Chapter 16
After Haley Emished speaking, she glanced at Julia, worried she might’ve gone too far.
They were best friends, and even though they’d been apart for a while, Haley still knew at least some of the over the years.
However, Julia just smiled, letting her know she was fine.
After Sebastian constantly siding with Penelope, Julia had long since stopped expecting anything from him.
ups
and downs between Julia and Sebastian
Haley didn’t want to see her best friend heartbroken over that jerk anymore. So, she quickly shitted the conversation to work.
“Lia, you’ve been out of the illustration world for too long. If you want people to take notice again, you need to mako a splash.”
Julla nodded in agreement. She’d been lying low for years, it was time for a bold and dramatic comeback that would announce to the whole industry–she was back
case?” Haley suggested. “Split the designs half and half. Set it for two weeks from now?”
“What if we did a showcase?” Haley su
Julia was still calculating whether the timeline was too tight when her phone buzzed beside her.
It was Xavier.
She declined the call without hesitation “So, about the design concept-
The phone vibrated again. It was still Xavier, unrelenting.
Julia didn’t hesitate. She declined that one, too.
Just as she turned back to discuss the concept with Haley, another call came in this time from Moira
Moira was the housekeeper she had personally hired. Julia hesitated for a moment, then answered,
“Mommy, what’s the deal? Why didn’t you pick up when I called from my phone, but you answered Ms. Snee’s right away?” Xavier’s annoyed voice came through the line, full of accusation.
“What do you want?” Julia asked flatly, lips tightening into a line.
Even though she’d already made peace with walking away from both Sebastian and Xavier, carrying him for nine months meant she could never truly be indifferent.
“Why haven’t you come back yet? Who are you with out there? I got hurt, and you didn’t erm care. Are you still my mommy or not?”
Even through the phone, Julia could picture it–Xavier’s frown, his big eyes filled with frustration and sadness as he complained.
She took a deep breath “If there’s nothing else, I’m hanging up
“Don’t hang up!”
Xavier whined, “Daddy’s worlding late I’m all alone and scared. Can’t you please come back?”
“No,” Julia replied coldly
Then, she added, “And by the way, your Daddy isn’t working late, he’s with your Aunt Petiny. If you’re scared, you can ask them to come home and stay with you
She figured Penelope would be more than happy to
“That’s not true Aunt Penny’s working late too! They’re both busy, not like you, Mominy. You’re just a housewife, you don’t even have to work!
On the other end, Xavier didn’t believe a word she said.
“Mommy, are you just jealous of Aunt Penny? Are you trying to make me hate her?”
He was convinced Penelope loved him the most. There was no way she wouldn’t be there if she could
“I see. Then I hope you two are happy together. Maybe you’ll become mother and son for real,” Julia said coolly,
She hung
after that
As much as she tried to act unfazed, Xavier’s words still hit her harder than she wanted to admit.
After the call coded, she sat in stunned silence for a few seconds before she could shake off the emotions.
Baley, who’d overheard everything, looked at her for a long moment to make sure she was okay, then spoke with a complicated expression.
Li… your main account’s pretty much done for, huh?”
julla gave a faint sanile. “That’s why I’m switching to an alt.”
The two of them exchanged a knowing look and burst into quiet langliter.
Chapter 17
