Home / After the First Snow / Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

All Chapters of After the First Snow: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

29 Chapters

Chapter 1

Three days after Julian returned to Seattle, he found me at NorthStar Systems' acquisition gala. I was leaning against the terrace railing, talking to Maya about our marriage."He asked me last night if I wanted to have breakfast together." I swirled my sparkling water. "And the first thing that popped into my head was that I wasn't used to it anymore. I can't even remember what he likes to eat."Maya frowned. "You two haven't lived together in almost a year. That's normal.""The problem is we're still married. But now it's like we're strangers who got assigned to the same hotel room by mistake. Five minutes alone with him and I'm so uncomfortable I could crawl out of my own skin."Maya's gaze shifted past my shoulder, and her expression froze."Being with me is that uncomfortable?" A man's light, casual voice drifted over.I turned around. Julian stood a few feet away in a charcoal suit with no tie. He was thinner than when he'd left, and his color wasn't good.Maya took the hint and

Chapter 2

A year earlier, Seattle was hit by a rare snowstorm. Most of the snow melted the next day, then refroze after dark into a nearly invisible layer of black ice. As I walked from the parking garage toward the sidewalk, my shoes slipped out from under me, and my stomach slammed hard into a low stone step. I didn't notice the blood spreading across my light-colored pants until a coworker caught me.The ER doctor asked, "Did you know you were pregnant?"I shook my head."You've had a miscarriage. We need to treat you right away."My period had been a few days late that month, and I'd chalked it up to work stress. The nurse asked me to confirm my emergency contact. Julian was listed first in the system. The first call went unanswered. By the time the eleventh call rolled to voicemail, the doctor was already standing at my bedside with the consent forms."You can sign these yourself, but someone needs to pick you up after the procedure and stay with you. Is there anyone else we can call?"I st

Chapter 3

Julian didn't come home until three days later. I'd just stepped out of the shower. My lower stomach still ached, but the emptiness inside me hurt more. My medication was sitting on the dining table. Julian walked right past it without noticing."I thought you were in Vancouver.""The meetings ended early.""So you went to the hospital."He frowned. "Were you following me?""I was there too."He didn't even ask why I'd been there. Instead, he told me Robert had late-stage lung cancer. Lena had no one else to help her arrange his appointments and consultations."You could have told me.""It was urgent.""Urgent enough to lie to me?""I didn't have the energy to explain everything."For the past month, Lena had been calling him late at night. Sometimes Julian would disappear into his study to answer. Other times, he'd grab his coat and leave without a word.Once, at two in the morning, I heard him say, "I'm here. Don't be scared. I'll come by in the morning.""Does she know you're marrie

Chapter 4

The next morning, Julian spread the treatment records, his Europe itinerary, and the travel expense reports across the dining table."Lena and I never lived together. Those photos were taken during breaks between Robert's treatments. He wanted to see the snow."As if on cue, one of those photos appeared in a notification on my phone. Lena stood beneath a snow-covered mountain with her arm linked through her mother's. Robert sat in a wheelchair, and Julian stood beside them. There was nothing romantic about the photo, yet the four of them looked like a family.I locked my phone. "How is Robert doing?""Stable for now. That's why I came back.""That's good.""Is that all you want to ask?""Yes.""You're not upset?""I believe you when you say you didn't get back together.""Then why are you still acting like this?"He didn't say whether he meant my coldness or my indifference.I picked up my bag. "I have to get to work."As I passed him, he grabbed my wrist."I didn't come back so we cou

Chapter 5

After Julian came back, I realized how used I'd become to living alone. One night, I came out of the bathroom in a loose tank top and found him looking at me. I immediately went back into the bedroom and put on a jacket."Are you avoiding me?""Things are different now."I grabbed my pillow and headed for the guest room. "My schedule's been all over the place lately. I'll sleep here.""I don't mind.""I do."He stepped aside. "I'll take you to work tomorrow.""It's out of your way.""NorthStar has a meeting near your office.""I'm seeing a client first.""There's nothing on the shared calendar."I'd forgotten our calendars were still synced."It was last minute.""What time? Where?"I couldn't answer. The next morning at six fifteen, when I opened my bedroom door, the kitchen light was already on. A smoked salmon bagel, the kind I used to love, was waiting on the table."Sit down and eat."I grabbed a single slice of toast. "Running late.""Let me drive you."I was out the door before

