Chapter 11
Inside the high-security visitor room at the Metropolitan Correction Center, Julian sat behind a thick glass partition.
He wore an orange federal jumpsuit, his dark hair unwashed, his eyes sunken with exhaustion.
The heavy steel door opened, and Elena walked into the room, wearing a tailored charcoal coat over her dress.
She sat down across from him, picking up the heavy black telephone receiver attached to the wall.
Julian picked up his receiver with a trembling hand, unable to make direct eye contact with her.
"Elena... I'm so sorry," Julian sobbed into the phone, his shoulders shaking pathetically.
"I never wanted to hurt you... Chloe forced me into everything!"
Elena watched his breakdown through the reinforced glass, her micro-expressions showing total, icy detachment.
"You held me down in the library, Julian," Elena said, her voice clear and chilling through the earpiece.
"You watched her hit me, and you said nothing."
Julian buried his face in his free hand, weeping openly in front of the federal guards.
"She threatened to ruin my father's business!" Julian cried out desperately.
"I was terrified... I didn't know what else to do!"
"You had a choice, Julian," Elena replied, her voice steady and unyielding.
"You could have chosen honor, but you chose cowardice."
"And now, you will serve fifteen years in a federal penitentiary for your choice."
Julian looked up, his eyes pleading for a shred of mercy that did not exist in her soul.
"Are you ever going to forgive me?" Julian whispered brokenly.
May you like
Elena slowly set the telephone receiver back onto its wall cradle without answering his question.
She stood up, buttoned her dark coat, and walked out of the visitor room without looking back once.
