Goodbye Forever Ex-Husband (by Ammund) novel Chapter 81

JULIAN’S POV

She was right. We didn’t come here to adopt. Honestly, I wasn’t even sure why those. words came out of my mouth. It was a gamble, a long shot at best. A part of me hoped that saying the right thing, even if it wasn’t true, would get us through the doors. And thankfully, it worked. We were in.

We got passed phase one.

But now, with that initial hurdle cleared, we had an even bigger problem looming ahead: Phase two. Figuring out exactly what we were going to ‘say next–what story. we’d spin, what excuse we’d give–without getting kicked out for good.

“I’m thinking of something,” I muttered in response to Olivia as we approached the main building but the truth? I was stalling. My mind was racing in every direction, trying to piece something together that would sound believable.

I blamed myself for this situation. I should’ve been more prepared. But I’d been distracted. That damn phone call had thrown me off balance, and now I was paying for it. And those bastards still wouldn’t talk, still holding back crucial information, and it consumed me more than I cared to admit.

And now here we were, fumbling through a lie with no exit strategy in place.

FLASHBACK

(A few Minutes After Olivia Sent the Address)

Ding.

The buzz from my phone echoed through the quiet room as I rubbed a towel through my damp hair. I didn’t need to look. I already knew it was Olivia sending the address, just like she said she would. No surprises there.

But then the buzzing continued. Not a message this time.

A call.

I turned my head toward the sound, narrowing my eyes at the screen. An unknown number flashed across it. I figured maybe it was Olivia using another number, one I hadn’t saved. That wouldn’t be out of the ordinary.

Without thinking twice, I picked it up and brought the phone to my ear. “Don’t worry, Liv. I’ve received it and I’m on my way,” I said, walking back toward my dresser.

But the voice that replied wasn’t hers.

unlocked!?”

“Liv? Who is this Liv? And what e Successfully unlocked!

My whole body went rigid.

The voice was unmistakably female. It carried an oddly familiar tone, like a scent from

CHAPTER ON!

childhood suddenly wafting back into your life.

I froze.

The pause on my end must have said it all because she spoke again–this time more. playfully, with a hint of sarcasm. “Has the cat got your tongue, dear boy?”

And that’s when it hit me.

Like a slap to the face.

I should’ve recognized her voice the moment she spoke. How the hell did I not catch it?

“Mum…” I said, swallowing hard. “Uhmm… how are you doing today?”

I could practically hear the smirk on her face through the phone.

“How am I doing, you ask? Hm. How would a mother feel when her own son refuses to

tact her for months?”

ulse quickened. I started pacing.

s not like that, Mum. I’ve just been… really busy with work,” I stammered, already knowing how hollow that excuse sounded.

“Busy?” she repeated “You’re still out there working yourself to the bone when there’s a perfectly good company waiting for you to take over. And yet… you’re busy?”

Her voice cracked, the emotion creeping in fast. “Not even a simple hello, Julian.”

In an instant, the tone shifted from fragile and emotional to cold and commanding. Just like that, the tears were gone. Or maybe they were never there to begin with.

“For the thousandth time, Mom,” I said, my voice tightening with frustration, “I don’t want that opportunity. I don’t want to be the CEO. I don’t want to sit behind a polished desk in a suit I hate, smiling through board meetings and pretending I care about stock percentages.”

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