Chapter 16 - The Desperate Plea
A week later, Julian was released on a massive bail bond, paid for by liquidating the last of his personal cars.
He was legally prohibited from contacting me, but desperate men rarely care about restraining orders.
I was walking out of my favorite restaurant when he stepped out of the shadows, looking like a ghost of his former self.
His designer suit was wrinkled, he hadn't shaved in days, and the arrogant spark in his eyes was completely extinguished.
“Elena, please, just give me five minutes,” he begged, holding his hands up defensively as my security moved in.
I waved the guards off, letting them stand a few feet away, curious to hear what the broken man had to say.
“Chloe left me. She took what little cash I had in the safe and vanished,” he choked out, his voice cracking.
“I have nothing, Elena. My lawyers dropped me because I can't pay them, and I’m going to prison.”
I stared at him, feeling absolutely nothing—no pity, no anger, just a cold, heavy apathy.
“You wanted three million dollars to walk away,” he pleaded, tears streaming down his face.
“Please, just give me a million. Help me fight these charges. I was your husband!”
I stepped closer to him, smelling the stale alcohol and sheer terror radiating from his pores.
“You looked me in the eyes and told me to take two million and nothing else,” I reminded him softly.
“You showed no mercy when you thought you held all the cards, Julian.”
May you like
I turned around, signaling my guards to open my car door.
“Enjoy your new life; I hear federal prison builds character.”
