Page 21 of Julian's Curse

“She was a tattoo artist. Apparently renowned in Hawaii. She struggled with depression and maybe fell into an addiction or two. She ended it before he could even see her again—days before he returned home. That’s the part that sucks the most.”

I let out a sigh. He had always painted their relationship as entirely his fault, but it seemed his ex-wife wasn’t blameless either. While he had worked on himself, she appeared to be trapped in the same patterns that had led to their divorce. Bradley had often mentioned that he tended to love the wrong people, and now it all clicked into place.

I began to feel an all-consuming pain for him. Was this why he’d moved to an isolated island? To put himself in purgatory for not showing up sooner? I didn’t believe we could save someone who wanted to die. Maybe we could delay it for a while, but only professional help could truly make a difference. He needed to know it wasn’t his fault, but would it even matter? Grief was grief.

“I’ve been trying not to be too much,” Val shrugged. “So, we just talk through messages. But the deeper we get into our conversations, the more I realize I’m a bit hung up on him.”

I completely understood what she meant.

“I don’t know if this makes sense, Lucie. It almost feels like the tables have turned. He’s looking for a good time with me. Nothing with commitment. Yet, I don’t know if, with him, it’s going to be that easy to stick to it.”

Shell-shockeddidn’t even begin to cover it. She never spoke like this.

Bradley was someone, though, who could effortlessly inspire a change of heart. He was mixed race, with striking Asian features inherited from his mother—sharp, handsome eyesthat sparkled with kindness. He had a strong, chiseled jaw inherited from his father, and his deep voice, combined with his undeniable masculinity, turned heads wherever he went. He usually kept his black hair short, styled in a military cut, though he’d recently mentioned that he preferred to keep it longer.

As Hawaii’s past marathon champion, he had a lean, athletic physique quite impossible to achieve without incredible genes. Like Valentina pointed out, he was street-smart, having grown up as a troubled teenager who often found himself in risky situations. When we talked about it during a drive, I learned that he had a bad-boy side he’d left behind—a part of his past that added depth to his character. It was intriguing to see how he had transformed, channeling those experiences into something positive. What made him even more attractive was his deep love for his home, his family, and the legacy of his island. He had attended Kamehameha, a prestigious school reserved for those with true Hawaiian heritage. Bradley possessed the rare heart of a warrior and protector, marked by unwavering loyalty. Essentially, he was the perfect boyfriend.

“Give it time,” I tried to offer something encouraging. But I knew Bradley well enough to know that what happened with his ex-wife had to weigh on him like a demon.

“He mentioned that he isn’t looking for love right now.” She shared. “But I don’t think it means he wouldn’t hook up with me.”

She’d built quite a reputation for herself as the girl who never wanted more than just a casual fling. Now, that wasn’t working in her favor. Bradley likely thought they were both on the same page. Given the kind of guy he was, he wouldn’t want to hurt a woman, so this arrangement was probably convenient for him. But I kept my mouth shut, hoping that it wasn’t so for Valentina’s sake.

“I met Julian at a time when I wasn’t ready to date either,” I reminded her.

“It feels like he’s in a dark place and I want to respect that,” she explained.

I didn’t doubt that he was in a dark place, and the worst part was that I worried I contributed to the reasons why. I’d led him on for quite some time, only to decide in the end that I wasn’t ready to fall in love again. What we had between us was incredibly real, a fact that still somewhat haunted me.

To make matters worse, deep down, I knew Bradley never believed my relationship with Julian would last. While he understood my reasons for being with him, he couldn’t bring himself to support it. His silence felt like more than just respect for my choices; it felt like a statement. I couldn’t shake the feeling that he was waiting for me to learn my lesson. The thought of Valentina finding herself in the middle of such a mess was something I couldn’t bear.

“Val, why don’t you take it one step at a time? Trust that the universe will deliver exactly what you need,” I suggested cautiously.

“Yeah, Lucie. I hate the idea that he could be exactly what I need right now—someone so different that he pulls me out of my head. But I think about him ALL the time, and it’s driving me insane.” A pained look marred her gorgeous face.

