Chapter 4 - Julian’s Version
Julian called me from an attorney’s phone the next morning.
I nearly refused.
Captain Romero said listening might be useful only if my counsel approved.
My American attorney, Rebecca Hale, joined remotely.
We recorded with everyone’s consent where required.
“Genevieve.”
His voice sounded broken.
I hated that part of me still responded.
“Julian.”
“Are you okay?”
“No.”
“The baby?”
“Alive.”
He started crying.
I almost believed him.
Then remembered binoculars.
“You watched.”
“No.”
“I saw you.”
“I was trying to figure out what Victoria was doing.”
“With a drink.”
“She told me you agreed.”
“After I lost consciousness?”
“I thought you were resting.”
“Then how did I get onto a jet ski?”
“I don’t know.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“I swear.”
Rebecca raised one finger.
Do not argue endlessly.
I said:
“Tell investigators.”
“I have.”
“Good.”
“Genevieve, Victoria set me up.”
“Why?”
“She’s obsessed.”
“With you?”
Silence.
There.
“You were sleeping with her.”
“I made mistakes.”
“Were you?”
“Yes.”
It hurt less than expected.
Maybe betrayal becomes lighter once attempted killing enters room.
“How long?”
“Six months.”
The exact length I had suspected.
“She wanted you gone.”
“Why?”
“Because I told her I would never leave you.”
I nearly laughed.
“Romantic.”
“I mean it.”
“You drugged me.”
“No.”
“You handed me capsules.”
“I thought they were your vitamins.”
“Who gave them to you?”
Pause.
“Victoria.”
There.
“What did she say?”
“That she found them in our suite.”
I closed eyes.
“Did you see bottle?”
“No.”
“You handed your thirty seven week pregnant wife pills supplied by your mistress without checking?”
“I didn’t think.”
Correct.
He continued.
“The stunt was supposed to scare you.”
I stared.
“So you knew something.”
Silence.
“Julian.”
“I knew Victoria wanted to put you on a slow tow.”
My body went cold.
“You knew I’d be restrained?”
“No.”
“Did you know I was unconscious?”
“I thought you were groggy.”
“Did you know I refused?”
“Yes.”
Silence filled hospital room.
Rebecca wrote.
Julian started crying again.
“I didn’t know she would go that fast.”
“But you knew I would be put on a jet ski after saying no.”
“I thought…”
“You thought humiliating me in front of investors would make me what?”
He did not answer.
Obedient.
Smaller.
Manageable.
I ended call.
No dramatic final words.
Evidence enough.
Captain Romero later said Julian’s admission materially changed investigative posture.
He acknowledged knowledge of an unauthorized stunt involving me.
Still not admission of intent to kill.
Victoria’s statement was harsher.
According to her attorney:
Julian told her Genevieve was “too protected.”
He wanted to scare me into signing a marital restructuring document.
What document?
That was new.
A proposed postnuptial agreement.
I had never seen it.
Julian allegedly believed my family held hidden financial interests in Vance Meridian.
He was right.
Northstar.
Victoria said:
“He wanted her frightened enough to sign whatever he put in front of her.”
Not murder.
Coercion.
Then things escalated beyond plan.
Her version:
Julian supplied restraints.
Julian approved medication.
Julian told her to “make it memorable.”
She claimed she never intended serious injury.
She also said:
“The money came from his investor.”
Which investor?
She refused initially.
Then her lawyer offered cooperation.
The financier was not Adrian Cross, she said.
Adrian’s card was only payment method.
Someone else authorized him.
I asked Dad:
“Who?”
He looked grim.
“Victoria named your mother.”
Everything inside me stopped.
“No.”
“She says Margaret Sterling wanted to end your marriage without public divorce.”
“That’s insane.”
“I agree it sounds extraordinary.”
“Mom would never…”
I stopped.
May you like
My father did not complete sentence for me.
Because love is not proof.
