The Tickets He Gave Me Became My Best Friend’s Trip Instead Chapter 09

The Tickets He Gave Me Became My Best Friend’s Trip Instead Chapter 09

Silence fell over Magnolia House.

Claire’s confidence vanished. She took an instinctive step back.

“Julian… what are you doing out of the hospital?”

Her voice had lost its usual edge.

Julian ignored her. He crossed the lobby, his fever-bright eyes fixed on the $500,000 check lying on the

counter. He snatched it up and tore it into pieces, sending scraps of paper fluttering to the floor.

“Julian!” Claire cried. “I was trying to help you. Look at her. She doesn’t care whether you live or die!”

“Shut up!”

He pointed at her, his chest heaving.

“Pretending my mother couldn’t speak was your idea. You taught Megan to say all those vicious things. The

three of you lied to Nora and drove her away.”

Claire went pale, but she held on to what little pride she had left.

“Fine. It was my idea. But who agreed to it?”

A bitter laugh escaped her.

“You were the one who thought Nora was easy to fool. You handed me that scrapbook yourself to keep me

entertained. So don’t stand there pretending to be some devoted, heartbroken fiancé.”

“You’re the one who pushed her away.”

Julian staggered back against one of the wooden support posts.

I picked up a cloth and wiped the water from the counter.

“Are you finished?”

I dropped the cloth into the sink.

“If you are, take this outside. I have a business to run.”

Julian stumbled toward the desk and clutched the edge of the counter with both hands.

“Nora, I was wrong.”

His tears darkened the wood beneath him.

“I was arrogant. I was blind. I was so sure you’d never leave me.”

His words tumbled over one another as desperation took over.

“Yell at me. Hit me if that’s what you need. Just please don’t look at me like I’m a stranger. I can’t take it. I

swear I’m losing my mind.”

I watched him fall apart and felt nothing but exhaustion.

“You still don’t understand, do you?”

I met his eyes.

“I don’t blame Claire, and I don’t blame your mother. I blame myself for taking three years to see you for who you really are.”

Then I turned away and left him there.