“Have you thought about telling him that you’re not looking for just a fling?” Honesty was usually the best policy in relationships.

“No, I’m worried he’ll lose interest, and I really don’t want that,” she winced. “But for now, let’s check out some catalogs, okay? It would make me so happy to sort through designs and start sketching.” She quickly shifted the topic. “I’m thinking something sleek, but with a bit of drama—maybe a high-low hemline or some intricate lace detail. Something unexpectedthat will make a statement without being over the top.” She spoke with the kind of passion and confidence I’d expect from a seasoned designer.

It felt a bit early to dive into wedding planning after such a deep conversation, but I didn’t want to dampen her excitement. “Yeah, of course. I’ve got the whole morning reserved for us. Let me make you another cappuccino.”

Not talking about Bradley was probably for the best for both of us. His name had a way of pulling us both into uncomfortable spaces, bringing up old wounds and unspoken feelings. We both needed a break from the weight of that conversation, especially now. With everything else going on, it felt better to focus on something light, something we could enjoy without the emotional baggage. It was easier to let the silence settle than to stir up what might come rushing back.

I wasn’t entirely sure what it meant for me—perhaps a blend of quiet acceptance that he’d always be my second choice, and a lingering grief knowing that our friendship would always be overshadowed by the unspoken truth that there was more between us than either of us could ever fully acknowledge.

Julian gazed out at the Dubai skyline from the 54th floor of his hotel room, the vibrant city unfolding before him like a shimmering tapestry of modern architecture and sprawling desert. The sun dipped low, casting a golden hue over the towering skyscrapers. Each building seemed to tell a story, showcasing the ambition and innovation that characterized this influential center of the oil industry. Tomorrow, they would reveal a project he had been developing for months—an investment poised to become a major milestone in his career. But in spite of his recent success, there was much more beneath the surface. The accolades and admiration he received often concealed the struggles and sacrifices that accompanied his rise.

As part of the front desk staff’s usual practice, they recommended that he invite some company to his hotel room forthe evening. They even offered to arrange it, knowing that he’d taken advantage of this in the past.

“No thanks, I am content.” He swiftly declined the offer. He wanted nothing more than for Lucie to be here, to share these moments of triumph with her only. No matter how much he tried to convince himself that she was simply passionate about her career, it felt like she needed far more time away from him than he could emotionally bear. But for her sake, he was willing to bear anything emotionally.

I miss you already, Lucie had written earlier, and a warmth spread through him re-reading her text. The words cut the distance between them, though he couldn’t shake the disappointment in himself. They had promised no more secrets, yet somehow, He had ended up with another one. And it wasn’t a white lie to protect her. It wasn’t even a desperate attempt to achieve normalcy, like when he’d created an online dating profile two years ago. This would be a lie that would drive a wedge between them and reignite her past trauma. He now had to bury the ghost of his addiction in the desert for good, or he couldn’t marry her.

Julian poured himself a whiskey from the minibar. This was one of those rare moments when he had the space to ruminate over his choices.

It all began as an innocent escape with one of the models from his talent agency, Jazmin. He’d never forget her name; she entered his life when he’d been feeling particularly vulnerable, knowing that Lucie may have fallen for the young mechanic from Hawaii. Tarnakis had shackled him, compelling Julian to suppress his emotions for Lucie, which led to an overwhelming sense of inner panic. In this memory, photographs of her and Bradley lay scattered across his glass table, tempting him to shatter the surface as if that could end their unraveling romance. If she was in love, the least he could do was to honor it. Yet he feltso bitter because for the first time, his money had rendered him powerless.

His security followed her, to ensure she was still under the protection of the best. It wasn’t hard to see that she still wasn’t over him. Her grief was his only hope that maybe it wasn’t over after all. But then there were the reports of her in Hawaii, staying overnight in a house with him, and it could mean only one thing. She was moving on and giving the most intimate parts of herself to him.

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