He Never Loved Me Until the Day I Finally Left Him novel Chapter 578

He wanted her, but he was holding back.

Helena didn't dare speak to break the silence.

Finally, she felt the crushing weight of his embrace engulf her.

She trembled slightly, only to hear a heavy, defeated sigh brush against her ear.

It was quiet, laced with an agonizing helplessness.

"I'll finish packing. We have plenty of time," Julian stated flatly, abruptly stepping back.

Helena gasped softly, looking up at him in shock.

Julian looked down, his expression completely guarded. "You're too tense. Just relax."

She didn't know if it was sheer relief or something else entirely, but a massive weight lifted off her chest.

"I'm sorry..." she whispered, her voice cracking.

It was a genuine apology.

She knew exactly why he had stopped.

The problem had always been her.

"Idiot," Julian chuckled softly.

But beneath his lowered lashes, he expertly buried a storm of dark emotions.

It was the agonizing frustration of a man denied.

A suffocating, endless suppression.

All these years, forced into a corner because of one man: Sebastian.

Of course he was furious.

He didn't know how much longer he could take it.

But he absolutely refused to unleash that pent-up rage on Helena.

"I'm going to take a shower. I'll pack the rest of your small things afterward. Get to bed early, okay?" he coaxed, his tone impossibly gentle as he looked down at her.

Helena mumbled an agreement and practically bolted from the room.

She was terrified of making it worse for him.

Terrified of making the atmosphere any more unbearable than it already was.

Soon, the sound of running water echoed from the bathroom. Julian had stepped into the shower.

Only then did she finally allow herself to exhale a shaking breath.

A second later, her phone vibrated.

Helena glanced at the screen and saw a new message from Sebastian.

Sebastian: [What time does your flight land in Riverton tomorrow?]

She didn't reply.

Even through the screen, she could feel the oppressive, predatory heat radiating from those words.

It instantly dragged her back to what had happened in that hotel room.

The calmness she had just managed to scrap together instantly shattered.

Helena forced her eyes shut, but sleep absolutely refused to come.

She heard the sharp zip of the suitcase closing, the closet lights clicking off, and finally, the quiet shut of the bedroom door.

Julian had left.

She didn't say a word.

But she tossed and turned in the dark, her mind racing.

She didn't know if it was the anxiety of flying to Riverton tomorrow or something else entirely.

It wasn't until 2:10 AM that she finally felt a wave of exhaustion pull her under.

But just as she drifted off, she heard the distinct click of the bedroom door opening again.

At this hour, it could only be Julian.

She kept her breathing steady and feigned sleep.

Footsteps approached the bed.

Moments later, a solid wall of heat pressed against her back.

She was genuinely shocked.

In three years of marriage, he had never spent the night in this bed.

Even when they visited the Campbell estate and had to share a room, he always slept on the sofa, never beside her.

But now—