Please Come Back, My Love novel Chapter 165

Elena POV

The slap still echoed in the air between us. My palm stung, but the pain was nothing compared to the hollow ache in my chest.

Julian’s face had gone pale, except for the red mark blooming across his cheek. His eyes-those goddamn eyes that used to make me weak–were wide with

something I’d never seen before. Fear. Raw, unfiltered fear.

‘Elena- he started, his voice cracking.

I stepped back, my spine hitting the cold metal of the RV. “Don’t.”

His hand came up-slowly, like he was approaching a wounded animal-and cupped my face. His palm was warm against my cheek, his thumb brushing just

below my eye.

“You can hate me all you want,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “I deserve it. I deserve worse. But what I can’t stand-what terrifies me-is

the thought that you might not remember me at all. That you’ll look at me one day and see a stranger.”

Something twisted in my chest. A dull, brutal pain that made it hard to breathe.

No. No, you don’t get to do this.

I wanted to pull away. I wanted to scream at him, to tell him he’d lost the right to touch me the moment he chose her over me-over us-for the thousandth

time.

But I couldn’t move.

Because despite everything-despite the blood, the baby, the divorce papers, the fucking wreckage he’d left behind -part of me still responded to his touch. Part of me still remembered what it felt like when I thought he might actually care.

His eyes searched mine, and I hated how vulnerable he looked. How human.

“Tell me,” he said, his voice dropping even lower. “Ethan. Is he really your boyfriend?”

The question hit me like a punch to the gut.

And then I saw it-the flicker of pain in his expression. The slight tremor in his jaw. The way his pupils dilated just a fraction, like he was bracing himself

for the answer.

He’s hurt.

The realization was so absurd 1 almost laughed.

He’s hurt? After everything he’s done, he has the nerve to look hurt?

He was divorced. Free. He could go back to Victoria, back to his perfect fucking life, and pretend I never existed. Wasn’t that what he wanted all along?

So why did seeing that flash of pain in his eyes make my own chest tighten? Why did it feel like someone had reached inside my ribcage and squeezed?

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Chapter 165 –

Chap 1 hiene Step feeling sorry for him.

I forced my expression to harder. Forced myself to meet his gaze without flinching.

“Yes,” I said, my voice sharp and cold. “Ethan is my boyfriend.*

Julian flinched like I’d slapped him again.

Before he could respond, my mother’s voice cut through the tension like a knife.

“And he’s been with us every step of the way these past two days,” Josephine said, stepping forward. Her tone was ice. “Unlike you, Mr. Julian Sterling,

who spent three years making my daughter feel like she was nothing.”

Julian’s hand dropped from my face. He turned to look at my mother, and I saw his throat work as he swallowed.

“Mrs. Vance, I—”

“Don’t.” Josephine’s voice was quiet, but it had an edge that could cut glass. “Don’t you dare try to explain yourself to me. I watched my daughter cry herself to sleep for three years. I watched her bend over backwards trying to be good enough for you. I saw the agony on her face when she came

to me after the divorce, sobbing about losing her child.”

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