Ch. 61..65: My Husband Wants An Open Marriage Chapter 61-65

CHAPTER 061: All The Imperfect Sides Of Me

Ryan hesitates, still standing in the doorway, his chest rising and falling rapidly as he glares at us.

Julie's patience has clearly reached its limits. "Leave, Ryan," she says.

He takes one last look at her, and then, after what feels like an eternity, he steps outside. I feel the tension release from my shoulders, a relief washing over me. But Julie isn't done. She strides out after him. I follow her, partly to make sure Ryan doesn't pull any funny business, but mostly because watching him get humiliated is proving to be its own special kind of therapy.

Grant, the security guard, is waiting outside, his eyes darting from Julie to Ryan to me.

"Mrs. O'Brien, I'm so sorry," he says. "I tried to stop him from coming in, but the gate's sensor recognized his car."

Julie gives him a short nod. "Don't worry about it, Grant I'll fix that."

Without another word, she walks over to Ryan's car, reaching up. She tugs at the sticker tag, struggling with it for a while before ripping it from the windshield. Then she tosses it aside, dusting off her hands.

"Problem solved," she says. "Now you can leave."

Right then, a strange look clouds her face. "Ryan?" she says,

I turn to see what she's staring at.

Ryan is standing behind, not moving. I notice his face is paler than before, a pained expression crossing his features as he clutches his chest. His breathing is shallow, ragged. I share a glance with Julie, who looks equally confused.

Julie takes a step forward. "Jesus, Ryan, I'm not in the mood for games."

But he doesn't respond. His hand stays clamped over his chest, his face creased with pain. Then, without a word, he collapses onto the driveway, crumpling like a rag doll.

Grant rushes forward, kneeling beside him, his fingers hovering, unsure of where to start. He looks back at us, his face pale. "I... I think he's having a heart attack."

"The hell?" Julie says. She runs forward and kneels. "You can't be having a heart attack right now, Ryan.

Come on."

"We need to get him to the ER," I say.

"I'll get changed." She stands up and heads back into the house.

Later, the three of us are in Ryan's car, and I grip the wheel, navigating the silent streets, trying to push the chaos in my head aside. I glance at Julie from the rearview mirror. She's staring out the window, face hard, but there's something in her features-fragile, softer around the edges. Like glass about to shatter.

"How are you hanging in there?" I ask.

1.4

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CHAPTER 061 All The Imperfet ides Of Me

"I'm great," she says. "I'm not the one having a heart attack."

"I don't think it's a heart attack," I reply.

"Whatever it is, he better not fucking die. I have been through a lot already. His death will be a disaster. The police will come asking questions. Ryan just won't leave me alone, will he? He has to ruin my life. Alive, he messes with my head. Now he can't die somewhere else? He has to die in my house?" Her voice gets louder, full of anger. "Why can't I just have one moment of peace? It's like every time I find joy. Ryan's always there to ruin it."

Her voice cracks, and she sobs. My grip tightens on the wheel. I know she's hanging by a thread right now. If I wasn't driving a half-conscious man to the hospital, I'd stop and wrap my arms around her until all this anger and sadness drains away.

"Just breathe, Julie," I say, holding her gaze in the mirror. "It'll be okay. Ryan's not going to die, and the police won't be questioning you. Just hang in there for me, alright?"

She doesn't respond.

Damn Ryan for ruining a perfect night.

We arrive at the hospital, and the emergency staff are already on ground, rushing to meet us. The moment the car stops, I'm out and by Julie's side, wrapping her in my arms as she dissolves into tears. I stroke her hair, murmuring soothing words, though my own frustration still pulses under my skin. "Come on," I say. "Let's get him checked in so we can get the hell out of here."

■ We walk together to the reception desk. Julie starts the paperwork, hesitating when the receptionist asks for her relationship to the patient.

"His wife," she whispers.

"Come again?"

"I'm his wife."

I can see how much those words hurt her.

She finishes the form, and as soon as she hands it over, I lean down, brushing a hand over her shoulder. They've got what they need. We can go now."

But Julie stays rooted to the spot, her gaze locked on the door where they wheeled Ryan away. My heart clenches as I watch her. She's too quiet, too still. I'm terrified that she's slipping away from me, that the reality of it all-the years she'd spent with Ryan, the vows she'd made, the good memories that must be tangled somewhere in the mess-is clawing its way to the surface.

She turns to me, her eyes glassy, and says, "Am I evil, Luke?"

The question catches me off guard. "No. Why would you even think that?"

She looks down. "Because.." she hesitates. "I keep wishing they'd bring him out in a bodybag."

I can't lie, I'm surprised. But my surprise is quickly washed away as I step closer, reaching out to tilt her chin up. "Julie," I say. "You're not evil. You're human. And after everything he's done to you, feeling the way you do isn't wrong. You're allowed to be angry. You're allowed to want him out of your life. Even if he

CHAPTER ONE All The ImperfectSides Of Me

has

to be... well, carried out."

can think of

She laughs. "God, listen to me. My husband's lying in there, possibly dying, and all I is how much easier it would be if he just... vanished."

""Shit happens," I say.

"So you don't think I'm evil?"

I don't think anyone's evil, not even Ryan. In fact, I'm not qualified to judge evil. Not after the kind of thoughts I've had in the past. Not after the things I've done. The things. I almost did. The things I wish I'd done.

"Hey," I say, pulling her into his arms. "Ryan brought this on himself. You didn't put him here. You're not responsible for him anymore. Whatever happens to him now... that's not on you. That's his life and his choices catching up with him."

She nods against my chest, her breathing slowing. Then she lifts her head, looking up at me with a tired but grateful smile. "I think I kinda hate you, Luke."

I laugh. "Yeah?"

She nods.

"You show it so well," I say.

"Well, maybe what I mean is I'm afraid of you. You seem perfect."

I brush a kiss across her forehead. "One day, Julie, when I'm drunk enough, I'll tell you about all the imperfect sides of me."

CHAPTER 062: The Interview

Julie

By some miracle, Luke got me an interview with Illusionaire, one of the biggest luxury department store chains in the world.

I didn't even know they're hiring. Fortunately, right when I needed a job, their New York branch had a vacancy for a CMO. Which is rather convenient. Too convenient. But I'm not about to ask questions. Not after that rigorous virtual interview I had two days ago with the hiring team. I swear, they were trying their best to find me unqualified..

I'm surprised they called me back for the second round of interviews. The panel interview with the company's stakeholders.

I'm driving down Fifth Avenue, my mind a mess of nerves.

I glance at the dashboard clock. Fifteen minutes to spare. Good. Enough time to mentally prepare myself -or have an existential crisis. I hit the shuffle button on my playlist. Whitney Houston's "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" blasts through the speakers. Perfect. I crank up the volume and start singing along. My voice cracks on the high notes, but I don't care. Whitney was always a goddess. Maybe she'll bless today.

me

The rhythm takes over, and for a moment, I'm just a woman in a car, pretending the world isn't watching. judging, waiting for me to fail.

Then my phone rings. The Bluetooth speaker announces the caller.

Emily.

My jaw tightens as I hit the call button.

"Julie," Emily says in greeting.

"Emily," I reply, already reaching for the button to start recording. The little red icon lights up on the screen. "Do you have what I asked for?"

"I do." There's hesitation in her tone. "And I'm emailing it to you now. It's not much, but it's enough. Your know you kinda put me in trouble, right?" "Oh, yeah?" I couldn't care less.

"Ryan is suspicious of me. We're sleeping in separate rooms now. The only reason I'm still in this house is because I'm pregnant with his child." "Fascinating," I say. "Please arrive at the part where it became my problem."

*Julie, please, you can't mess this up for me. If Ryan figures out what I'm doing, I'm done. And if Adeline finds out, she'll-she'll destroy me."

I should hang up. Really, I should. Talking to Emily is like swimming in a pool of sharks, except the sharks are also crying for attention while trying to bite you. But as much as I hate to admit it, sparring with her is oddly therapeutic. I'm no longer nervous about the interview. Emily's fear is proving to be a good boost of confidence. So I let the conversation linger.

CHAPTER 562 The Intery

-

"Are you even pregnant?" I ask

"What?" She sounds genuinely offended.

"It's just us. Be honest."

"Yes, I'm pregnant," she snaps. "I wouldn't lie about that I just. I know I'm doing this mainly for my interest. But in a weird way, I like Ryan. He's not all bad. And he's sweet. You know how he is. You're his wife. You know he's fragile. A news like this would kill him. I don't want to have his death on my hands.

I laugh. I know what she's doing. She's trying to play me, trying to dig into the old Julie-the one who might've been naive enough to sympathize. That Julie is dead.

"You don't want his death on your hands," I say, dragging out the words. "Which means this is all about you. And you expect me to care?"

"I'm begging you. Adeline already blames me for Ryan's panic attack. I'm the one who picked Ryan up from the hospital, and now she thinks we had a quarrel that led to him collapsing. When I know it was you. He left this house and went to meet you. Next thing I know, I'm being called from a hospital. If she finds another reason to hate me-"

"Panic attack?" I say. That's the only part of her monologue that piqued my interest. "So he's alive?"

There's a pause. "Yes. But the doctor ended up finding a lump in his chest. They need to remove it and run tests. Hopefully, it won't be carrying any cancerous cells."

"Wow," I say. I don't even know how to feel about that.

I mean, I've fantasized about him dying a couple of times. But cancer seems extreme, even to me.

My eyes catch the looming glass building of Illusionaire in the distance. It's massive, intimidating. Just like the people waiting inside. Time to wrap this up. "Emily, thank you for the chitchat," I say, "Do your part. Send me the evidence. If it's good enough, I might consider having mercy on you and your boyfriend." "Julie, wait-" she starts, but I end the call.

The silence that follows is soothing. No begging. No whining. Just me, my car, and the undeniable satisfaction of knowing I've rattled her cage.

I pull into the parking garage of Illusionaire, my nerves tightening again as I step out of the car. The towering building above me feels like it's watching, waiting to judge me. But Trefuse to let it intimidate me. Not today. After all, I scaled through the first interview. I got this. The elevator ride is suffocatingly quiet. My reflection stares back at me in the mirrored walls. Hair: perfect. Suit: flawless. Confidence? A work in progress.

The receptionist greets me on the top floor, all smiles and polished professionalism. She escorts me to the conference room, where the panel is waiting. Seven people sit in a semicircle, their expressions ranging from mildly curious to borderline predatory. Just the regular corporate bullies.

I offer a firm handshake to each of them, reciting their names in my head like a mantra. When I sit, the

CHAPTER 062 The Interview

chair feels colder than I expect.

"Ms. Jenkins," says the man at the center of the table, the one who introduced himself as Charles, the CEO. His voice is warm, but his eyes are sharp. "Thank you for coming back for the second round. As you know, this is a critical position, and we're looking for someone who not only meets our expectations but exceeds them."

"I understand," I say, keeping my tone calm. Inside, my heart is sprinting.

The questions come fast, each one sharper than the last. They dissect my resume, challenge my strategies, poke holes in my successes. I fire back with everything I've got, weaving in stories of campaigns I've turned into successes, of risks I've taken that paid off. It helps that I have several years of experience in marketing. So I know how to convince people to want something that seems undesirable.

At one point, a woman with glasses and a razor-sharp smile leans forward. I can tell she has something big on her mind.

She's perched at the far end of the table, her manicured nails drumming a slow, calculated rhythm on her clipboard.

"Ms. Jenkins," she says. "Your resume is flawless, if I must admit."

It's a compliment, but I don't trust it. I smile politely, the kind of smile that says, "Thanks, but I know you're about to hit me with something ugly."

"You are also quite skilled in expressing your achievements and goals," she continues. "Which goes to show that all of this is much earned. However..." She pauses, letting the word hang. "There is a question that lingers amongst everyone in this room. Something we've been avoiding because it might sound invasive, and before I proceed, I want you to know that you do not need to answer." feel the trap snapping shut already.

"But for the good of the company, we are fequired to ask," she says. "We've run some background checks, as is standard, and have come across a... media display between you and your estranged husband."

My stomach knots, but my face remains composed.

"It's none of our business," she adds, pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose. "As that does not impact your ability to do the job. Or does it?" There it is. A grenade disguised as a question. I don't blink. One thing this job has taught me is to spin anything into a narrative. This is no different. "Thank you for addressing that," I say, keeping my tone calm. "I'm aware of the coverage, and I want to

ability to assure you that the situation is being handled privately and professionally. It will not impact my perform in this role or my dedication to Illusionaire."

She tilts her head, as if studying me. "Good to know," she says after a beat. "Because we just signed a partnership deal with Paragon Jewels, and we need to know if you'll be comfortable working in close proximity to Mr. Ryan O'Brien."

CHAPTER 063: The Anniversary

Wow. I don't think she lubed me enough to ram in like that.

Things don't often catch me unaware, especially not partnership details of the company I'm interviewing at. So whatever this is, it's new.

My mind races. "I understand the concern," I say, choosing each word like a sniper picking targets. "I assure you, I'm more than capable of maintaining professionalism in any situation. My focus will be entirely on Illusionaire and its goals."

"Great." She leans back in her chair, the faintest hint of a smile playing at her lips. It's not satisfaction. It's something closer to 'Let's see if you're lying."

The rest of the interview goes like a flash. Questions come at me. I try my best to answer without showing how much I want to strangle Ryan. My facade seems to be working. They are nodding to most of my replies and giving detailed answers to my questions I can tell I'm winning some of them over. But the woman with glasses-Ms. Ice Queen herself-remains unreadable. I can feel her watching me, her eyes a scalpel poised to cut away any weakness I might reveal.

Finally, the questioning winds down. I'm mentally exhausted, but my posture remains straight, my smile professional.

As the panel thanks me for coming and stands to shake my hand, relief floods through me. I've survived. Barely, but I've survived.

It feels like ages ago since I last sat before a panel.

Walking out of the conference room, my legs feel like jelly, but I keep my head high. The receptionist gives me a polite smile as I pass, and I return it, though I'm too drained to make it convincing.

When I reach the elevator, I finally let out a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding. My phone buzzes in my bag. It's a notification from Emily. The evidence she promised. I glance at it briefly, the subject line enough to make me smile. Great. Time to see to that divorce.

It's evening, and I'm sitting cross-legged on my couch, the low hum of the city filtering in through the half- open window. I've just gotten off the phone with Maya, my lawyer, who for the first time in what feels like forever-sounded proud of me. Her exact words: "You've done well, Julie. Emily's evidence is perfect, so we won't even need to send the private investigator She sounded impressed, and I'm not sure how to feel about that. Proud? Emboldened? Or just relieved that I don't have to drain my bank account even further to dig up dirt on Ryan?

I stretch out, letting the phone rest on the coffee table. My laptop is open, and for the last ten minutes, I've been staring at a gossip site, half-scrolling through the glittering drama of other people's lives.

1 toy with the idea of leaking what I know. How easy it would be to tip off one of these gossip mongers and let the secrets spill. 'Ryan O'Brien, the gilded son, undone by his own mistress. Just imagining the headlines gives me a twisted little thrill. I picture the chaos, the fallout, the sweet taste of revenge. But

CHAPTER 063 The Anniversary

then, the image of that woman from the interview creeps into my head-the one with the glasses and the barbed questions. "Will your personal life impact your ability to perform in this role?"

I sigh, slamming the laptop shut. Revenge will have to wait. For now.

The shrill ring of my phone breaks the silence, vibrating its way across the table. I grab it, and Luke's name flashes on the screen. My heart does that stupid little flutter it does when I'm around him. I swipe to answer before I even think.

"Luke." I say, already grinning. "Guess what? I've got it. The evidence. Emily came through. I mean, she whined about it the whole time, but who cares? This will crush Ryan in court. No more of his pompous smirking or his underhanded tricks. And you should have seen me at the interview today. Mind-blowing. I swear, I walked out of there like I'd just conquered the world."

Silence.

"Luke?" I pause, frowning at the phone like it's malfunctioning. "Are you there?"

I'm here," he says, but it doesn't sound like him. His voice is off, heavy in a way that sets me on edge." I'm happy for you, Julie. Really. You deserve this. And I know you crushed the interview. I believe in you."

He's saying all the right things, but there's something wrong. Something I can't quite put my finger on.

"You don't sound okay," I say. "What's wrong? Are you sick or something?"

There's a pause, and I can almost hear him wrestling with whether to tell me the truth. "I just love hearing your voice," he says. "That's all. It makes me happy."

"Don't give me that. You're dodging. Spill it, Luke. What's going on?"

"It's nothing." he insists, but I can hear the cracks in his voice. "I just-"

"Luke," I interrupt him, sitting up straight now. "If you don't tell me, I swear I'll hunt you down, wherever you are, and drag the truth out of you. So just save us both the trouble and spit it out."

"Alright, alright," he says, a small, defeated laugh escaping. "Calm down, tiger."

"Not a chance."

"I don't know why I called," he says. "At first, I thought it was just to hear your voice, to listen to something that makes me happy. But now..." He hesitates, and when he speaks again, his voice cracks just enough to break my heart. "Now I just want to see you. Which is a stupid thing to want with the divorce trial closing in. But I'm selfish, I guess. Because I really, really need to see) you."

"Luke." I press the phone tighter to my ear, already standing. T'll be on my way right now. Just breathe. Keep talking to me. Whatever it is, we'll figure it out." There's silence on the line, and panic claws at my chest. "Luke? Are you there?"

"Yeah," he says. "Sorry. I muted the phone. My sister walked in."

"Sister? Where are you?"

"At home." His voice is quieter now, almost defeated. It's... the fifth anniversary of my son's death. My family knows how I get on this date, so they all came over. I think they mean well. They think they're cheering me up, but it's just... it's too much. Too many people. Too many reminders."

CHAPTER 063. The Anniversary

I freeze. Luke had a son. And he died. How did I not know this?

"Luke..." I try to say something comforting, but nothing feels adequate. "I'm so sorry."

He doesn't respond right away. When he does, his voice is heavy, like he's carrying the weight of the world. "They're all in my house, Julle. Laughing, talking, trying to act normal. But it's not normal. And I can't tell them to leave because that would seem rude, and they're just trying to help. But I can't take it. I can't sit here surrounded by people who don't get it."

My heart aches for him, this man who's always been so strong, so steady. I can't imagine what he's feeling, but I know I can't let him face it alone.

"Luke," I say. "I'm coming over."

"You don't have to-"

You

"I'm coming," I interrupt. "End of discussion."

He doesn't argue this time. "Thank you," he says, and it's the most vulnerable I've ever heard him.

I grab my keys and head for the door, the phone still pressed to my ear. "Just keep talking to me, okay? I'm on my way."

CHAPTER 064: Level-headed

I'm pretty sure I broke at least three traffic rules on my way to Luke's house. My knuckles are white against the steering wheel, and my brain is a jumble of half-formed phrases. Now that I'm pulling into his driveway, I'm not so sure why I hurried. The weight of what he told me-his son, the anniversary, the crowd in his home-is pressing down hard on my chest

I sit in the car for a moment, staring at the mansion.

What do you even say to a man who's grieving his child? 'Hey, sorry about your son-pass the salt? Condolences have never been my strong suit. But I'm already here, so I grab my purse and head to the door.

The second I open it, I'm hit with a cacophony of noise. Laughter, chatter, a screaming baby, and telenovela blaring from the TV.

I step inside and take a moment to absorb the chaos.

The first thing I notice is Javier, comfortably seated in his wheelchair near the center of the room. Next to him is a woman in her twenties holding a baby, who seems to be waging an epic war with her tiny lungs. Two teenage girls-twins, judging by their identical features and matching outfits-sit sprawled on the floor, dressed in crop tops and baggy jeans with patches sewn in at random.

No one notices me at first, so I stand there until the absurdity of it all makes me clear my throat."

Hellooo?

The room freezes. All eyes swing toward me. For a second, no one speaks, and I wonder if I'm about to "get thrown out. Then Javier's face lights up.

"Julie!" His excitement is a contrast to the rest of the group's curious stares. "Come in, come in! Join us!

"..." I say, forcing a smile. "I actually came here for Luke. Is he around?"

The woman with the baby smiles. "Julie, we've heard so much about you. Please, sit with us. Lukey doesn't want to see anyone right now."

"TV!" the baby shrieks, waving her tiny fists in the air.

The woman laughs, "Yes, TV," she coos, bouncing the baby on her lap before turning back to me. "Even Baby Valeria agrees."

I hesitate, glancing toward the staircase that leads upstairs to Luke's room. "I don't want to intrude-"

"Come on," Javier says, gesturing toward a sofa. "Your beau isn't going anywhere. Have fun. Meet his notorious sisters."

I force my feet forward and sit in the chair he pointed at-a squishy armchair that's just a little too low, making me feel like a kid at the grown-up table. All eyes remain on me, and the air feels thick.

The woman with the baby grins. "I'm Carolina, the fourth child. These are Sofia and Isabel, the last babies." She gestures to the twins, who both offer half-hearted waves.

"We're not babies," Sofia says, tossing her long, dyed-blue hair over her shoulder. "We're over eighteen."

"Still not legal enough to drink whatever's in your hand Javier says, raising a brow in disapproval.

CHAPTER 06 Level beaded

Isabel smirks. "I'm sure you drank much earlier in your day, old man."

Javier shrugs. "Well... touche."

I can't help but laugh. Carolina is staring at me now, her dark eyes sizing me up like I'm some rare bird she's never seen before. "How did you two meet?" "What?"

"You and Lukey," Isabel chimes in before Carolina can elaborate. "You're just so... different from the people he usually dates."

"Hey, don't be rude," Sofia says, elbowing her twin.

"I wasn't being rude. Just stating a fact. Julie seems level-headed. Lukey dates psychos."

I blink, unsure if I should take that as a compliment.

"We met at Luke's bar," I say, deciding to keep it simple.

"Lukey owns a bar?" Sofia looks genuinely shocked.

"Yes, stupid," Carolina says, bouncing Valeria on her lap. "You don't even know shit about your elder brother."

"Well, I know he's rich, Isabel says with a grin,

"Word," Sofia adds, high-fiving her sister. "I also know he has good taste in women."

"No, he doesn't," Isabel counters. "Julie's the exception. Which is weird."

I start to wonder if I should act a little abnormal just to fit whatever strange criteria these people have for Luke's girlfriends.

"There was Camilla. Remember her? I don't think she was all bad," Sofia muses, twirling a strand of hair." She was a little off, yeah, but she brought chocolates."

"A little off" made her a poor choice, stupid," says Carolina.

"Whatever," Sofia says. "You win, big sis. If that's the standard, I'd say you're a poor choice for your husband."

"What the hell did you just say to me?"

They start bickering, their voices overlapping in a dizzying crescendo. At a point, the baby starts crying. Her tiny face scrunches up as her wails drown out the telenovela. Javier maneuvers his wheelchair over and takes Valeria from Carolina, patting her back gentl "Children, children," he says with an exaggerated sigh. Not in front of our guest."

"She started it," Isabel mutters.

"No, she started it," Carolina snaps.

"Julie's not a guest here." Sofia says. "Or are you?"

All eyes turn to me again, and I shake my head quickly

CHAPTER 064 Level headed

Not a guest," Sofia declares to Javier. "Now we've missed most of the show."

I glance at the TV, which is currently showing a dramatic confrontation between two women in ballgowns. One slaps the other, and the whole room gasps like they're watching live sports.

I look toward the staircase again. Somewhere in this chaos, Luke is dealing with demons I can't even imagine. And for some reason, I'm here, sitting in the middle of his family circus, trying to figure out how the hell I fit into all of it. I understand why Luke would find this overwhelming. I've been here for mere minutes, and I'm already on the verge of losing my mind.

The noise, the bickering, the constant interruptions-it's all so much. Too much. And yet, the worst part isn't the noise. It's the way they're carrying on, laughing and arguing like Luke isn't upstairs, drowning in grief. It's unbearable.

Before I can stop myself, I blurt out, "Carolina, you said Luke doesn't want to see anyone. So.... why are you all here?"

The room stills as my words hang in the air.

Carolina blinks at me. "Umm... that's a pretty difficult question to answer,"

"More like she doesn't know if she should tell you," Isabel says.

"I'll tell her," Sofia interjects, sitting up straighter. "We're not here to see Lukey, Julie. We're here as muscles."

"Muscles?" I echo, frowning.

"Yeah. Last year, he left the house. It was... a bit problematic."

"Left the house to where?"

Sofia hesitates, glancing at Carolina for approval. Carolina gives a small nod, and Sofía exhales. "He slept at his son's grave."

CHAPTER 065: The Sis Code

My chest tightens, and for a moment, I can't breathe. I feel their eyes on me, waiting for some kind of reaction, but I can't find the right words. I can't even move.

Carolina breaks the silence. "It was crazy. Before last year, he'd never done anything like that. Sure, he gets sad on the anniversary-we know that. It's why November 12th is marked on our calendars. We usually just visit the grave, say a few words, drop some flowers. We did that last year as usual, and then we parted ways. But Lucas... he went back. We were lucky it didn't get to the press."

"Umm," Sofia cuts in, "what if it did?"

"It would have been a mess, stupid. He's an important man."

"Who deserves to grieve," I whisper, my voice so quiet it's almost drowned out by the hum of the TV.

"Did you say something?" Carolina asks.

I stand abruptly, the armchair creaking under the sudden shift. "Thank you for the wonderful little time we had together," I say, forcing a tight smile. "But I'm going upstairs now. To see Luke."

No

one argues. They just watch me as I walk toward the staircase. I can feel their eyes burning into my back, and halfway up. I can't resist turning around. Sure enough, they all quickly look away, pretending to be engrossed in the TV "TVI" Valeria yells, her tiny voice piercing through the tension.

I can't help but smile, shaking my head as I continue up the stairs.

When I reach Luke's room, the door is wide open. He's lying in bed, propped up against a pillow, watching TV. The glow from the screen bathes his face in soft light, highlighting the lines of exhaustion etched into his features. "I'm still alive, Caro," he says without looking away from the screen.

"Well, that's good to know," I reply.

He freezes, his head whipping toward me. "Julie?"

I smile and step inside, shutting the door behind me and locking it for good measure. Luke doesn't say anything as I walk over and slip under the sheets beside him. I wrap my arms around him, holding him close.

"I don't think locking the door was a good idea," he murmurs after a moment. "Caro's a pest. She's going to be here any minute, and I really don't have the strength to keep standing."

"Look at you" I say with a laugh. "Tough Luke. Scared of your little sister?"

"She's a menace.

"I know, right? Your family's quite the character. But don't worry about Carolina. She won't disturb us. Not while I'm here. Women have codes."

"Right," he says. The sis code. Second only to the bro code."

The bro code is a farce. Guys secretly hate each other

CHAPTER 65. The Si Code

"And women don't hate themselves? That's the wildest thing I've heard all day, and believe me, I've heard quite a lot from Sofia and Isabel. I swear, those two were built to drive me insane." I "They're eccentric," I admit with a chuckle. "But they're cool. They love you."

"Oh, well. Hope they didn't say anything creepy about me."

"Actually," I say, "they told me I'm too calm to be your girlfriend."

