Chapter 13 - THE KISS THAT WAS BOUGHT
Julian entered Le Jardin through the front door.
The restaurant was dark.
Only one candle burned on the table where he and Audrey had once celebrated their anniversaries.
The same table was now surrounded by gasoline.
Madame Claire sat tied to a chair.
A cloth covered her mouth.
Madison stood behind her with a gun.
“You came alone.”
“Yes.”
“Show me the drive.”
Julian removed it from his pocket.
Madison’s eyes fixed on it.
“Put it on the table.”
“Release her first.”
“You are not in control.”
Julian looked at the gasoline.
“If you fire that gun, one spark could kill all of us.”
Madison’s hand trembled.
“Then do not make me fire it.”
He placed the drive on the nearest table.
“Why did my mother pay you?”
Madison’s expression hardened.
“You already know.”
“I want to hear you say it.”
“She wanted Audrey gone.”
“Why?”
“Because Audrey discovered the payments.”
“And the kiss?”
Madison looked away.
“She told me to create a scandal.”
“A public one?”
“At first.”
“She wanted photographs.”
“She planned to leak them to the press.”
“But Audrey arrived before the photographer.”
“So you kissed me anyway.”
“Yes.”
Julian felt sick.
“Did you ever care what it would do to her?”
“I thought she would leave.”
“She did.”
Madison’s eyes filled with tears.
“And you spent four years loving her more because she was gone.”
Julian stared at her.
“You thought betrayal would make me love you?”
“I thought you would need me.”
“You were wrong.”
“I know.”
“No.”
His voice became quiet.
“You still do not understand.”
“Audrey did not leave because she was weak.”
“She left because she finally respected herself more than she loved me.”
Madison’s face twisted with anger.
“She hid your children.”
“She protected them from people like you.”
“I tried to warn her.”
“After you helped destroy her life.”
Madison raised the gun.
“Stop talking.”
Julian glanced at Madame Claire.
The older woman’s eyes were focused on something behind Madison.
A small mirror hung on the wall.
In its reflection, Julian saw the kitchen door moving.
Someone was inside.
He kept Madison’s attention on him.
“What did Eleanor promise you?”
“Money.”
“And?”
“A place beside you.”
Julian laughed once.
Madison’s eyes narrowed.
“What is funny?”
“My mother never intended to let you near me.”
“She used you.”
“You were disposable from the beginning.”
Madison’s face paled.
“That is not true.”
“She paid you through a shell company connected to Grant.”
“When the investigation ended, Grant would have eliminated every witness.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
Julian took one step closer.
“You were not going to become my wife.”
“You were going to become another missing person.”
Madison’s grip loosened slightly.
A voice came from the kitchen.
“He is telling the truth.”
Eleanor stepped into the dining room.
Her injured shoulder was bandaged.
Her face was pale.
A police officer’s gun was in her hand.
Madison spun around.
“You.”
Eleanor looked at her with disgust.
“You were always too emotional.”
“You told me Julian would choose me.”
“I told you what was necessary.”
“You paid me.”
“I paid for a service.”
Madison’s eyes filled with rage.
“You ruined my life.”
Eleanor laughed softly.
“You ruined your own life the moment you believed a married man’s attention made you important.”
Julian stepped between them.
“Put the gun down, Mother.”
Eleanor looked at him.
“You sent the evidence.”
“Yes.”
“The federal authorities froze every account.”
“Yes.”
“You destroyed generations of work.”
“I exposed generations of crimes.”
Her face hardened.
“You sound like Audrey.”
“That is the first compliment you have given me in years.”
Madison suddenly grabbed the flash drive.
Eleanor pointed the gun at her.
“Put it down.”
“No.”
“The files are mine.”
“They belong to no one now.”
Julian looked toward Madame Claire.
The knot around her wrists had loosened.
She was slowly pulling one hand free.
Madison saw Julian glance away.
She fired.
The bullet struck the wall beside his head.
Madame Claire dropped to the floor.
