

I silently stepped back two paces, my tone distant. “It’s none of your business.”

Julian paused, then tactfully kept his distance.

At that moment, Yvonne picked herself up off the ground, pitifully looking at him. “Julian, you’re really just throwing me away? What the hell is so special about Claire? You’d send me to prison over her?”

The look Julian gave her grew more and more vicious.

“If Claire weren’t above getting blood on her hands, I would’ve bled you dry a long time ago!”

“Now get the hell out of here!”

At his words, Yvonne fled in panic.

Julian turned around and was about to speak to me, but Sebastian returned right at that moment.

Their sharp gazes locked. Sebastian shielded me and brought me inside.

The next time I saw Julian was the day of the trial.

In court, we waited nearly an hour. Yvonne never showed up.

One of Julian’s subordinates came to report.

“Don—Yvonne is fleeing the state, heading for the Canadian border.”

The next second, Julian slammed the table and shot to his feet. He cast one deep look at me, then strode out fast.

Later, we learned he had chased her down along Interstate 87.

He ran her car off the Tappan Zee Bridge into the Hudson River.

Divers found her body at dawn.

The most powerful mafia boss on the East Coast, Julian, was arrested on the spot by FBI agents.

Facing the cameras, his eyes bloodshot, he stared straight into the lens. “Claire, I did it. I got revenge for you.”

No regret. No fear of life in prison.

Only release.

I changed the channel.

A new weather forecaster appeared on the local news broadcast.

“Based on current model predictions, the tri-state area will see its first snowfall tomorrow. Accumulations are expected to…”

I gazed out the window at the gray Manhattan sky.

Tomorrow, it was finally going to snow.