Sebastian
I stood outside the boardroom for a long moment before entering, Julian's hand steady in mine, both of us dressed with the same careful formality we'd maintain for any significant board presentation, though nothing about what I intended to say today resembled ordinary corporate business.
"You don't have to do this," Julian said quietly, though I could hear the hope beneath his words, the six years of waiting finally arriving at a moment that mattered.
"I want to do this," I said, and meant it completely. "I'm done building my life around a fear that's cost us both too much already."
My mother waited inside, seated near the head of the table alongside the board members who'd gathered for what they believed was a routine update on the restructuring's progress. She caught my eye
