Chapter 8

He's not as important as you are.

The words hit Julian like a blow. He stood outside the hospital room, hollowed out, every breath painful.

Was this the marriage he'd spent three years defending? An indescribable sorrow welled up in his heart.

He finally understood: he would never win Vivienne's heart. In a marriage without love, he'd lost before it even began.

When she stood him up on his birthday to welcome Elliot home, a small part of him had wanted a divorce. Now all of him did.

He returned to his room and cried until his pillow was soaked. Then he took out his phone and called his attorney, Gregory Lawson.

"Mr. Lawson, could you prepare a divorce agreement for me?"

...

During his recovery, Vivienne spent her time looking after Elliot. She didn't visit Julian once, although she sent nutritional supplements through Clara.

They finally saw each other after he was discharged. Vivienne stood beside a suitcase in their bedroom. She was leaving for a business trip to Cedarholt.

Normally Julian would have joined her, handling everything from packing to hotel arrangements. This time he remained still.

"My head's still a little dizzy," he said. "I won't come with you."

Vivienne studied his drawn face. Only then did she notice how much weight he'd lost since the crash. She had devoted every thought to Elliot, assuming Julian would quietly endure her neglect as always. He was the model husband, never demanding, never troublesome, even without a place in her heart.

But something about him felt different.

She was about to speak when she noticed the time. "Get some rest," she said instead.

That evening she boarded her flight.

She didn't know that, back at home, Julian was staring at his wedding ring and making a decision.

She'd never dared to ask Elliot the question that mattered. He would ask it for her.

The next day, Julian arranged a proposal scene in a hotel suite. He covered the walls with Elliot's favorite roses, lit his favorite scented candles, and poured his favorite wine. Across a wall of flowers, enormous letters spelled MARRY ME.

When Elliot arrived, he stood speechless.

Julian stepped out from behind the roses.

"Julian? What is this?"

"I arranged Vivienne's proposal for her," Julian said calmly. "Do you like it?"

He slipped his wedding ring off and took Elliot's left hand. Slowly, he placed it on Elliot's ring finger. It fit perfectly. Better than it had ever fit Julian.

Perhaps it had never really belonged to him.

Elliot stared. "What are you doing?"

Julian laid out ninety-nine airline tickets and ninety-nine carefully chosen gifts.

"In the three years you've lived overseas, she flew out to see you ninety-nine times. Every trip, she carried a gift and the hope of telling you she loved you. She never found the words. First you told her you wanted to stay friends. Later, she was married to me."

He held Elliot's gaze.

"When you're upset, she's there. When your stomach hurts, she brings you soup in the middle of the night. When your life is threatened, she uses her body to protect you. You know why. That's not some innocent friendship. She loves you more than anything.

"So why keep pretending not to see it? You love her too, don't you? Whatever game you're playing, nothing lasts forever."

Julian stepped back.

"I've made the proposal she was too afraid to make. Think about what you actually want. And don't worry about me. I'm divorcing her. I don't want her anymore. I wish you both happiness."

He left without waiting for an answer.

At home, he packed methodically. Three years of marriage, and everything he wanted to keep fit in a single suitcase.

He signed the divorce papers and left them in plain sight on the coffee table. Then he looked around the house one final time. There was no longing left in him.

"Goodbye, Vivienne. For good."

He walked out without looking back.