Chapter 6

Rosa, the owner of Blue Heron, knew us both. Even after Julian left for Europe, I still stopped by alone from time to time. Whenever Rosa asked about my husband, I simply told her we were separated.She assumed that meant we were divorced.That morning, I'd barely sat down when she leaned closer. "I know an ER doctor. He's single, easygoing, and most importantly, reliable. If you need him, he'll be there."That last part stung."Thanks, but I'm not interested in dating right now.""Just have coffee with him. Your ex may be handsome, but trust me, reliability matters more."A shadow fell across the table.Julian pulled out the chair across from me. "She doesn't have an ex-husband. She has a husband."Rosa froze. "You're not divorced? But she's been coming here alone for almost a year."Julian turned to look at me.After Rosa left, he asked, "You told people we were divorced?""I said we were separated. Most people don't see much difference.""There is, to me.""You care so much about be

Chapter 7

When we arrived at Cascadia, both teams were already waiting outside. Julian came around the car and put a hand on my waist. I instinctively moved away."Thank you, Mr. Mercer."Everyone around us fell silent for a moment.I quickly added, "My shoes slipped. He was just helping to steady me."The meeting lasted two hours. The proposal I'd led repositioned a legacy data services company as a cloud security platform for small and mid-sized businesses. NorthStar's directors approved it. Afterward, the compliance director pulled me into her office."Someone reported that you have a personal relationship with Mr. Mercer. NorthStar is a potential investor. Any marriage, shared assets, or serious romantic relationship must be disclosed."For the first time, our marriage was out in the open. Not because Julian had introduced me as his wife or because we were celebrating an anniversary, but because I had to declare it on a conflict-of-interest form. I signed my name.Spouse: Julian Mercer, Foun

Chapter 8

I handed my project files and access over to Daniel. Eileen then moved me to a client group with less than a fifth of the original project's budget. Julian had only been back a few days, and my career was already paying the price. That evening, he was waiting outside my office with a container of hot soup."I can have NorthStar pull out of the project, or I can leave the acquisition committee.""Neither.""I can't let you lose a project because of me.""I already have.""So I'm fixing it.""Every time you step in, you only make people think I got where I am because of you.""What they think doesn't matter.""It doesn't matter to you. You're the entrepreneur, the famous one. You don't need anything else on your resume. But have you ever thought about me? Your name is all over the tabloids right now. Where does that leave me?"Julian was quiet for a moment. "I can tell everyone we're married.""After I've already been taken off the project?""At least it would clear things up.""The dama

Chapter 9

After working late for the third night in a row, I finally left the office at ten. Julian was leaning against the car, with a light rain settling on his shoulders. Inside, he'd left soup, painkillers, and a dry towel for me. Things like that used to make me feel loved. Now they only made me feel trapped.Once we were on I-5, I said, "You don't have to pick me up or make breakfast for me anymore.""I want to.""It's a burden for me.""It's no trouble for me.""I said it's a burden for me."My phone lit up with a notice that my new apartment in South Lake Union was ready for move-in and that I could pick up my key fob. I'd bought the place with my grandmother's inheritance and my pre-marriage savings, signing the contract six months after Julian left for Europe."Work."The next day, I took the morning off to inspect the apartment, only to find Julian downstairs with Lena's family, listening to a real estate agent describe the building's wheelchair-accessible shuttle service.The agent g

Chapter 10

"Claire, long time no see." Lena was the first to speak.She stood behind Robert's wheelchair, looking thinner than she had in her photos.The agent picked up on the tension. "I'm sorry, did I say something wrong?"Julian turned to me. "You bought a place here?""It's ready for move-in.""When?""Six months ago."Lena reminded him that they still hadn't finished viewing the seventeenth floor. Julian told the agent to go ahead with the Harts, then followed me into the elevator. My new place had two bedrooms and a view of Lake Union. As I tested the water pressure and checked the window locks, Julian stood in the middle of the living room."Why didn't you tell me?""It's my money.""That's not what I'm asking. I'm your husband.""That doesn't mean I need your permission for every decision I make.""But you bought this while we were married—""The money came from my grandmother's estate and savings I had before we got married. It's covered by our prenup, and my lawyer has records showing

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