Please Come Back, My Love novel Chapter 150

Chapter 150

Elena POV

Ethan’s eyes flickered away from mine for just a second-barely noticeable if I hadn’t been watching him so lonely.

“I don’t know him, he said, too quickly I mean, not personally I’ve just heard things ‘

Heard things.

“What kind of things? I pressed.

Ethan “an a hand through his hair, glancing over my shoulder toward where Alexander had disappeared into the crowd. “Bad things. The kind of things that get people hurt.”

“Be specific.”

“Elena. His voice dropped lower. “He’s connected to people you don’t want to be connected to. The Sterling family has… let’s just say they have interests that go beyond what you see in the business pages.

“You mean illegal interests.”

I mean dangerous interests. His hand found mine, squeezing gently. Just-stay away from him, okay? He’s not like Julian. He’s worse.”

Worse than Julian.

1 almost laughed. As if anything could be worse than what I’d already been through.

“Elena?”

Mom’s voice cut through the tension. I turned to see her making her way toward us, one hand pressed to her lower back. Even in the firelight, I could see the exhaustion in her face, the way she moved like every step cost her something.

Six months.

The thought hit me like a punch to the gut every single time.

“Mom. I pulled away from Ethan and went to her, slipping an arm around her waist. “You okay?”

‘I’m fine, sweetheart,” She leaned into me, her body too light, too fragile, “But I’m confused. What’s Alexander Sterling doing at a community bonfire in

Florida?”

“I have no fucking idea.” I muttered.

Ethan appeared at my other side, his expression carefully neutral. “Mrs. Vance, let me help.”

Between the two of us, we got Mom back to our blanket. She sank down with a small sigh of relief, and I knelt beside her, my hand automatically going to

her arm.

“You should have stayed sitting, I said, trying to keep the fear out of my voOIKE,

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3:11 pm

Chapter 150

Tware in check on you Her eyes moved between me and Ethan

Fihan, dear, I’ve been meaning to tell you-Elena and I are going on a trip. A road trip, actually. We’re leaving in a few days

I felt Ethan stiffen beside me

A trip? he repeated. For how long?”

“A month or two, Mom said, her voice light. The light. Maybe longer, We haven’t decided yet

“The Flue Ridge Mountains,” I added, squeezing Mom’s hand “She’s always wanted to see them.”

Before she can’t anymore.

The unspoken words hung in the air between us.

Ethan was quiet for a long moment. When he finally spoke, his voice was carefully controlled. “That’s… sudden, I mean, you just got here, Elena, And two months is-that’s a long time.”

“We want to,” I said simply.

“I understand that, but…” He trailed off, running a hand through his hair again. A nervous habit, I was starting to realize. “It might not be safe. Two women traveling alone for that long.”

“We’ll be fine,” I said, my voice harder than I’d intended,

“I could come with you.”

The suggestion hung in the air like smoke.

= =

Mom’s eyes lit up-just for a second-before she caught herself. “Oh, Ethan, that’s sweet of you to offer, but—*

“Actually, it makes sense,” he continued, warming to the idea. “I mean, I’m here anyway, right? And I’ve got time before I need to be back in New York. I

could help with the driving, make sure you’re both safe…”

No.

The word rose in my throat, sharp and immediate.

This was supposed to be Mom’s trip. Our trip. The last real time we’d have together before-

Before.

I couldn’t let Ethan intrude on that. Not when every moment felt borrowed, stolen from the inevitable.

“Thats really generous,” I said carefully, “but I think it’s better if it’s just the two of us. You know. Mother daughter time.

The disappointment in Ethan’s face was almost painful to see

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3:11 pm

Chapter 150

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Comments

Ponciana Dagoo Cundiman Taguba

Elena’s heart belongs to Julian only.

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