A tear clung to the tip of Dexter's nose, but he didn't wipe it away. "Make yourself clear, Julian. Tell me what you fucking mean!"
Julian said, "I'm sick, and I don't have long to live."
Dexter snapped, "I don't believe you!"
He didn't have a choice, though.
Julian took the prescription bottle from him and fiddled with it. He still looked as handsome as ever, and his every action was regal and elegant. He said, "It's an aftereffect of the accident."
He sounded calm and unaffected, but Dexter was thoroughly stunned. He stared at Julian and asked, "Why didn't you get surgery for it? Why didn't you take a gamble, you bold, selfish bastard? You're rich, aren't you? You've got so much money you're swimming in it!
"Get a doctor—search for the world's best doctor to operate on you! Or are you just a big, fat coward, Julian?"
Julian sighed. "I'll tell you what I told Esther—I can't take the risk."
He wanted to wait for his child to be born; he wanted to pave the path for Willow. Perhaps his ending had long since been written when he'd fallen to his knees and repented for his sins. He'd vowed that he was willing to set aside his pride and obsession; he was willing to brave death.
In fact, everything he currently had and the time he'd enjoyed were stolen. He had to be happy with what he had.
Tears streamed down Dexter's face. He wiped them away roughly, still not willing to believe this. He and Julian had to continue competing for the rest of their lives… They were far from the end, yet Julian, the coward, was saying that he was leaving!
Still, it was undeniable that Dexter would never defeat Julian. The latter had an iron grip on people's hearts—he'd summoned Dexter not just to tell him he was sick, but also to pressure him. He wanted Dexter to control himself should he have any thoughts in the future.
Once he calmed down, he asked, "Do Uncle Liam and Aunt Melanie know about this? When are you going to tell them? You've always had a plan and known what to do!"
Julian lowered his eyes. "I'll tell them when the right opportunity arises."
…
Julian spent the next month making various arrangements. He flew abroad to see Jeffrey, and they had some drinks together. Before leaving, he transferred the ownership of his shares to Rowena.
Instead of explaining that, he told Jeffrey to go home—Rosabelle was waiting for him.
Julian even bought Caleb and Annie a meal. He gave them a wedding gift and told them he probably wouldn't be able to attend their wedding. He said he would likely be busy at a subsidiary abroad when the time came.
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