CHAPTER 13: Julian Without an Audience

Julian requested one meeting before trial.

Ava agreed only after prosecutors approved it and Rachel placed a glass wall between them.

“I was desperate,” he said through the phone.

Ava did not answer.

“My mother pushed the plan.”

“You built the video.”

“She found the lenders.”

“You threatened me.”

Julian looked down.

“I thought once the debt was gone, we could become normal.”

Ava studied him.

“Did you choose the church because you believed I would be too embarrassed to walk away?”

He remained silent.

That was an answer.

Ava leaned closer to the glass.

“You misunderstood me.”

Julian looked up.

“I cried because I thought I had lost my father, my name, and my future in one morning. I did not cry because I wanted to keep you.”

His face tightened.

Ava set the receiver down.

Julian tapped the glass once.

She did not look back.

Outside the interview room, Rachel asked whether Ava regretted agreeing to the meeting.

“No,” Ava said. “I needed to see whether he understood what he did.”

“Does he?”

Ava looked through the narrow window at Julian still seated alone.

“He understands what it cost him. That is not the same thing.”