Chapter 5

Vivian Sommers's POV

I saw Julian again years later, right outside Chloe's school.

Years had passed since those dark events.

I had cut my hair short and opened a small antique restoration workshop, fixing old jewelry, instruments, and picture frames.

Since my left pinky wasn't fully functional, I had learned to work at a much slower pace.

I thought I had built a quiet, invisible life.

Until Mila's TikTok interview went viral.

Julian stood outside the crowd of parents, wearing a long dark coat. He looked much thinner and more exhausted than I remembered. When he saw me holding Chloe's hand, he froze.

Chloe hugged my leg. "Mommy! I wasn't the last one picked up today!"

I stroked her hair. "Good job, sweetie."

Julian's eyes drifted to Chloe's face. His voice was cracked and hollow. "Is she... yours?"

I pulled Chloe slightly behind me. "She has nothing to do with you."

"Vivian."

Hearing my name from his mouth felt strangely familiar, yet it stirred absolutely nothing in my chest. Just a dull, heavy tiredness.

Julian took a step forward. "I saw Mila's interview. I swear, Vivian... I didn't know she did that to you back then."

I looked him dead in the eye. "You didn't know she told you not to come? Or you didn't know I was actually being hurt?"

Julian choked on his words.

"I thought the guards were keeping an eye on you, that nothing serious would happen," he stammered. "I thought you were just shaken up. I never imagined..."

"You never imagined it because you never bothered to ask."

My voice was quiet, but Chloe felt the tension and gripped my hand tighter.

Seeing her reaction, Julian's eyes welled with tears. "How old is she?"

"None of your business."

"Is she... mine?"

"No," I cut him off. "Chloe is adopted. You can run a background check if you want, but stay away from her."

Julian stood frozen on the sidewalk.

He stared at me, finally seeing the hollow spaces those painful years had left on my face.

"Why didn't you contact me after you were discharged?"

I almost laughed.

"Julian, you signed the papers to lock me away, and you didn't visit me once in years. Now you're asking why I didn't call you?"

Julian's face went entirely pale.

I helped Chloe into her car seat and buckled her in.

Julian instinctively reached out to block the door, scraping his knuckles against the metal frame.

I looked at the thin line of blood on his hand and said coldly, "Move."

Julian whispered, "I just want to make it up to you."

"Then stay away from me."

I made sure Chloe was safe inside, slammed the door, and locked the past outside.

Chloe was very quiet in the back seat.

After a few blocks, she whispered, "Mommy, did that man know you?"

My knuckles were white against the steering wheel.

I didn't want to drag my daughter into the mess of my past, nor did I want her to know how cruel people could be in the name of love.