Julian’s Stand-In Wife

Those were indeed Julian’s exact words.

He was so frustrated, he couldn’t even reply.

After a while, he snapped, “Are you done?”

“No!” Diana took a deep breath. “You’re right. You were basically raising children while not knowing a thing about them. You’ve never experienced the pain and heartache of giving birth. How could you be anything but a happy and ignorant father?”

“Watch your words, Diana!”

The way Diana said it made it sound like he had been cheated on, and had raised children that weren’t his.

Now that it was confirmed that the two children were his flesh and blood, her words made him uncomfortable.

Julian crouched, annoyed. “The children are still here. Could your temper be any worse? It’d be great if you scared them all away. You’d be happy, wouldn’t you?”

This man never had any kind words for her. Diana was hurt by his accusations, but dared not speak loudly again.

“I’m more upset about Betty’s condition than you are,” she said. “Regardless, you have no right to criticize me.”

Julian sneered. “Everything you say is unacceptable, as always. I don’t know where you got such a temper.”

was always

did they always

because he never really listened to what she was saying. He only saw her

she said with meticulous scrutiny, but he couldn’t see the

he just didn’t want

that they had nothing between them

or wronged because

uneasy. He held his

call Julian “Daddy” with ease. Now, he couldn’t bring himself

time, Julian had come

expectantly. “What did

The word “Daddy” seemed to be stuck in his throat, and he couldn’t say it out

can’t say it now, just wait and try

gentler with Sean than he was

he spoke. “Let’s take our time. Daddy was wrong before. Daddy delayed coming here and picking you and your sister

like he was scolding Diana; as if she, as their mother, didn’t do enough and made the children suffer. He was

Julian really meant it.

was a mess. She had complicated relationships with Oliver, Simon, and many other men—it wasn’t conducive to the children’s