Chapter 14 - THE FUNERAL
Richard Bellamy’s funeral was private.
Only thirty people attended.
Audrey stood beside the grave in black.
Julian stood twenty feet away.
Lenora stood farther back.
Evelyn stood beside Audrey but didn’t touch her.
Nobody knew what the proper arrangement was anymore.
Family had become a legal term.
Blood had become dangerous.
After the service, Julian approached.
“I’m sorry.”
Audrey nodded.
“Me too.”
He looked at the grave.
“I spent three days knowing he was my father.”
“You didn’t miss much.”
Then Audrey regretted it.
Julian surprised her by laughing.
“He said you were sarcastic.”
“He was worse.”
Silence.
Julian put his hands in his pockets.
“What happens now?”
“With the company?”
“With us.”
Audrey looked at him.
“There is no us.”
His face tightened.
“I know.”
“Do you?”
“Yes.”
“We’re related.”
“I know.”
“Good.”
He almost smiled.
“That part was pretty clear after the third DNA test.”
Audrey laughed despite herself.
Then she became serious.
“The fake pregnancy rumor needs to end.”
“I already told my attorney.”
“Good.”
“I told them it was false.”
“Thank you.”
Julian nodded.
He looked like he wanted to say something else.
Audrey waited.
Finally, he said, “I really did love you.”
Her eyes filled.
“That’s what makes it worse.”
“I know.”
“No, Julian. I loved you too.”
He looked away.
For a moment, neither could speak.
Their relationship hadn’t ended because one person cheated.
Or fell out of love.
Or made one unforgivable mistake.
It ended because reality itself had become impossible.
Audrey wiped her eyes.
“You’re still my brother.”
“Half-brother.”
“Not helping.”
“Sorry.”
She looked at him.
“We have to find a way to be something else.”
“Family?”
“Eventually.”
Julian nodded.
“Eventually.”
Lenora approached Audrey after Julian left.
“I won’t ask you to forgive me.”
“Everybody keeps saying that.”
“Probably because nobody deserves it.”
Audrey studied her.
“You loved my father?”
Lenora looked toward the grave.
“Once.”
“Even knowing he was married?”
“Yes.”
Audrey’s face hardened.
Lenora continued before she could respond.
“That doesn’t make it romantic. It makes it ugly.”
Audrey said nothing.
Lenora’s eyes filled.
“I told myself your mother was already losing him. I told myself their marriage was dead. I told myself a lot of things because the truth made me look like someone I didn’t want to be.”
Audrey crossed her arms.
“And what was the truth?”
“I was willing to hurt another woman to get what I wanted.”
Audrey stared.
Lenora whispered, “I was wrong.”
For the first time, Audrey believed her.
Not forgave.
Believed.
That was different.
A black SUV stopped near the cemetery gate.
A man stepped out.
Audrey recognized one of Richard’s corporate attorneys.
He walked toward her carrying an envelope.
“Ms. Bellamy.”
“What now?”
“There’s a final letter from your father.”
Audrey took it.
On the front, in Richard’s handwriting:
AUDREY — READ THIS ALONE.
That night, she opened it.
The letter was only two pages.
The first page was apology.
The second page changed everything.
Audrey read one sentence three times.
Then called Julian.
He answered immediately.
“What happened?”
Audrey stared at the letter.
“Dad says Marcus lied about Daniel.”
“What do you mean?”
“He says Daniel isn’t his son.”
Silence.
Julian whispered, “Then whose son is he?”
Audrey looked at the last line.
May you like
Her stomach dropped.
“Marcus’s.”
