Chapter 7 - What Brielle Knew
Before Claire entered the ballroom, Julian found Brielle crying in a private dressing room.
He had followed her after Graham’s recording exposed the truth.
“What did you know?” he asked.
Brielle wiped her face.
“I knew Claire was in the hospital.”
“When?”
“Last night.”
“And you continued the celebration?”
“Dad said she was fine.”
“The recording said she might need surgery.”
Brielle looked away.
Julian’s voice became quieter.
“Did you ask?”
“I didn’t want everything ruined.”
“Everything?”
“Our engagement weekend. My family has planned this for months.”
“Your sister gave birth alone.”
“She wasn’t alone. General Mercer was there.”
“Because your parents refused to be.”
Brielle stood.
“You don’t understand Claire. She has always been the successful one. The responsible one. Everyone thinks she’s stronger and smarter.”
Julian stared at her.
“So you punished her for being strong?”
“No. I just wanted one thing that belonged to me.”
Julian looked around the dressing room filled with flowers, jewelry boxes, and unopened gifts.
“One thing?”
Brielle’s anger collapsed into tears.
“You were supposed to be on my side.”
“I was.”
The past tense frightened her.
Julian continued.
“I defended you when people said this celebration was excessive. I trusted you when you said Claire disliked family events. I believed you when you said she chose distance.”
“She did choose distance.”
“After being treated like this, who wouldn’t?”
Brielle reached for him, but he stepped back.
“There’s something else,” Julian said. “My father told me Bennett Hospitality borrowed money against a family trust to pay for this event. Did you know the trust belonged to Claire?”
Brielle’s silence answered again.
Julian closed his eyes.
“How long?”
“Dad said Claire would never use the money.”
“That was not my question.”
“Three weeks.”
“You knew your father used her inheritance.”
“He said it would be replaced after the wedding partnerships were announced.”
“Did Claire approve it?”
“No.”
Julian looked toward the ballroom.
“Then this celebration was never yours. It was taken from her.”
Brielle’s face twisted.
“I didn’t sign anything.”
“But you knew.”
“I was going to tell her later.”
“When? After the wedding? After another loan? After your parents convinced her she was selfish for asking?”
Brielle had no answer.
Julian removed the engagement ring from her finger with careful gentleness and placed it on the table.
She stared at it.
“What are you doing?”
“Stopping before we build a marriage on someone else’s silence.”
“You can’t leave me here.”
“Claire was left in a hospital.”
The words landed harder than shouting.
May you like
Julian stepped out of the dressing room and returned to the ballroom.
He did not announce the end of the engagement immediately. He waited until Claire finished speaking because, for once, the moment belonged to her.
