EIGHT

The first thing Julian noticed was how relaxed everyone looked. He stood near the edge of the room, jacket still on, phone in his hand, watching his family celebrate.

His mother laughed too loudly at something his father had just said. The house smelled like wood polish, the same way it always had. His father lounged back in the leather chair, as though something unwanted had finally been removed.

“Well,” his mother said brightly, lifting her teacup, “it’s finally over.”

His father let out a short, pleased laugh. “About time.”

Julian didn’t respond. He moved closer and sat down. He told himself the tightness in his chest was fatigue. Anything but what it actually was.

“I still can’t believe you stayed with her as long as you did,” his mother continued. “Enduring three years in that sham marriage.”

Julian’s jaw tightened.

“She always acted like we were oppressing her,” his sister, Lisa added from her spot by the window, scrolling through her phone. “As if marrying into this family wasn’t the biggest opportunity of her life.”

His father shook his head. “Ungrateful.”

The word hung heavy.

Julian took a slow breath. “She raised our daughter".

His mother waved that away immediately. “That’s what wives do. And it's a good thing she took the brat with her, I can't have a grandchild with a tainted bloodline"

Something snapped, not loudly, but enough for him to straighten.

“She cooked, too,” his sister said absently. “Every time I wanted soup, she made it. Remember how good it always was?”

Julian looked at her.

“You liked it,” his sister went on. “I want some now, actually.”

His mother grimaced. “The cook never gets it right.”

Julian’s voice came out sharper than he expected. “Why didn’t the cook make it?”

His sister glanced up. “Because Susan did.”

Julian stood. “There were staff. Why was she....”

“She was a wife,” his mother cut in. “She had time.”

"Cooking wasn't the only thing she did. She cleaned and washed. She also went on errands for my friends and I".

Julian felt heat rise into his face. “She had a job.”

“And yet she still managed,” his mother said coldly. “That’s what being a wife looks like.”

Something twisted in his stomach.

“You made her do things the staff could have handled,” he said slowly.

His sister scoffed. “Made? Please. She should have been grateful. If anything, she didn’t do enough.”

"Exactly. We allowed her answer the Brentwood family name. That enabled her raise her shoulders and sit amongst the high class", his mother said.

Julian’s hands clenched at his sides. He always knew his family despised Susan for her scheming ways but he did not know the blatant disrespect she endured at their hands.

He saw it then, Susan standing quietly while his mother listed demands. Susan biting back words and always dutifully trying to please his family. He never stepped in. He hadn’t cared.

“I’m leaving,” Julian said suddenly.

His mother blinked. “You just sat down.”

“I said I’m leaving.”

"The group is asking to meet with you later this week. We are all happy you are back", Avery said to Susan as she picked out a dress from the lineup.

"I can't wait to meet them too. I hope everyone has forgiven me", Susan said, tearing up a little.

When she insisted on marrying Julian against her friends advise and stepping away from the corporate world, all her friends except Avery had turner their backs on her.

That was when she saw Lisa, browsing through racks with her clique. Susan muttered under her breath and gestured to Avery for them to leave.

But, Lisa had already seen her.

“Oh,” Lisa said. “You’re here.”

Susan glanced at Lisa, her posture calm and her face unreadable. She wore a black gown, looking smart and expensive. Beside her, Avery was looking equally composed and unimpressed.

“You shop here?” Lisa asked sweetly.

Susan didn’t flinch. “Yes.”

Lisa laughed. “I hate to inform you but this place doesn't have anything you can afford."

One of Lisa's friends leaned in. “Maybe she's here to remind herself of what it feels like to have luxury."

Susan’s gaze didn’t waver. “I’ll take everything on this rack.”

The attendant hesitated. “Everything?”

“Yes,” Susan said. “Including those", she gestured to the dresses Lisa and her friends had been trying on.

Lisa scoffed. “You’re being dramatic. We all know you can't afford anything here. You are a poor, miserable woman Julian discarded".

Behind, her friends laughed.

"Oh, I actually was the one who left. I couldn't stand your family again".

"How dare you?", Lisa screeched, raising her hands to slap Susan. Susan easily sidestepped, sending Lisa crashing to the floor.

Julian stepped inside at that time. “What’s happening here?”

Lisa didn’t miss a beat. “Julian, it's Susan. She insulted our family and pushed me. She was bullying my friends and I."

Julian’s irritation flared instantly. “Susan,” he snapped, “apologise.”

Susan looked at him, "I did not push her".

"Just apologise and I'll let you off the hook this time", Julian said.

“Bring the footage,” she said to the attendant.

Julian frowned. “What footage?”

The attendant brought over a tablet. Julian watched his sister insult Susan and try to slap her. He felt his stomach drop.

“That’s not.." his sister began.

“Enough,” Julian said sharply. His sister had been the one wrong and he had wanted to force Susan to apologise.

"Susan, I'm ..."

Susan cut him off with her hand. "Save it, this is not the first time your family had lied and you totally believed them".

Julian was surprised. His family has told him lies about Susan?

He turned again to apologise but she already left the store.