He Cheated With My Friend My Parents Helped Chapter 20
He looked at Julian, his hand stopping in mid-air.
I saw his reaction and took a half-step back, moving closer to Julian.
“You should all go home. I have my own life here.”
As Julian and I walked away, I turned back one last time. “Gabriel,” I called out, “that portion of the assets that belongs to me—have your lawyer transfer it according to the judgment. Don’t drag this out.”
He had lied to me for years. I wasn’t about to give up what was legally mine.
After we got back to my apartment, I started to explain things to Julian.
He just smiled and gently pressed a finger to my lips.
“You don’t have to explain. I can wait.”
Later, I heard Gabriel had gone around the institute asking about me.
Everyone told him the same thing: that Julian and I seemed like a couple who had been together for a long time.
After that, I didn’t see him again. I didn’t see my parents, either.
While my parents were in Boston, they sent messages apologizing every day. I never replied.
Before they returned to Seattle, they asked to see me one last time.
I went to the restaurant we’d agreed on.
They were sitting by the window, looking much older than I remembered.
My father slid a cashier’s check across the table.
“Mags, I don’t know how else to make it up to you. This is everything your mother and I have, besides our retirement accounts.”
I pushed the check back.
“No. You keep it. Take care of yourselves.”
After a moment of silence, my mother started crying again.
“Could you… could you come home, once in a while? In the future? Just to see us?”
I didn’t answer. I just looked out the window.
“If there’s nothing else, I’m leaving.”
As I walked out of the restaurant, Gabriel came hurrying across the street.
He saw Julian waiting for me at the curb and stopped short.
His lips parted as if to say something, but in the end, all that came out was, “Take care of yourself.”
I gave no reply.
I walked to Julian’s side, and together, we stepped into the sunlight.
I thought that was the end of it. The end of everything between me, Gabriel, and my parents.
My new life was just beginning.
But that afternoon, my lawyer called.
Gabriel still hadn’t transferred the assets. The court’s final deadline was tomorrow.