Page 19 of Julian's Curse

“Does Julian know at all this is happening?” It seemed like she already knew the answer.

“I haven’t told him because I don’t want it to escalate,” I replied, knowing how quickly Julian could make things more complicated if he got involved.

“You know, I think we should take that walk and get ice cream—preferably chocolate,” she suggested, furrowing her brows. “In the meantime, I’ll be your therapist for this situation. I’ll validate your feelings and ask the right questions to help you figure out what you really want. But don’t expect me to give you the next steps, because right now, it doesn’t feel like the right time.”

I laughed. “Oh, Sophie, stop it. You know you already have an opinion you’re dying to share.”

She grinned mischievously. “Of course, I do, but I’m practicing patience. You need to work through this yourself first.” She nudged me lightly. “But just so you know, whatever you decide, I’ve got your back.”

I smiled, feeling a bit of weight lift off my shoulders. “Thanks, Soph. It means more than you know.” With that, we walked out the door, ice cream and answers waiting just around the corner.

Julian leftfor Dubai that same afternoon, leaving me with our entire three-story apartment to myself. After returning from brunch with Sophie, I decided to indulge in a hot bath, followed by a few episodes ofEmily in Paris. The lack of sleep had me feeling utterly drained, but I still buzzed with a kind of exhilaration that came with being newly engaged. I fiddled with my engagement ring, feeling as if I had a trillion dollars on my hand. The diamond was big enough to discourage any suitor from miles away. Still, I would try to make the phone call that I dreaded. In the end, Sophie and I universally agreed that a chat couldn’t worsen the situation.

So, I dialed the old number of James Stone. My stomach felt like a bolder, because he could pick up any minute, and I really wasn’t sure what he’d say to me.

“Hey,” an unfamiliar voice answered.

“It’s Lucie, I blurted. Is this James’ number?”

An annoyed voice answered. “Look, you’re not the first one asking for someone with that name. But I am Derril in Whitefish, Montana. There’s no James here.” The line dropped. I became almost certain that James had to change his number now that he’d become a celebrity. I’d invested all this time in trying to plan this call, yet completely failed. Fully determined to reach him somehow, I grabbed my laptop. His email address was still saved there, and even though it felt like a long shot, it was a step in the same direction I’d planned. I created a blank email, then pondered the words I’d use.

James, I couldn’t reach you at your old number. I caught the interview on Soundwaves, and it’s created quite a stir.

I deleted the second part of the sentence.

I can’t shake the feeling that a lot of people are curious about who the mystery girl is. I can’t help but wonder if you’re talking about me. I’m in love with Julian, and since he’s such a public figure, this could really get complicated.

I couldn’t tell him about the engagement. Not yet.

I hit send, then fell into the sheets, exhausted. Drifting away to sleep, I’d forget problems for a while. I’d forget the part of me that ached for Julian to be home, to feel him next to me when I was emotionally spent. I hoped I’d see him in my dream, but instead, it was, unfortunately, a dreamless afternoon.

I wokeup feeling like a new person, even though it was already dark outside. It had to be around 7 o’clock in the evening. Nevertheless, I decided to make myself a weak coffee, with the plan to get to work for at least a few hours. Even though I worked in corporate, I had recently adopted an entrepreneurial schedule. It wasn’t so much out of necessity as it was because I was genuinely passionate about what I was doing for a living.

I scrolled through my phone, looking for any important messages, when I saw that Rose had checked in to see if I needed anything. She was the caring, now elderly woman who had helped Julian rise to success, then returned to his life after he’d made it big to work for him. But beyond her accomplishments, it was Rose’s warmth, wisdom, and unwavering support that truly made her special to me. I admired her more than words could express—her ability to balance strength with kindness, her unspoken love for Julian, and the way she always made me feel like family. Rose wasn’t just a mentor to him; she had become a guiding presence in my life too, making it much easier to navigate the complexities of Julian’s world with her by my side.

I replied to her shortly, assuring her I’d be fine for the time being but would come visit soon. She always offered to cook for me and spoil me with homemade dinners, but the last thing I wanted to do was eat them alone. Whenever Julian was away, my diet turned into a sushi marathon—the one food that disgusted him. I had to find a silver lining in the distance between us; otherwise, I would have temporarily lost my mind.

I continued scrolling through my messages, but my heart raced when I saw that James had already replied. Just seeing hisname in the subject line sent a rush of dark emotions flooding back. Almost overwhelmed with fear, I clicked open the new message.

Dear Lucie,

First and foremost, I hope you’re doing well. It brings me joy to see you happy. It was never my intention to draw any attention to you. I’ll handle the mystery girl situation in a way that won’t affect you anymore. You have my strongest promise on that.

Few things I want to tell you—I still feel awful about the things that happened between us. It really sank in when I sobered up.

Remember the night of our worst argument? I was so desperate to prove to you that you were wrong. I felt too proud to admit that I’d become an addict, that I’d destroyed everything we’d built over the years. I was angry at myself, and that anger came out in ways that hurt you. To my despair, I lost the greatest girl alive.

About Andrea—I know this may not matter now, but we never slept together. It’s for some reason important to me that you know this. If it ever seemed that way, it’s because she was a crutch for me at one point. She helped me escape the feeling of worthlessness. I tried to like her. Deep down, I knew that the sooner we cut our losses, the easier it would be for both of us. She’s also helped herself to my phone on numerous occasions, which, unfortunately, probably hurt you further. But I deserved all that. You didn’t deserve to be in the middle of that.

I’m always going to put you first moving forward. The old me would want to get you back and beg you on my knees to give us a chance. I am not going to do that, though. I’ve seen the pictures of you and him, and I can’t un-see that you’ve found something deep with someone else but me. It would be selfish of me to insert myself into that.

Congratulations on your success in the publishing industry. I truly believe that our breakup led you to where you needed to be, and I hold that close to my heart. I’ll never forget you, and once in a while, my music will celebrate that. I’ve gotten on top of the world because of you. Take care of yourself. I’ll be here if you ever need me.

Love, James

By the time I was through, I began to feel immense relief at his response. He’d fix this awkward situation, with no further worry that the media would turn it into a frenzy. And it seemed that I’d been wrong with my assumptions about us in general.

He hadn’t slept with Andrea in the end? I wouldn’t wait long to respond, wanting to acknowledge his resolution.Thank you, James. Apology accepted. I’m happy for all your success in life. Thanks for taking care of this.I hit send, feeling no need for anything more. I had no intention of prolonging the conversation. Doing anything behind Julian’s back made me feel consumed with guilt, even if it was just damage control.

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