On the Sixth Thanksgiving, I Stopped Waiting for Him Chapter 05
A stranger took pity on me and lent me enough cash for two nights at a cheap motel.
The next day, I went to Vivian’s art gallery.
Dressed in an evening gown, Vivian stood in the center of the gallery with her arm looped through
Julian’s as reporters interviewed her.
“Ms. Reed, what inspired the theme of your exhibition, Redemption?”
“It was inspired by someone I hurt deeply, and by a past I’ll never be able to make right.”
“These paintings bear witness to the years the man she loved spent searching for her.”
The room broke into applause.
In front of everyone, Julian leaned down and kissed Vivian.
They looked like the leads in a romance who’d finally cleared up every misunderstanding and earned their happy ending.
My knuckles turned white around the recorder as I forced my way through the crowd.
When Vivian saw me, she cowered behind Julian like a frightened deer.
Julian’s face darkened.
“Claire, whatever this is, we can talk about it later. Today is the most important day of Vivian’s
life!”
I ignored him and raised the recorder.
Julian was faster. He slapped it out of my hand.
“Claire! Haven’t you caused enough trouble?”
“Vivian spent a year preparing for this. The press is here, and you picked today to ruin everything?”
“Julian, she destroyed my life!”
“What do you want from her?”
Veins bulged in Julian’s forehead as he looked at me like I was the enemy.
“Vivian has had nightmares every night for six years. At the slightest upset, she reaches for a blade, and every day she’s alive is torture for her!”
Do you have to make everyone else suffer until they die, too?”
Vivian burst into tears.
“Julian, stop. Claire has every right to hate me…”
As Julian watched her crouch on the floor, trembling, the last trace of guilt vanished from his eyes.
“Claire, get out right now!”
“If you keep this up, don’t blame me for what happens next!”
“Did you come back after six years just to get revenge on me? Just to ruin Vivian?”
“Get this through your head. She’s the one who’s been by my side for the past six years!”
Julian’s face twisted with rage.
For a second, I saw the boy from six years ago-the one who had stood in front of me and protected
In my mind, the two faces blurred together in cruel contrast.
“Julian, I’m calling the police!”
“You wouldn’t dare!”
His hand clamped around my arm. I tried to pull away, but he shoved hard against my shoulder with
his other hand.
I stumbled backward and crashed into the champagne tower in the center of the gallery.
Glasses shattered across the floor.
Jagged shards dug into my back and arms as champagne and blood spilled around me.
I curled up amid the wreckage, shaking from the pain.
Julian froze for a second.
Then he turned and pulled Vivian protectively into his arms.
“Vivian, don’t be afraid. She’s lost her mind!”
Just then, the gallery doors flew open.
Detective Cole walked in with a team of officers.
“Vivian Reed!”
“You are under arrest for the kidnapping and human trafficking of Claire Bennett six years ago, as
well as her false imprisonment and aggravated assault.”
