Chapter 52 - Julian Refused To Defend Himself
Julian received the appeal notice the next morning.
His attorney called first.
Then his former wife.
Julian listened without interrupting.
When the call ended, he sat alone in his apartment for several minutes.
He had expected Richard to fight.
Richard had never accepted consequences easily.
What Julian had not expected was how quickly the old fear returned.
Not fear for himself.
Fear of losing what little trust Leo had rebuilt with him.
His attorney arrived that afternoon.
“We need to prepare.”
Julian nodded.
“What does Richard want?”
“To shift responsibility.”
Julian almost smiled.
“He's been doing that for years.”
“There is something else.”
“What?”
“They may ask you to argue that you were less involved than the original record suggested.”
Julian stared at him.
His attorney waited.
“You mean lie?”
“I mean present the most favorable interpretation.”
Julian shook his head.
“No.”
“You could reduce your exposure.”
“No.”
“Julian—”
“I did what I did.”
His voice remained calm.
“I signed things I should never have signed. I moved money I knew I shouldn't move. I accepted benefits I hadn't earned.”
The attorney leaned back.
“But Richard built the structure.”
“I know.”
“Then you need to make that distinction.”
“I will.”
“But you won't minimize your own role.”
Julian looked toward the window.
“No.”
His attorney sighed.
“Why?”
Julian thought of Leo standing beneath the chandeliers years earlier.
He remembered the boy's hand around the phone.
He remembered saying, Don't understand.
He remembered how easily he had tried to control the truth.
Then he remembered Leo's words years later.
I don't want you to lie anymore.
Julian looked back at his attorney.
“Because my son is watching.”
The attorney said nothing.
Julian continued.
“I spent years believing I could protect people by controlling what they knew.”
He swallowed.
“I was wrong.”
That evening, Julian called Leo.
Leo answered after the third ring.
“Dad?”
“Hey.”
“What happened?”
Julian paused.
“I received the appeal notice.”
“I know.”
“I want you to know something.”
Leo waited.
“I am not going to change my testimony.”
Leo's voice became quieter.
“Even if it hurts you?”
“Especially then.”
Silence.
Then Leo asked:
“Why?”
Julian closed his eyes.
“Because I've already taught you what happens when someone protects himself with lies.”
Leo didn't answer immediately.
Finally he said:
“Okay.”
Julian smiled faintly.
“Okay?”
“Yeah.”
Another pause.
“Dad?”
“Yes?”
“I believe you.”
The words hit harder than any sentence Julian had ever received.
He looked down.
“Thank you.”
But Leo wasn't finished.
“I don't believe you because you're my dad.”
Julian's smile disappeared.
“I believe you because you're finally acting like one.”
The call ended.
Julian remained seated in the silence.
For the first time, he understood that trust was not something his son owed him because they shared blood.
May you like
It was something he had to keep earning.
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