The House Husband is a Secret Tycoon

Chapter Four

"Justin, what you did was totally unacceptable! You need to come to my office and apologize to Sebastian, properly and in person."

Colette's voice was sharp through the phone.

Julian stared at the table in front of him, his coffee going cold.

"If you don't," she continued, "I will never forgive you for this. Do you understand me? Never.”

There was silence for a while, then,

"No," Julian said coldly, "Everything that happened tonight is your fault. Yours and Sebastian's. I'm not apologizing for anything."

He heard muffled sounds on the other end, like someone was speaking in the background.

Then Sebastian's voice cut through, loud enough for Julian to hear clearly. "Colette, it's fine. I don't need an apology. Really. I don't want to come between you two."

Julian's jaw clenched.

Of course Sebastian would say that. The perfect, understanding gentleman, making Julian look like the unreasonable one.

"See?" Colette snapped. "See how understanding he's being? And you can't even do the bare minimum? Can you stop being so jealous for five seconds when Sebastian is being so magnanimous about this whole thing?"

Julian let out a cold, harsh laugh that made Gianna look up from her coffee.

"I already told you where I stand," he said. "You can think whatever you want about me. I don't care anymore. But I'm not apologizing."

There was silence again but Julian could hear Colette breathing on the other end, struggling to process his refusal.

When she spoke again, her voice had changed completely. The sharpness was gone and now she sounded almost gentle.

"Julian." She paused. "Listen. If you come here and apologize, just this once, I'll make it worth your while. I promise. I'll grant you one request. Anything you want."

Julian said nothing.

"Please," Colette added softly. "Just come and smooth things over with Sebastian. That's all I'm asking. And in return, I'll give you whatever you want. One request. Name it."

Julian's chest tightened.

He thought about all the times he'd given her things without her ever having to ask. All the times he'd put her needs first, sacrificed his own comfort, his own pride, his own life, really – and she'd never once offered him anything in return.

And now here she was, trying to bargain with him and offering him scraps for his dignity.

"What if my request is for you to cut ties with Sebastian?" he said.

The line went dead silent.

Then Colette's voice came back, stunned.

"What? I – no. Julian, no." Her voice rose slightly. "Ask for something else. Anything else. I'll agree to it, I promise. Just not that. Please. Just come and apologize to Sebastian and I'll give you whatever else you want."

Julian closed his eyes, feeling a pang in his chest. There it was – the answer he'd already known was coming.

She wouldn't even consider it or even pretend to think about it.

Sebastian mattered more than he did. He always had.

He almost hung up right then. His thumb hovered over the button but then he stopped.

He'd been planning to ask for a divorce anyway.

"Fine," he said. "Stay where you are. I'm coming."

"Thank you," Colette breathed out. "Thank you, Julian. I knew –"

He ended the call.

He set the phone down and looked at Gianna.

"I need divorce papers drawn up," he said. "Now. And I need you to drive me to Colette's company."