Chapter 14 - The Final Divorce Decree & Julian’s Midnight Confession
Three months later, the final decree of absolute divorce was signed and stamped
by the New York Supreme Court.
I was officially a free woman. Flynn Vance was sentenced to four years at a
federal correctional facility, and Selena had fled the state after taking a plea
deal.
That evening, Julian and I stood on the open-air rooftop terrace of the Park
Avenue penthouse, sipping vintage red wine under the warm summer stars. Clara
was fast asleep inside the nursery under the care of her trusted nanny.
“You did it, Mabel,” Julian said softly, looking at me with a warmth that made
my chest feel light and weightless. “You built an empire and protected your
daughter. Your father would be unimaginably proud.”
“I couldn't have done it without you, Julian,” I admitted, turning to face him.
“You stood by me when everyone else was whispering.”
Julian set his glass down on the marble railing and took a slow step closer to
me. The distance between us evaporated, leaving only the sound of our breathing
and the distant hum of the city below.
“Mabel,” Julian whispered, his fingers gently brushing a stray lock of hair
behind my ear. “I didn't stand by you out of duty or legacy. I stood by you
because I’ve been in love with you for ten years.”
My breath caught in my throat as my eyes searched his.
“When you married Flynn, it broke me,” Julian confessed, his voice rough with
emotion. “I vowed that if God ever gave me a second chance to protect you, I
would spend every single day making sure you and Clara were cherished, loved,
and revered like the queens you are.”
Tears of pure happiness welled in my eyes. I reached up, placed my hand against
his cheek, and pulled his face down to mine.
Our lips met in a kiss that was warm, deep, and full of years of unspoken
devotion.
May you like
Every pain, every betrayal, and every tear from the past dissolved into the
sweet promise of a true and faithful love.