Eleanor fired back.
Madison screamed as the bullet tore through her arm.
The gun fell.
Julian rushed forward and kicked it away.
Madison grabbed the candle from the table.
Gasoline shimmered across the floor.
“Stay back!”
She held the flame above it.
Julian stopped.
Eleanor raised her gun again.
“Do not be foolish.”
Madison laughed hysterically.
“You made me foolish.”
“You made me believe I could have his life.”
Eleanor’s voice remained cold.
“You were never suitable for his life.”
Madison looked at Julian.
“Tell me you never wanted me.”
Julian answered without hesitation.
“I wanted your admiration.”
“I never loved you.”
Her face crumpled.
“Not even that night?”
“No.”
The candle slipped lower.
Julian took another step.
“Madison.”
“Do not.”
“You can still walk out.”
“To prison?”
“Yes.”
She laughed through tears.
“You get Audrey.”
“You get your sons.”
“You get to become a better man.”
“And I get a cell.”
“You made your choice.”
“So did you.”
She looked at the gasoline.
“You chose to kiss me.”
Julian did not deny it.
“Yes.”
“I did.”
“And I will regret it for the rest of my life.”
“But Audrey will not die for my mistake.”
Madison lowered the candle another inch.
Then Madame Claire threw herself against Madison’s knees.
Madison fell.
The candle hit the floor.
Flames raced across the gasoline.
Julian grabbed Madame Claire.
Eleanor pulled Madison backward.
Fire climbed the curtains.
Smoke filled the room.
“Move!”
Julian carried Madame Claire toward the entrance.
Behind him, Madison struggled against Eleanor.
“Let go of me!”
A burning beam crashed between them and the door.
Eleanor shoved Madison toward a side exit.
“Run!”
Madison stared at her.
“You are saving me?”
“I am saving myself from another murder charge.”
They ran toward the kitchen.
Julian reached the front door.
It was locked from the outside.
He kicked it.
Nothing happened.
Flames spread across the ceiling.
Madame Claire coughed violently.
“Leave me.”
“No.”
“You have children waiting.”
“So does Audrey.”
He kicked the door again.
The glass cracked.
Outside, police vehicles appeared.
Officers smashed the front window.
Julian pushed Madame Claire through first.
Then he climbed out.
The restaurant windows exploded behind them.
Julian turned toward the flames.
“My mother is still inside.”
The detective grabbed him.
“You cannot go back.”
“Madison is inside too.”
The kitchen door burst open.
Madison stumbled out, coughing.
Her injured arm hung at her side.
She fell onto the pavement.
Officers surrounded her.
Julian searched the doorway.
“Where is Eleanor?”
Madison looked back at the fire.
“She was behind me.”
No one emerged.
The roof began collapsing.
Julian stared into the flames.
Then a figure appeared through the smoke.
Eleanor staggered into the doorway.
Her coat was burning.
Julian ran forward.
He pulled her onto the pavement and smothered the flames with his jacket.
She looked up at him.
“Why did you save me?”
Julian stared at his mother.
“Because I refuse to become you.”
Police officers handcuffed Eleanor while paramedics treated her burns.
Madison was placed on another stretcher.
As officers searched her coat, they found a folded photograph.
The image showed Audrey leaving Charles’s medical facility four years earlier.
On the back was a handwritten instruction.
Destroy her credibility before she reaches Julian.
The handwriting belonged to Eleanor.
Julian looked down at his mother.
“You knew Audrey was coming to me that night.”
“Yes.”
“You arranged the kiss.”
“I created an opportunity.”
“You destroyed my marriage.”
Eleanor’s burned face remained emotionless.
“No.”
“You did that when you kissed Madison back.”
Julian had no answer.
Because for once, his mother had told the complete truth.
His phone rang.
The hospital number appeared.
He answered immediately.
A doctor spoke.
“Mr. Foster, you need to return.”
May you like
“What happened?”
“Your son Noah’s heart has stopped again.”
