The New Julia

"Have you decided which method to choose?" asked Agnes as she delivered breakfast to Anne Marie in her room. Anne Marie grimaced, just talking about it made her stomach churn instantly, "I don't know, maybe I'll stick with the first choice, maybe it would be easier if I did it with Joe, I can't imagine if I have to give up my virginity to a stranger that you guys might randomly pick for me," she mumbled, letting go of the weight on her chest.

Agnes smiled, "Good choice, if I were you, I would definitely choose the same thing, have you chosen the right time for that sacred night?" she teased, she looked so excited as if she really wanted to see Joe end up with her.

Anne Marie shook her head "I have to prepare myself, there's a stage I have to go through before I can sleep with him," she mumbled, her hand reaching out to pour the tea from the teapot and dipping the rock sugar in it. Agnes frowned, "A stage? I don't understand, what do you mean about that?"

"I, oh my god how should I explain it, the thing is, I won't be able to get aroused with people I don't like, so I have to chat with Joe a little more intensely so I could have a little bonding with him, that way it will be easier for me to have sex with him," explained Anne Marie with flushed cheeks, that kind of topic really make her feel uncomfortable.

Agnes smiled as she nodded her head, "That sounds like a great idea, I'll pass it on to Dad," she said cheerfully.

Anne Marie grimaced, she rubbed her face hard after Agnes came out of her room. Feeling annoyed and resentful of herself because what she did was no different than what a prostitute did. But she made her choice, she would not take a step back, she promised herself. she will become financially free and would donate some of her money to the orphanage which has been her home since she was a kid.

She came out of his room at 11.00 pm, feeling much better and well prepared after a busy night learning all about Julia. She walked confidently towards the park where Joe used to spend his day, painting under the open sky while feeding the Koi fish with two male nurses watching him from a few feet away.

"I want you to draw me," she said, standing behind his wheelchair.

Joe turned around in surprise, it was undeniable, that he looked happy when he saw Anne Marie was there, behind him. "I thought you left," he said quietly. Anne Marie wrapped her arms around him, hugging him from behind, "I've been thinking all night, I've decided to just love you, I don't care how you will see me or judge me, the most important thing for me now is that I can be here with you ..." she said. At that time she felt her heart pounding because she could feel Joe's muscular body and she couldn't stop thinking about sex.

Joe almost dropped the brush in his hand, he hesitantly threw it on the ground and took Anne Marie's hand which was still wrapped around his body. He could even feel her breath blowing warm on his neck, producing the heartbeat he had wanted to hear since the first time Anne Marie had appeared in front of him. His heart couldn't be wrong, he was Julia and no one else...

"Would you like to draw me again like before? I want to be painted with my new face," said Anne Marie, releasing her arms and standing in front of the canvas. That day she looked beautiful in a mustard yellow midi dress, her hair was lifted into a slightly messy chignon bun, very typical of Julia.

Joe cleared his throat softly, "Don't you like sitting or standing for long periods every time I paint you?" he said carefully, he didn't want to offend her.

Anne Marie's face turned red instantly, she didn't know about it, but she rushed to control herself. "I wanted to do whatever I hated before, the accident made me realize that we only live once and that we are actually very close to death," she said. She didn't know why those words came out of her mouth but what she just said would change the whole plan that Elena had arranged from the start. She would be a different Julia, for some unknown reason she felt sure that Joe would accept her when she became her own version of Julia.

Joe nodded his head twice, his eyes fixed on her, those gazes seemed to pierce the back of her head. Anne Marie felt a soft swish in her chest, and that time she didn't push it away, she needed that soft swish to carry out her first mission, to release her virginity.

She spent the next hour sitting on a wooden bench, letting Joe paint every curve of his face and body. Even though there was only silence between them, she could feel Joe's emotions as his hand moved over the brush. He may not have said it but he still had a hard time accepting the fact that his wife had changed into a completely different form. "It's done, I just need to polish it up a bit," he muttered as he lifted his brush from the canvas.

"Can I move now?" asked Anne Marie, glancing at Joe with her sweet smile. Joe nodded, wishing he could get up so he could pull his wife into his arms. As if she could read his mind, Anne Marie got up from her seat, walked over to Joe, and sat carefully on his lap. "Your hands are still as good as they used to be," she muttered, staring at Joe's detailed painting. Joe smiled, his eyes staring closely at Anne Marie's face, he was not even blinking. "Would you like to accompany me for a therapy session this evening?" he asked, he needed to spend as much time as possible with Anne Marie to clear the doubts in his heart.

Anne Marie turned her head quickly, unable to contain her broad smile, "Of course! I will accompany your therapy sessions whenever you need me!" she cried in an overly cheerful intonation which she immediately regretted because Julia would never have reacted that way. But she had already told Joe she was going to be the new Julia, so she was going to go her own way. She knew Elena had ears everywhere and after that, she would definitely scold her for doing something out of the way...

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