When Apologies Die

Julia's POV

The moment Adrian Grant attentively settled Bella Reed and her daughter, Tia Reed, into the front passenger seat, I knew I was no longer the main character of this gathering.

Bella rolled down the window and gave me a sweet smile. "Julia, Adrian said today is your birthday. He specially invited us to come."

Then she added apologetically, "Sorry, Tia gets carsick easily. You don’t mind us sitting in front, right?"

I caught the faint provocation hidden in her eyes and said nothing.

Adrian placed a hand on her shoulder and spoke gently, as if soothing her. "Bella, don’t overthink it. We’re all family. How could Julia mind?"

After saying that, he opened the car door and got out, clearly intending to clear the items piled in the back seat to make space for me.

My eyes burned red. Disappointment and sadness pressed heavily against my chest.

He knew perfectly well that I didn’t like Bella, yet he still used the excuse of celebrating my birthday to bring her along.

Bella watched Adrian moving things around in the back and cast a pleading look toward the friends gathered nearby.

They understood immediately and spoke up without hesitation.

"Those are all Tia’s snacks and toys. If you take them out, the kid will be upset!"

Before the words even finished, Tia cooperated by bursting into loud tears.

Bella softly scolded her daughter, lowered her head slightly, and spoke in a tone filled with helplessness, "I’m sorry, Julia. This is all our fault for causing trouble between you and Adrian. Then we just won’t go."

She reluctantly got out of the car with the child. The little girl clung pitifully to her mother’s shoulder.

"Mom, are we really not going? I’ve been looking forward to this picnic for a long time."

Seeing the disappointment written all over that small face, Adrian’s brows drew tightly together. He decisively pulled Bella and her daughter back into the car, then dragged me aside.

"Julia, you’re healthy. Just take the bus. I have to drive, so I can’t go with you. When you get off, I’ll pick you up at the bus stop."

Cold crept into my fingers. Waves of pain mixed with grievance surged through my chest.

I slowly lowered my head. At that moment, I couldn’t tell what I was feeling. I also didn’t know whether Adrian noticed the sadness on my face.

The friends standing nearby all said this arrangement was perfect and cheerfully drove off.

There wasn’t the slightest trace of guilt or apology on Adrian’s face. Everything seemed completely justified to him.

I held back the tears about to spill over and let out a self-mocking smile. Whether I went or not didn’t matter anymore.

The car slowly pulled away. Bella wore a satisfied expression and urged me to hurry and set off as well.

I watched Adrian lean over to fasten Bella’s seat belt. In his refined, handsome eyes, there was only the reflection of that mother and daughter.

I touched the wedding ring on my ring finger and felt that my marriage was utterly, completely ruined.