Mom and Dad, Your Apology Came Too Late Chapter 10
Meanwhile, my parents sat in the study, reading my statement over and over again.
For the first time in years, they truly looked at the painting at the center of it all.
My mother’s hands trembled violently.
Tears streamed down her face.
“So, Samson chose to do it…”
Her voice broke.
“All this time, I thought Julian was scared and abandoned him.”
She curled in on herself as sobs shook her body.
“And his depression… it was real.”
She pressed both hands over her face.
“How could I not see it? I’m a doctor. How could I have been so blind and wrong for so many years?”
My father’s eyes were bloodshot.
He slapped himself across the face again and again.
“How were we so stupid?”
His voice cracked.
“We actually convinced ourselves that giving Julian’s paintings and achievements to Samuel was somehow making up for Samson’s death.”
He lowered his head.
“Julian never did anything wrong.”
He stood abruptly.
“Come on. We’re bringing Julian home.”
His shoulders shook.
“We’ll spend the rest of our lives making this right.”
At that moment, Samuel burst into the study.
His eyes were red with rage.
“This is all Julian’s fault! I lost my engagement. My reputation is ruined.”
He slammed his fist against the desk.
“Mom. Dad. Are you seriously just going to sit there? Help me!”
His jaw tightened.
“I’ve got an idea.”
“But we will never help you hurt him again.”
Samuel snapped completely.
He grabbed a knife from the desk and lunged at them with a scream.
“You always said you loved me! It’s all lies!”
His face twisted with hatred.
“You helped me frame him once before! Why can’t you do it again?”
The next second, screams, shouts, and the crash of furniture erupted into a deafening cacophony.
Blood covered the floor.
Back at home, my adoptive father and I were making dinner when a sudden pain slammed into my chest so hard it nearly stole my breath.
A text message appeared on my phone.
[Julian, we’re sorry. Please forgive us. If there’s a next life, let us love you the right way.]
I called the police immediately.
Samuel was arrested at the airport.
Because of the severity of his crimes, he was sentenced to death.
As he was being led away from the courtroom, many of the same people he manipulated into attacking me rushed toward him.
The scene descended into chaos.
By the time security regained control, he was severely injured and left permanently paralyzed.
The International Artists Association restored every honor and award that rightfully belonged to me.
Over the years I spent with my adoptive father, my artistic style changed completely.
Unexpectedly, people loved it even more.
International exhibitions and world tours became a regular part of my life.
But whenever I wasn’t abroad, I helped my adoptive father at the butcher shop.
“Move, move, move. Those hands are meant for holding a paintbrush. What are you doing with a butcher’s knife?”
I was about to slice a slab of pork belly for a customer when the knife was snatched out of my hand.
“And if you ruin it, you’ll be eating the whole thing yourself.”
I laughed and slung an arm around his shoulders.
“Dad, I really like being around you.”
His hands were just as warm and strong as they had been the day he pulled me from that river.
“Cut it out. Since when did a grown man get so sentimental?”
He waved me away.
“Pack up the stall. We’re heading home. Tonight we’re having pork stew.”
I snapped a salute.
“Yes, sir!”
