Please Come Back, My Love novel Chapter 253

hapter 253

Ledbury Road was lined with pastel townhouses and expensive boutiques. Sweef Endings had a mint green awning with gold lettering, looking deceptively

cheerful and innocent.

Through the large front window, I could see her.

Lila, sitting at a small round table, animated and happy, her legs swinging beneath her chair. She was wearing her school uniform–navy blazer, white shirt, plaid skirt–but her tie was askew and there was what looked like chocolate on her collar.

And across from her-

Julian Sterling

He was leaning forward, listening to her talk, a leather photo album open between them. He was pointing at something on the page, and she was giggling. covering her mouth with her small hand the way she always did when she found something particularly funny.

My chest constricted. They looked so… natural together. Like father and daughter.

Then Lila looked up and saw me through the window. Her face lit up like Christmas morning.

“Mommy!”

Julian’s head snapped toward the door.

Our eyes locked through the glass.

He looked devastated–dark circles under his eyes, stubble covering his jaw, his hair disheveled. His expensive suit was wrinkled, his tie loosened. But it was the expression on his face that made my breath catch.

Relief. Desperate, overwhelming relief. Like he’d been drowning and I was air.

I pushed open the door. The bell chimed cheerfully.

*Mommy!” Lila scrambled out of her chair and ran to me, her school shoes squeaking against the polished floor. “Mommy, you’re here! The sad uncle found me and brought me here and showed me pictures of you and him and-”

I dropped to my knees and pulled her into my arms, holding her so tight she squeaked in protest. She smelled like strawberries and vanilla cake, her hair soft against my cheek.

“Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”

“No, Mommy, I’m fine!” She pulled back, confused by my intensity. “He’s nice. He bought me cake and showed me pictures and told me stories about when you were young and-”

“Elena.”

Julian’s voice cut through her words, low and rough, like he hadn’t spoken in days.

I looked up, still kneeling, still holding Lila.

1/2

10:48 am PPPP

Chapter 253

He was standing a few feet away, hands ift his pockets, looking like a man barely holding himself together. His eyes were red rimmed, and there was smething boken in his expression that made my heart clench despite everything.

“Mommy, look!” Lila darted to the tale and grabbed the photo album, nearly knowking over a teacup in her excitement. See? That’s you and him! You re wearing a white dress!”

My breath caught.

A wedding photo. Me, younger, radiant, standing next to Julian in what looked like a garden.

I looked like I was in love. Completely, utterly in love.

“Elena, I can explain-” Julian started, his voice hoarse.

“You took my daughter,” I whispered, standing slowly. “You took her from school.”

“I didn’t take her,” he said quickly. “I found her. She was walking alone on a street, crying. I couldn’t just leave her there.”

“Mommy, it’s true!” Lila piped up. “I was lost and scared and the sad uncle helped me!”

“Lost?” I looked between them, confusion mixing with my anger. “How were you lost? Miss Robertson said you disappeared from the school gate.”

“I followed a pretty butterfly,” Lila said matter–of–factly. “It was blue and gold and I wanted to catch it for you. But then I couldn’t find ray way back and I got scared.”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify