Page 61 of Sebastian.

Alice's eyes twinkle with amusement. “True. It's a good thing we've got each other to commiserate with. Speaking of which, how are you holding up?”

I pause, my fork mid-air. Her question isn't just about work, I can tell. It's about everything—the divorce, the scandal, the life I'm trying to navigate while balancing work and everything outside of it. I meet her gaze, appreciating the genuine concern in her eyes.

“It's been a rollercoaster, to be honest,” I admit, before heaving a long sigh. “But I'm taking it one day at a time. I've got a feeling the ride isn't over yet.”

Alice reaches across the table and places her hand on mine. It's a simple gesture, but it speaks volumes. “You're strong, Julia. Whatever comes your way, I know you'll handle it with grace.”

I offer her a grateful smile, feeling a sense of solidarity in her words. “Thank you, Alice. That means a lot.”

As we continue our lunch, the conversation flows effortlessly regarding work, life, and everything in between. It's nice to be reminded that there's a support system right here within these walls. I’ve leaned on my mother, my older children, my brother, and Gabi so much that I tend to forget that there are other people I can turn to as well. Sometimes an unbiased opinion from someone more separated from the situation is priceless.

Alice continues between bites. “I know it’s hard. We might deal with divorces every day, but when it comes to our own, we are never really prepared, are we?”

Her observation strikes a chord. Has Alice been through a divorce, too? I’m a little embarrassed to admit to myself that I have no idea what her romantic life entails, especially when she’s here reaching out to comfort me about mine. My family has always been more in the spotlight than others, but that’s no excuse. I let out a soft sigh of acknowledgment.

“No, I guess we never are. It’s hard to accept it,” I admit, my voice betraying a hint of vulnerability that I hadn't intended. “I haven’t even found the courage to give him the papers to sign, you know? They’re all worked up and ready to go, and I’m undoubtedly going to get a good split of the assets, but none of that matters to me compared to…you know, losing my marriage….”

Alice's gaze is understanding, and she takes a sip of water before offering me a knowing smile. Her next words are laden with experience and empathy. “Sometimes never serving those papers is a form of courage, too––just in having the courage to be honest with yourself and what you value the most.”

Her quiet admission resonates deeply. There's a pause, a shared understanding that transcends our roles as colleagues. Alice's eyes hold a wealth of understanding, and as I meet her gaze, I feel a connection that goes beyond our professional interactions. So she has experienced something similar, and instead of going forward with the split, she reconciled, if I’m reading between the lines of her confession correctly. Alice loved her husband and her marriage enough to figure it out, even when they were on the brink.

“There’s no right or wrong here, Julia,” she assures me, her words a balm to my uncertainty. “If you truly believe the marriage isn’t able to be recovered, then I’m sure you’ll find the courage in your heart to put an end to it. But if your heart believes there’s a way you and your husband can work it out….” She lets her words trail off, her gaze facing mine. “Just don’t let others make the decision for you.”

Her wisdom, wrapped in a simple yet profound sentiment, pierces through my thoughts. There are so many opinions and expectations being placed on me, most of them out of love, that it’s started to warp my perception of what I really want. I’ve been basing so much of my choices on what I think Mom, the kids, even Alex, might think is best. But what doIthink is best? What do I want? How much does my marriage mean to me, and is it enough to forgive the transgressions that Sebastian has committed? I need some more time to think those things over, but one thing is clear—the path forward remains my own to navigate.

“Thank you, Alice,” I say, sincerity lacing my words. The weight that had settled on my shoulders seems to lift at least a little bit, replaced by a renewed sense of clarity. “I truly appreciate it.”

As our chat continues, I find myself grateful for this unexpected connection, a shared moment of vulnerability and understanding. Just a few simple words, woman to woman, are enough to make me see things much more clearly.

Leaving the lunch table behind, I seek refuge in my office. Things might be easier for me to see now, but that adds its own complications. I’m starting to realize that I haven’t let myself truly consider fixing things with Sebastian because I know how negatively so many people will view it, especially with the scandal still fresh in the public’s mind.

Sitting in my leather office chair, I close my eyes and inhale deeply, attempting to steady my racing thoughts. Just as a semblance of calm settles over me, my phone emits a familiar buzz. Glancing at the screen, I see Gabi's name illuminated. I almost ignore it, wanting time to try and center myself, but there’s always that chance that whatever she needs is going to be urgent. Without wasting a second, I answer the call, my voice cautious yet welcoming, “Hey, how are you?”

Gabi's urgency is palpable through the phone, and she fails to even answer my greeting question. “I've got something to tell you.”

My heart skips a beat, my pulse quickening. “What's going on?”

“Karl's taking a different approach,” Gabi explains, her words delivered with a sense of gravity. “He wants to go to court, claiming that Sebastian orchestrated the whole thing, including planting the drugs at the cabaret. I just finished a meeting with his lawyer, and it’s a total shock. He’s putting himself at risk for a lot more time behind bars just to get back at Sebastian.”

The revelation hits me like a wave crashing against the shore, my mind struggling to process this unexpected twist. “Wait, seriously? Court? I thought he’d rather make a deal with you.”

“Me too,” Gabi confirms. “But that was before he hired that attorney. They went for a totally different approach. One that involves throwing your husband to the wolves. I wanted you to hear it from me before you heard it somewhere else. I didn’t want you to be blindsided…and before you ask, no, I don’t know if there’s any truth to it or not. All I know is that he's insisting that Seb was pulling the strings behind the scenes. This could go really, really bad for your husband.”

Frustration and a bone deep exhaustion wells up within me. “Another layer to this mess. Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse. Now it’s a nightmare….”

Gabi's voice carries empathy as she responds, “I know it's overwhelming. And, you know, with Seb missing the wedding, Karl's using that as some sort of proof of motive.”

A sigh escapes me, heavy with skepticism. “Gabi, I can't believe Seb would stoop so low as to orchestrate this entire debacle. He’s been more petty than I ever thought him capable, but planting drugs? That’s an entirely new low.”

Gabi is understanding, but the seriousness of it all never leaves her voice “I hear you. It's just that Seb might need legal help soon. He’s going to want to find the best defense attorney that he possibly can and be ready to head this thing off before Karl manages to get the upper hand.”

Gratitude fills my voice as I respond, “Thank you for letting me know. This really messes everything up, but you’ve probably saved me from a mental breakdown with the forewarning.”

“Any time, Jules. And please take care of yourself, okay?”

I try, and fail, to sound positive. “I will.”

I hang up, leaning back in the chair and contemplating the recent developments. The first order of business is to inform my secretary that my next trial will need to be postponed. Next, I shift my focus to the message Seb had sent me a mere fifty minutes ago. Has it really only been a less than an hour? It seems so much longer. After a moment’s consideration, I decide to take the initiative and dial his number. If he’s still at the lake, it might be the perfect chance for me to kill two birds with one stone—we can talk about the divorce papers like he wanted, and I can warn him about everything that Gabi just told me.

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