Please Come Back, My Love novel Chapter 35

Chapter 35

Elena: POV

Everything happened so fast.

One second, Ethan was stumbling backward, his hand going his jaw. The next, Julian’s fist connected again this time with his stomach.

The sound was sickening. A dull thud that made my stomach lurch.

“Julian, stop!” I lunged forward, grabbing his arm. “Stop it right now!”

But he didn’t stop.

He shoved Ethan against the bodega wall, his forearm pressed against his throat. Ethan’s face went red, his hands coming up defensively, but he didn’t fight

back.

“You think you can put your hands on my wife?” Julian’s voice was low, deadly. “You think you can play the fucking hero?”

Julian!” I yanked on his arm with all my strength. “He didn’t do anything! He was just helping me!”

Ethan’s eyes met mine over Julian’s shoulder. And there was something in his expression–something that grew harder, more resolute. Fearless, even in the

face of Julian’s violence.

‘Why isn’t he fighting back?‘ I thought.

“I wasn’t- Ethan choked out, his voice strained. “I wasn’t touching her. I was just ”

Julian’s fist connected with his ribs. Hard.

Ethan doubled over, gasping.

“You were just what?” Julian grabbed his collar, hauling him upright. “Just happening to be here? Just happening to have your hands all over her?”

“It wasn’t like that!” I was crying now, tears streaming down my face. “Julian, please! He just gave me his jacket! He was calling me a car!”

But Julian wasn’t listening.

He hit Ethan again. And again.

Blood trickled from the corner of Ethan’s mouth. His eye was already swelling shut.

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And he still wasn’t fighting back.

“Stop it!” I threw myself between them, my hands on Julian’s chest. “Just fucking stop!”

Julian’s chesi was heaving, his gray eyes wild. For a moment, I thought he might shove me aside. Might keep going until Ethan was-

“You should be Elena s hidden husband, right?” Ethan’s voice cut through the chaos, rough and damaged.

11:37 am PO

Chapter 35

Tulian freae.

“Yeah, I know about that. Ethan spat blood onto the sidewalk, his eyes fixed on Julian. I’ve known for a while. And you know what? You don’t deserve her.”

The words hung in the air like a bons

‘You don’t deserve to be her husband, Ethan continued, wiping blood from his mouth with the back of his hand. “It was you she fought with, wasn’t it? You left her barefoot on the street. And you call yourself her husband?”

Julian’s entire body went rigid. “Shut the fuck up.”

“Why? Because it’s true?” Ethan straightened despite the obvious pain. “She deserves better than you. She deserves someone who actually-”

Julian moved.

But I was faster. I threw myself in front of Ethan, my arms spread wide, my body forming a shield. “You want to hit him?” My voice was shaking. “Then you’ll have to go through me first.”

Julian stopped dead. His fist was raised, his face a mask of fury.

“Elena, move.” His voice was cold. Controlled.

“No.”

“Move.”

“No!” I stepped closer, my chin lifted. “You want to beat him to death? Fine. But you’ll have to hit me first. Because I’m not moving.”

For a long moment, we just stared at each other.

I could hear Ethan breathing behind me. Could feel Julian’s rage radiating off him in waves.

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