A tall figure stepped in front of me, blocking the rain.
I looked up through blurred, tear-soaked eyes and met Julian's face. His brows were drawn tight, and buried deep in his gaze was a flicker of pain he almost managed to hide.
"Gertie, is this how you've been taking care of yourself while I was gone?"
I shoved him back with both hands.
"How dare you. How dare you say that to me."
"Why couldn't you have actually died? Was it fun—lying to me?"
"You faked your own death for that woman. What does that make me? Something worthless you could just throw away?"
"Enough!"
Julian's face went black with rage.
"All of it was my fault. Leave Grace out of this."
A laugh scraped out of my throat—raw, mocking.
"Mr. Weiss really does love his wife."
The words barely left my mouth before my hand swung up, and I slapped him across the face as hard as I could.
My wrist throbbed from the impact, and my heart ached so badly I could barely breathe.
He turned his head away, his Adam's apple bobbing, both fists clenched white-knuckle tight.
When he finally spoke, his voice came out raw.
"Gertie, I'm sorry..."
I listened to those words, raised my hand, and swung another slap across his face.