Chapter Seventy—Old Habits Die Hard

“You think I would say it if I didn’t mean it? When I have, I said anything I didn’t mean?” Julie followed him into their bedroom before he said this to her.

“Often, actually. You contradict your words with your actions. I can’t keep things straight with you sometimes and I am the one left thinking it’s a problem with me.” Julie’s patience with Michael was wearing thin. He made her promise not to leave and then he at once goes back to his highhanded ways. She questioned whether anything kept her here besides self-doubt and fear of solitude.

“Well, it is. But the problem isn’t from a lack of effort on your part. That’s one of the things that helped me change my mind. As I went down that rabbit hole, as we’re describing my research. I saw what you did to express yourself. You know I hate anyone who takes advantage of someone who’s not able to defend themselves. When I made you sign that contract, I thought you were trying to take advantage of the situation, so I