Chapter 11
When Julse replied with a simple “So what?“, Sebastian went silent for a full 30 seconds.
Just as she was about to hang up, his tired voice finally came through
“Do you have to be this cold? Julia, now’s not the time for one of your moods. Xav is still in the hospital. As his mother, shouldn’t you be there?
“Come back. Even if you’re mad at him, he’s just a kid, and he’s hurt. Are you seriously holding a grudge against your son?
The resentment in Sebastian’s tone was thick.
He still didn’t get it. Just because Xavier had been immature and said he didn’t like Julia anymore and liked Penelope instead. Julia was actually holding a grudge against her kid?
“I already hired Moira, didn’t I? If Xavier wants soup, she can make it and bring it to him, Julia replied flatly.
But as Sebastian kept going on about what she should be doing, a wave of bitterness crept in.
So, did being a mother mean she had to give endlessly? Did it mean swallowing pain without complaint, no matter how much it hurt?
Sebastian was trying to guilt her with their mother–son band, but wasn’t he Xavier’s father too?
“He wants your soup! The one you make yourself,” Sebastian snapped
“Oh, so if he wants it, I’m supposed to drop everything and run home like I don’t have a life?” Julia shot back, her voice laced with sarcasm… Sebastian hadn’t expected that. He went quiet again.
“If it’s really that urgent, Isn’t Penelope there? I’m sure she can take good care of him.”
“Julia, you’re his mother. Are you seriously going to let some outsider take over your role and your responsibilities?”
Julia let out a cold laugh. “Now you remember I’m his mother?”
Her voice was sharp, dripping with sarcasm.
Sebastian’s voice returned, low and tense. “Julia, I’m not trying to fight with you right now. I don’t care where you are, just come back “You didn’t come home all night, and I haven’t even brought up whatever guy you were with. All your son wants is a bowl of soup- The second Julia heard him say “whatever guy,” her eyes flashed with cold fury. She hung up without a word
In Sebastian’s s eyes, was she really that cheap? Did every time she step out the door have to be for a man?
“Lia?” Haley noticed something was off and pulled Julia into a comforting hug
“I’m hungry. I want mac and cheese, with egg and hot dogs,” Julia mumbled.
Her gloomy mood seemed to lift slightly as she clung to Haley’s arm and whined like a child.
Out of nowhere, she just really wanted mac and cheese
For years, she’d denied herself junk food for Xavier’s sake, forcing herself to smile through vegetables she hated to set a good example.
But now? She didn’t have to raise Xavier anymore.
She could eat whatever she wanted.
“Oh, sure! You ignored me for years because of that man, and now you’re over here placing orders? Just wait! Haley huffed dramatically, pouting as she headed to the kitchen
Her phone vibrated on the table, the screen lighting up.
There were 11 days left. Another day had passed.
Just 11 more days, and she and Sebastian would have nothing to do with each other.
Julia glanced at the time. Once she ate, she’d head to the hospital for her prenatal checkup
In the hospital room, Xavier was sulking on the bed, angrily pounding his little fists into the blanket.
want creamy com soup!”
ap Just
Mr. Xavier, this is creamy corn soup Xavier pouted, eyes glossy with frustration. He took a sip and immediately spat it out
I give it one more try, okay?” Moira coed gently, holding a spoon to his lips.
1
“No! That’s not the right teste Mommy’s creamy corn soup doesn’t taste like this!”
Tears welled up in his eyes as he turned to Sebastian, sobbing, “I want Mommy’s creamy con soup!” Sebastian’s brows drew together in frustration. He thought back to Julia’s cold tone on the phone Even when he’d used her beloved son as leverage, she hadn’t budged.
“oh, Mr. Xavier, I swear this tastes just like your mommy’s creamy.com soup.”
Moira’s voice was unged with anxiety as she turned to Sebastian, trying to reassure him.
“I followed Ms. Siminers‘ recipe exactly. I copied it one to one, I swear. She even told me herself that my cooking tastes just like hers.”
Still, she’d only been working at the Holt residence for two days. When would Julia he had time to teach her mything?
Suspicious, Sebastian asked her directly.
Motra explained, “The day I arrived, Ms. Summers gave me a big stack of meal plans, along with notes on your and Mr. Xavier’s routines and preferences.
She’d worked in plenty of wealthy households before and had seen a lot. From day one, she’d hail a gut feeling that Julia was planning to leave. She didn’t wont this home mymore
Sebastian’s expression darkened
Julia had prepared their entire daily life in advance? She’d really planned to walk away from him and Xavier all along?
Was she really that heartless?
He rubbed his temples.
de up, he started demanding Julia’s creamy com soup, Sebastian had skipped work and rushed
He hadn’t slept at all last night. The moment Xavier woke straight to the hospital
wrong!
I just want Mommy’s creamy com soup! This one tastes w Xaver wouldn’t stop crying.
Locking drained and frustrated, Sebastian pulled out his phone and called Penelope, asking her to come to the hospital. She hadn’t been far and was already on her way to work. She turned around immediately and headed straight there. “Don’t cry, Xav. I’ll make your creamy com soup myself, okay?” she said gently,
She did know how to make it. Back when she’d been obsessively copying Julia, she’d studied everything, from Sebastian’s habits to Xavier’s favorite meals.
But Karier barely acknowledged her. He just kept crying
“Xav, how about we go see Captain Dink, huh? I even brought a Captain Dink plushie for you,” Penelope coaxed, patiently listing oft all his favorite shows and toys
This time, none of her usual tricks worked, Xavier didn’t even seem to hear her
Penelope was still trying to coax him when Xavier, clearly fed up, shoved her hand away and cried out to Sebastion.
“Daddy! I want Mommy’s creamy com soup! If I can’t have it, I’d rather starve! I won’t eat anything!
Kads would forgot things quickly. Just yesterday, he’d been saying how much he disliked Julin. But after one night without her, he was already panicking, begging for his mother.
As Xavier sobbed for Julia, a flash of coldness passed through Penelope’s eyes.
Figures. It was just like that bitch’s kid- no matter how nice she was to him, it never made a difference,
If only Xavier showed more attachment to her, she’d mean more to Sebastian
Now, she couldn’t help but resent him. This beat had always said how much he liked her, even said he wanted her to be his new mother. But when it really counted, he let her down.
Seeing that Penelope wasn’t helping, Sebastian had no choice but to call Julia again.
No one picked up.
Xavier, watching Sebastian’s face, seemed to realize Julia wasn’t going to answer.
Choking back sobs, he jumped out of bed and bolted toward the door. “I want Mommy’s creamy corn soup…”
II Julia wasn’t coming to the hospital, then he’d go home and find her himself.
His sudden dash caught everyone off guard. By the time Sebastian and the others reacted, Xavier was already in the elevator.
qe elevator doors slid open, and Xavier can straight into Julia’s legs. He looked up, his eyes li
He know it–there was no way Julia would just abandon him
“Mummy! Did you come to bring me soup?”
Jullalooked him over. There was just a scrape on his knee.
“You’re still in the hospital for this little scratch?” Julia remarlied,
lighting up instantly.