He raises an eyebrow. "They said that?"

"That you date maniacs."

"I'm going to kill them."

I laugh, turning my attention to the TV. An animated movie is playing-a brightly colored scene full of talking animals and upbeat music. "You watch cartoons?" I ask.

"Mmhmm. They're the best. Haven't watched any?"

"Not really."

"Well, buckle up. Zootopia is my second favorite."

"What's your first?" I say.

He stares at me, a small smile tugging at his lips. "A cartoon character called Julie. Mind-blowing."

I laugh, resting my head against his chest as we both watch the movie. For a while, the room is quiet except for the sound of the TV. It's peaceful, and I can feel myself starting to drift off when Luke's voice pulls me back "You can ask questions, you know," he says. "I promise I'm not sensitive."

I lift my head from his chest and look at him. The light from the TV casts soft shadows across his face, making his eyes darker, deeper. He's trying to seem casual, but there's a tightness around his mouth that betrays him. I shake my head. "I'm going to wait. Whenever you're ready to tell me."

He huffs out a laugh, but it's short. "I can see why my sisters think you're different. You love etiquette, don't you?"

"It's not etiquette," I counter. "It's respect. We have to respect people's feelings."

"I'm begging you to disrespect mine, Julie."

I smile, my mind racing. He seems calm, almost too calm, about whatever this is. Surely if it were as bad as I'm imagining, he wouldn't be able to laugh. I reason with myself for a moment before giving in. "How did he die?" I ask.

The laughter drains from Luke's face. He looks away, his gaze fixed somewhere past me, staring into a void I can't see.

"Car accident," he says. "I keep thinking about how he'd be alive now if adults made saner decisions. We think we're wiser and smarter than kids, but the second we're inconvenienced, we do the dumbest things."

CHAPTEROLS The Six Code

I swallow hard, sensing the weight of what's coming

"You don't put a three-year-old in the front seat of a car, he continues. "Especially not when you're drunk. And if you're stupid enough to do something like that, you at least lock them in with a seatbelt. Or put the car on child lock"

My stomach twists into a knot, but I don't dare interrupt.

"He fell out of the car, Julie. A speeding car."

"Jesus, Luke My voice is barely a whisper.

"Yeah," he says. "Head trauma."

I can't breathe. The image is too vivid, too horrific. My hand reaches for his, gripping it as if I can somehow pull him out of this memory.

"Luke

"You know the weird thing?" he says, cutting me off. He's staring at the ceiling now, his voice calm. "For the entire year, I don't think about it. It's like it never happened. And then, on this date, it all comes flooding back. My sister, the one studying to become a therapist, says it's a psychological defense mechanism. Repressed memory, she calls it. My brain is living in denial." He shrugs. "It is what it is, I guess. I'm getting better at coping."

I don't know what to say. I don't know if I should cry for him, for his son, or if I should praise him for the strength it takes to live with that kind of pain. I've never had a child, but I know-I know-that it would destroy me to lose one.

A knock at the door startles us both.

Luke lets out a dry laugh. "What was that thing you said about a sis code?"

"Shut up," I mutter, untangling myself from him and slipping out of bed. "Don't worry. I'll handle it."

I open the door to find Carolina, Sofía, and Isabel standing there. Wow, the entire crowd.

But something about their faces stops me cold.

"What is it?" I ask.

"Luke, Carolina says, stepping into the room. The other two follow, their usual chatter and sarcasm nowhere to be found. "We just got news from home." "What news?" Luke sits up in bed, his posture rigid, "Did something happen to Mom or Dad?"

"No," Carolina says. "They're the ones who called."

"What is it, Caro?"

Carolina hesitates, her gaze darting to Sofia and Isabel, as if hoping one of them will speak instead. Finally, she takes a deep breath. "She's out on parole." The room goes silent.

Luke doesn't move, doesn't speak. For a moment, I wonder if he's even breathing.

CHAPTER 045 The Six Code

""Who?" I ask.

Carolina's lips press into a thin line.

"Sara," she says. "His ex-wife." 1