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I wanted to tell her that Bella needed her just as much as I did.That she'd never been happier.That she looked forward to waking up every day just so she could get her hair done by her.That she loved it when she took her to school and they could have their alone time together.
That Bella told me not to mess this up.And even if I tried my best, it still felt like I did.
But I couldn't bring myself to say any of it because it felt disgusting of me to try and keep her when she needed to go.
So I stared at the paper.Bella wasn't up yet, thankfully, but I didn't know how I would explain this.Especially when I already felt the emotions clogging my throat.
“I can have Gina or someone help you pack your stuff,” I finally offered, looking back up to her.
Her eyebrows were pulled together, and her eyes showed me the pain her words never would.I felt like there was a wall erected between us, and it was so thick I couldn't possibly reach over and take her hands like I wanted to.My fingers flexed, my body trying to fight back, trying to fix this somehow.
“No need,” she replied.“I actually packed all of it last night, and today, while Bella is at school, I’ll move everything out to an apartment I got for me and my brother.”
I nodded, though I was shocked to hear that she and her brother had reconciled enough that they could move in together.
“We can still continue with Laura,” I said, hoping she'd take me up on the offer just so I could be near her again.
It was her turn to nod.“Please see it through.I'll show up at the trial if it gets to that.”
I deflated immediately.
“Are you sure this is what you want?”I asked, my voice a whisper.I reached out to grab her hand but stopped myself at the last second.
This is your last chance,my heart told my brain.But my brain knew that she had already been through too much.
She paused.“No,” she admitted in a soft voice.“But I don’t… I think I need some time.Is that… okay?”
“It’s more than okay.”
The careful mask she had been wearing started to crumble, and I was up, pulling her into my arms.
“I’m so sorry, Juliette,” I said.“I never wanted anything like this to happen and I’m so sorry for my involvement in it.”
She sniffled, the sound breaking my heart even further.
“You did nothing but be born to an awful woman.”She buried her face against my chest.“I don’t want this to end.”
“It doesn’t have to,” I said, desperation leaking into my voice.“You take all the time you need, and I’ll be here, waiting for you.”
She pulled away and looked up at me, using her hand to wipe away a few stray tears.
“Looks like you're going to have to find a new nanny.”She tried to smile, but it was weak.As was the half-hearted smile I gave her.
“No one could ever live up to you,” I admitted.
She had changed everything.
From the moment she came into my life, work, money, the company—it all started to take a backseat.
Over the last few months, I had been intentionally delegating more and more stuff to my team and, of course, to Dominic.He complained a little bit, but I know he liked the power that came with it.
Just as I liked the freedom.It meant that I could spend more time with them—my family.Weekends.Trips.Having lunch with them whenever I wanted.
It meant I didn't have to worry about choosing between them and work because after the last half year, they would always come first.
“What are you going to do?”she asked.
“Don't worry about us,” I said, and reached out to grab a lock of her hair, twirling it around my finger.“You focus on yourself.”