My Husband Wants An Open Marriage (Julie and Ryan)
Open Billionaire 63

CHAPTER 063. The Anniversary"

CHAPTER 063: The Anniversary

Wow. I don't think she lubed me enough to ram in like that.

Things don't often catch me unaware, especially not partnership details of the company I'm interviewing at. So whatever this is, it's new.

My mind races. "I understand the concern," I say, choosing each word like a sniper picking targets. "I assure you, I'm more than capable of maintaining professionalism in any situation. My focus will be entirely on Illusionaire and its goals."

"Great." She leans back in her chair, the faintest hint of a smile playing at her lips. It's not satisfaction. It's something closer to 'Let's see if you're lying."

The rest of the interview goes like a flash. Questions come at me. I try my best to answer without showing how much I want to strangle Ryan. My facade seems to be working. They are nodding to most of my replies and giving detailed answers to my questions I can tell I'm winning some of them over. But the woman with glasses-Ms. Ice Queen herself-remains unreadable. I can feel her watching me, her eyes a scalpel poised to cut away any weakness I might reveal.

Finally, the questioning winds down. I'm mentally exhausted, but my posture remains straight, my smile professional.

As the panel thanks me for coming and stands to shake my hand, relief floods through me. I've survived. Barely, but I've survived.

It feels like ages ago since I last sat before a panel.

Walking out of the conference room, my legs feel like jelly, but I keep my head high. The receptionist gives me a polite smile as I pass, and I return it, though I'm too drained to make it convincing.

When I reach the elevator, I finally let out a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding. My phone buzzes in my bag. It's a notification from Emily. The evidence she promised. I glance at it briefly, the subject line enough to make me smile. Great. Time to see to that divorce.

It's evening, and I'm sitting cross-legged on my couch, the low hum of the city filtering in through the half- open window. I've just gotten off the phone with Maya, my lawyer, who for the first time in what feels like forever-sounded proud of me. Her exact words: "You've done well, Julie. Emily's evidence is perfect, so we won't even need to send the private investigator She sounded impressed, and I'm not sure how to feel about that. Proud? Emboldened? Or just relieved that I don't have to drain my bank account even further to dig up dirt on Ryan?

I stretch out, letting the phone rest on the coffee table. My laptop is open, and for the last ten minutes, I've been staring at a gossip site, half-scrolling through the glittering drama of other people's lives.

1 toy with the idea of leaking what I know. How easy it would be to tip off one of these gossip mongers and let the secrets spill. 'Ryan O'Brien, the gilded son, undone by his own mistress. Just imagining the headlines gives me a twisted little thrill. I picture the chaos, the fallout, the sweet taste of revenge. But

CHAPTER 063 The Anniversary

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then, the image of that woman from the interview creeps into my head-the one with the glasses and the barbed questions. "Will your personal life impact your ability to perform in this role?"

I sigh, slamming the laptop shut. Revenge will have to wait. For now.

The shrill ring of my phone breaks the silence, vibrating its way across the table. I grab it, and Luke's name flashes on the screen. My heart does that stupid little flutter it does when I'm around him. I swipe to answer before I even think.

"Luke." I say, already grinning. "Guess what? I've got it. The evidence. Emily came through. I mean, she whined about it the whole time, but who cares? This will crush Ryan in court. No more of his pompous smirking or his underhanded tricks. And you should have seen me at the interview today. Mind-blowing. I swear, I walked out of there like I'd just conquered the world."

Silence.

"Luke?" I pause, frowning at the phone like it's malfunctioning. "Are you there?"

I'm here," he says, but it doesn't sound like him. His voice is off, heavy in a way that sets me on edge." I'm happy for you, Julie. Really. You deserve this. And I know you crushed the interview. I believe in you."

He's saying all the right things, but there's something wrong. Something I can't quite put my finger on.

"You don't sound okay," I say. "What's wrong? Are you sick or something?"

There's a pause, and I can almost hear him wrestling with whether to tell me the truth. "I just love hearing your voice," he says. "That's all. It makes me happy."

"Don't give me that. You're dodging. Spill it, Luke. What's going on?"

"It's nothing." he insists, but I can hear the cracks in his voice. "I just-"

"Luke," I interrupt him, sitting up straight now. "If you don't tell me, I swear I'll hunt you down, wherever you are, and drag the truth out of you. So just save us both the trouble and spit it out."

"Alright, alright," he says, a small, defeated laugh escaping. "Calm down, tiger."

"Not a chance."

"I don't know why I called," he says. "At first, I thought it was just to hear your voice, to listen to something that makes me happy. But now..." He hesitates, and when he speaks again, his voice cracks just enough to break my heart. "Now I just want to see you. Which is a stupid thing to want with the divorce trial closing in. But I'm selfish, I guess. Because I really, really need to see) you."

"Luke." I press the phone tighter to my ear, already standing. T'll be on my way right now. Just breathe. Keep talking to me. Whatever it is, we'll figure it out." There's silence on the line, and panic claws at my chest. "Luke? Are you there?"

"Yeah," he says. "Sorry. I muted the phone. My sister walked in."

"Sister? Where are you?"

"At home." His voice is quieter now, almost defeated. It's... the fifth anniversary of my son's death. My family knows how I get on this date, so they all came over. I think they mean well. They think they're cheering me up, but it's just... it's too much. Too many people. Too many reminders."

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CHAPTER 063. The Anniversary

I freeze. Luke had a son. And he died. How did I not know this?

"Luke..." I try to say something comforting, but nothing feels adequate. "I'm so sorry."

He doesn't respond right away. When he does, his voice is heavy, like he's carrying the weight of the world. "They're all in my house, Julle. Laughing, talking, trying to act normal. But it's not normal. And I can't tell them to leave because that would seem rude, and they're just trying to help. But I can't take it. I can't sit here surrounded by people who don't get it."

My heart aches for him, this man who's always been so strong, so steady. I can't imagine what he's feeling, but I know I can't let him face it alone.

"Luke," I say. "I'm coming over."

"You don't have to-"

You

"I'm coming," I interrupt. "End of discussion."

He doesn't argue this time. "Thank you," he says, and it's the most vulnerable I've ever heard him.

I grab my keys and head for the door, the phone still pressed to my ear. "Just keep talking to me, okay? I'm on my way."