He Never Loved Me Until the Day I Finally Left Him novel Chapter 617

Julian didn't speak immediately.

"Julian?" Helena called his name.

His voice finally drifted over the line, slow and measured. "I heard from Epoch Pictures that the filming location was restricted?"

Helena hummed in acknowledgment.

Before she could elaborate, Julian continued, "But Leo Dalton said the ban has been lifted and that you went to handle it. That old mansion happens to belong to the Hayes Estate. Lena, can you tell me what you did?"

His tone was light, devoid of reprimand, but the question was pointed.

Helena let out a heavy sigh. "Julian..."

She didn't answer right away, as if carefully weighing her words.

But she knew perfectly well that Julian already knew.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have brought it up.

So, in the end, she didn't hide it.

"I went to see Sebastian. That was his goal all along," she said quietly.

Julian's voice grew significantly darker, tinged with a thread of worry. "Does he know?"

"No. It's been years, and although I had my face reconstructed, the changes aren't drastic from before—just subtly different. Plus, given my relationship with you, he thinks I'm just a stunt double you found for a business arrangement. Add in everything from the past, and it's obvious he did this solely to force me to come to him."

Helena's answer was calm, completely transparent with him.

Julian, being a man, naturally knew exactly what that entailed.

His tone turned dead serious. "Do you realize what this will cost you?"

"I know," she replied, her voice dropping low.

She knew, and Julian knew too.

When those words left her lips, total silence descended on Julian's end of the line.

Helena didn't try to break the quiet.

A strangely tense atmosphere flowed between them.

"Why?" he asked grimly.

"Probably because I loved him for so many years and endured so much psychological torture, I simply can't let it go. I want to drag the entire Hayes Estate down, and him right along with it," she finished quietly.

Julian offered no response.

In the wake of his silence, Helena felt increasingly cornered.

"Lena," he called out suddenly.

"I'm here," she replied evenly.

"Then do you love me?" Julian asked, his voice dead quiet.

The question hit her like a physical blow, leaving her utterly stunned and unable to form a reply.

Because she knew exactly what she felt for him—endless gratitude.

No matter where or when, Julian had always been there for her.

And she liked him, too.