Julie entered the country club again. Why she returned here, other than she missed being abused by other people. Not likely. Michael claimed that Edward Phillips wanted to pay for their dinner and apologize to them for his embarrassing behaviour. After Julie agreed to attend reluctantly, Michael told her what he thought happened to cause this. “I have a feeling the other members of the board of governors found out about your success and believe he’s made a mistake driving you from the club. I suspect they’ll try to encourage you to use their facilities to entertain business contacts and it’ll be lucrative for them in the long run. You’re a minor celebrity, but one who’s rising. They’d be foolish not to cultivate your membership.” “Michael, I only have a membership because I’m riding on your coattails. I think it’s more they are worried about you leaving and taking your business with you. Leon’s too, for that matter, and with his connection to Aria. Y

Edward Phillips blathered on now and in Michael’s opinion acted offended, as if it was his wife Michael gave an apology to but ignored her as he’d said this. “Michael, we’re all friends here and I thought I was giving both of you an apology right now.” “I’m surprised your marriage has lasted this long, Edward. Because the apology you just gave me would be what you would give me if you were apologizing to me and my pet cat for accidentally tripping over it. Is that how you see your wife? As a pet or an object? That might have flown six months ago with me, but here’s the rub. I’ve learned a hell of a lot of things in those six months and the months building up to it about my wife and myself. I’m sure many of you will agree I can be an ass, and I still am an ass. But I’m that ass who realized his mistake about his wife. You sir, I think you need to wake up and see I’m not like that anymore, but you still are. Aria has done a lot of damage to Juliette’s reputation before she e

Michael’s day started out normally. He’d finally returned to the office for the day. His mood had completely changed. Michael saw how his world view shifted since his eyes opened. He now acknowledged things were different than he’d earlier believed. Even now he took an interest in the fact checking as he never had before and found so many things weren’t as he believed they were. Julie’s existence in his life held more influence over him now than ever before. But he realized it wasn’t new, it was only his recognizing her influence. She did the trivial things that eased his life and success throughout the day by cutting out the tedious work he’d have to do. The fact is, she didn’t demand recognition or reward for doing these things. That floored him. Anyone else he knew would expect payment of some sort. Instead, she didn’t ask for anything but to go unnoticed and she had. Until she wasn’t there, and his life suffered for it. Michael ha

Aria couldn’t help it, she was excited. Everything felt bright, new, and the only reason Aria could attribute it to was Leon pushing her to be the better person. Sure, she hated apologizing to people and admitting she’d screwed up. But Aria learned things about herself. Things she didn’t believe she had in her. Aria believed she’d been weak. If she allowed anyone else to step into the spotlight with her, then they’d push her into the shadows, and everyone would forget about her. Her weakness would show how powerless she really was. She’d finally learned that wasn’t the case. Her fears and jealousy were unfounded. Created by her father and his people to control her to help her father’s reputation and career. She was his embarrassment, so he could look like a patient, kind, and loving father. Willing to forgive her for anything. Even her mother pawning off Aria who was another man’s child as his. Lies all around from both her parents. Aria hated everything aroun

“Julie love, you fell asleep. We’re here now. Let’s go in for our appointment.” Julie woke up to Michael’s voice. During their trip to her doctor’s appointment, she’d fallen asleep. Today she would talk to the doctor about her pregnancy and what to expect, including her birthing plan. Something she’d been avoiding because it absolutely terrified her. With pain, she had an odd relationship with it. There was no normal response to it for her. It either didn’t register or she was in a world of hurt that no one understood. Medications didn’t seem to work correctly either when dealing with pain. She’d believed that she was imagining this issue for most of her life, but Julie learned not too long ago that wasn’t the case. Her body resisted many pain medications, and she did in fact register pain differently to other people. “Great, let’s get this over with because there’re things I need to get done today.” She’d been grumpy for most of the day. Between