Chapter 17 - The Fall of Julian Cross.
Julian stared at Claire.
Behind him, screens showed thousands of comments appearing every second.
News stations had begun rebroadcasting the hotel footage.
His secret marriage.
His false death.
The stolen trust.
Rebecca.
Everything.
“You ruined me.”
Claire almost laughed.
“No.”
She stepped closer.
“I stopped protecting you from what you did.”
Julian looked toward Sloane.
“Sloane.”
She folded her arms.
“Don’t.”
“You know Harrison manipulated us.”
“He manipulated everyone.”
“Then help me.”
Sloane stared at him.
“You bought my engagement ring with money stolen from my sister.”
Julian flinched at the word sister.
Sloane did not.
That mattered to Claire.
Julian turned back.
“I can testify against Harrison.”
Claire nodded.
“You probably should.”
“Against Victor.”
“Good.”
“Against politicians.”
“Even better.”
Julian’s voice cracked.
“Then why are you looking at me like I’m the worst person here?”
Claire studied him.
“Because I loved you.”
The room became quiet.
“You were the person who slept beside me.”
“You knew how I took my coffee.”
“You knew I was scared of thunderstorms.”
“You held me when I believed my father had died.”
“You watched me cry over my mother.”
“You watched me bury you.”
Julian lowered his eyes.
Claire continued.
“Victor Dane never promised to love me.”
“Harrison Ashford never kissed me goodnight.”
“You did.”
Julian whispered.
“I did love you.”
Claire shook her head.
“No.”
“I did.”
“You loved being necessary.”
He looked up.
Claire had finally found the truth beneath all his lies.
“You loved controlling whether I was safe.”
“You loved knowing what I didn’t know.”
“You loved being the only person who could rescue me from disasters you created.”
Julian’s eyes filled.
Claire removed the gold wedding ring from the silver chain.
She held it between them.
“This is the last thing I own that belongs to us.”
Julian stared at it.
Claire placed it on the broadcasting desk.
“I don’t want it.”
Federal agents entered the room.
Julian looked toward the door.
Then back at Claire.
He seemed smaller.
One agent stepped forward.
“Julian Cross, you are under arrest for conspiracy, wire fraud, identity fraud, insurance fraud, money laundering, kidnapping, and obstruction of justice.”
Julian did not resist.
The agent handcuffed him.
As he was led away, Julian stopped beside Claire.
“Was any of it real?”
Claire looked at him.
“You’ll have a long time to decide.”
He lowered his head.
Then he was gone.
Sloane released a breath.
Claire stared at the wedding ring on the desk.
She expected freedom to feel dramatic.
It did not.
It felt quiet.
Almost empty.
Her mother appeared at the doorway with Rebecca.
Anne looked at the ring.
Then at Claire.
“Are you ready?”
Claire nodded.
“For what?”
May you like
Anne held the Colorado address.
“To meet your father.”
