Chapter 6

The last message in our conversation had been from me.

It was a photo of Julian's favorite watch.

Me: [I'll work hard and buy it back as soon as I can.]

After a moment's thought, Julian finally replied.

Julian: [Okay.]

Perhaps he expected me to respond as I always did.

The next morning, the first thing he did was reach for his phone and open our message thread.

There were no new messages.

Julian seemed irritated. On the drive home with Claire, he barely listened to anything she said.

Claire took his hand reassuringly. "It's okay."

Julian frowned, growing even more annoyed. "I'm fine. Worst case, Diana and I get divorced. We were only together because our families set us up. It's not like I ever loved her that much."

"Don't say that just because you're angry," Claire said.

Julian said nothing.

The car soon stopped outside the run-down apartment building where we now lived.

I'd bought our old house with my own money, but I'd sold it to pay off Julian's supposed debts. After that, we'd moved into a shabby rental in an aging complex.

As Julian approached the building, something in the dumpster caught his eye.

His sheets and comforter were inside.

His expression darkened further as he stormed upstairs.

"Diana, don't you think you've gone too far?" he shouted the moment he stepped inside.

Ella emerged from the bedroom. She seemed even thinner than before, and her eyes were still swollen.

The sight of her softened Julian's anger slightly. "Ella, where's Mom?"

Ella gave him a flat glance but said nothing. Then she began throwing all his clothes into the trash.

Julian frowned, unease creeping across his face. "Ella, I asked you a question."

Claire stepped forward. "Julian, don't be angry. Let me talk to her. I remember what it was like to be her age. I know how to talk to her."

Julian rarely paid much attention to Ella, so he took Claire at her word and nodded.

Claire walked over and crouched in front of Ella. "Ella, I know you're upset, but you need to trust your dad. Don't be mad anymore, okay?"

She smiled gently. "You're a good girl. I know you can control your emotions."

Claire reached out and placed a hand on Ella's shoulder.

But I caught a vicious glint in her eyes. Her fingers dug hard into Ella's shoulder.

Ella cried out and shoved her away.

Claire lost her balance and fell to the floor. She clutched her surgical wound, her face twisting in pain.

"Ella Parker, what are you doing?"

In a flash of rage, Julian called his daughter by her full name. He rushed forward and shoved Ella aside.

She stumbled into a table, striking her head against it with a dull thud.

Julian didn't even look at her. He hurried to help Claire up while Ella stood there, staring at him blankly.

"Who taught you to behave like this?" Julian shouted. "Was it your mother? Where is she? Tell her to come out here!"

Just then, the front door opened.

A man from the funeral home stepped inside, dressed in a black suit and carrying an urn.

He looked around the room.

"Is anyone here Diana Parker's next of kin? These are her ashes. I'll need a signature."