Chapter 193
Julian
“She wants me gone, hey?” Megan moved around her spacious kitchen , pouring the red wine she had waiting as she flipped the steaks. She didn’t turn to me so I had a chance to school my features into something resembling calmness.
She turned to me, her hands full of large red wine glasses and slid one across the counter towards me.
“I see.” She said while taking a sip when I didn’t say anything. “I don’t blame her.”
I glanced at her face. There was no hostility there, just understanding.
“I’ll talk to her.” I said finally. “And I’ll make her understand. She will understand.” I added , quickly. “But until then I think you may need to stay away. She has been through enough and I don’t want her put through any more unnecessary stress.” I reached across the counter and caught her hand in mine. “You understand don’t you?”
Throwing a look at me Megan snatched her hand back. “Of course I do Julian. After everything I did to her-“ she shook her head. “Of course she is going to think the worst. Do you want me to resign?” Her eyes met mine. “I’ll do it if you want me to. You gave me a chance when I didn’t deserve one. You saved me when you should have condemned me.”
“Because we are friends.” I added quickly.
“I know we have become friends Julian and that’s why if you need me to step back so you can save your marriage I will. You have to make Cassie happy.” She said it in a whisper and when she looked at me there were unshed tears in her eyes. My hand tightened around hers.
“I’ll miss you though.”
I moved without thinking. Drawing her around the island and into my arms for a friendly hug. Slowly I smoothed my hand down her back.
“I would miss you as well Megan. You have been such a support to me and the boys since the accident.” Resting my chin against her hair I mumbled.
I didn’t know how I would do it but I would make Cassie understand. Megan had done wrong, she had lied and cheated and tried to hurt my unborn babies but she hadn’t had a choice. She had been threatened into doing it. And once I had removed that threat she had turned into a different woman. A woman I was sure Cassie would like if she gave her a chance.
“It won’t be forever.” I murmured and her arms went around me. “I’ll make her understand. Just give me time to talk her around.”
Megan’s laughter bubbled up sarcastically. “She won’t ever accept me in your family life Julian and you are a fool to think she will. Not that I blame her after all I’ve done. I just hope that in time she forgives me a little bit.”
“She will.” I tilted her head up and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “And your job is safe. My grandfather might have put the clause in that I lost the crown if I didn’t make her queen , and she might be my mate from the goddess but you are my friend and an incredible doctor. You remain the royal physician.”
“Thank you.” Reaching up she kissed my cheek and stepped away. “I was worried about where I would go.” She hurried away to start to dish up.
“This is your home.” I watched as she moved barefoot around the spacious kitchen. Completely at ease, as she dished up my favourite meal.
“I would never take it away from you.” I had gifted her the apartment two years ago when I had become king. The royal doctor should have somewhere to live that was suitable for her station but there was more to the gift than that.
If it hadn’t been for her turning on the men who had threatened her , the attacks on my family would have continued. Now those men were dead or imprisoned and my sons could grow up free from harm.
An apartment and a job were the least I could do.
“It is your home and anyway where else would I escape to every Thursday for a relaxed steak and a nice bottle of wine.” I tried to joke. “Coming here makes me feel almost normal. You don’t bow and scrape to me and I can be myself.” I took a deep breath. “I love Cassie and I want to make it work with her for the sake of my family and my kingdom but you are my friend and I won’t give you up. You offer me a tiny slice of peace in my chaotic life. I just need to be more careful about coming -“
She whirled on me. “We can’t sneak around Julian.” She admonished. “That will just make things worse in the long run.”
I knew she was right, of course. If Cassie ever found out I was coming here then she would leave me without a seconds thought.
I sighed heavily.
“Then for a little while we need to not see each other.” I said finally.
“I agree.”
“You’re owed some vacation days.” An idea was beginning to form in my mind. “Where would you like to go?”
She blinked at me for a second. “I can’t take anymore gifts from you Julian.”
“It’s not a gift, it’s a bonus from work. I’ll put it through as such. You can have a well deserved break somewhere warm and sandy and I can make Cassie see the truth about you. By the time you come back , she will be fine and we can all be friends.”
Maybe I was being naive , hell I knew I was but I had to try. I loved my mate but she had been asleep for a long time and if it wasn’t for Megan I wouldn’t have survived. My family wouldn’t have survived. I had to make this work.
“Jamaica.” She said quickly. “If that’s ok? I’ve always wanted to go back since we went last year.”
Throwing back my head I laughed. “That was a great vacation wasn’t it.”
“It was. Do you remember that night on the beach-“ she giggled hysterically as she pushed a plate towards me.
I laughed right along with her as memories flooded me. “Jamaica it is then. I’ll make the arrangements tomorrow.” Sawing into the tender meat I popped a piece into my mouth and chewed before speaking again.
“I’ll miss you.”
Her eyes met mine. “I’ll miss you as well.”
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