“Selene.” he repeated, tears gathering in his sunken eyes
“I’m sorry.”
It was the first thing he said.
The only thing, at first.
I didn’t say I forgave him.
I didn’t say I hated him.
I simply listened as he spoke, his voice growing more frantic, more desperate.
He told me everything.
About how he never married Claire.
About how Claire, after her betrayal was exposed, fell from grace and became a pariah even among those she once sought to manipulate.
About how he had destroyed himself with alcohol and regret, until the poison had finally claimed him.
“I know,” he whispered, voice breaking
“I know I did this to myself. You were right.”
A tear slid down his check
Without thinking, I stepped forward and wiped it away.
A memory flashed-
of him doing the same for me once, long ago, before everything had gone wrong.
“We all have to move forward,” I said quietly.
He closed his eyes, as if the words hurt more than any knife.
When he opened them again, they were filled with naked pleading,
“You’re happy, aren’t you?” he asked, voice barely audible.
I didn’t hesitate.
I turned, reaching for Ethan’s hand, feeling the steady thrum of his pulse against my palm.
“I am,” I said.
I am happy.
I am loved.
Lam free.
For a long moment, Julian stared at us, something crumbling behind his eyes.
Then he smiled–small, broken, but genuine.
“Good,” he whispered.
And for the first time in years, I believed hinr
As we walked out into the gathering dusk, rain misting the air, Ethan pulled me closer, pressing a kiss to my temple. “Ready to go home?” he asked.
Chapter 23
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MoboReels–Short Dramas&Movies
Moboreels Curtas mal-
I smiled, leaning into his warmth.
“Yeah,” I said.
“Let’s go.”
Forward.
Always forward
To a future where regret had no more power over me.
To a life built not on ashes-
but on light.
Chapter 13
