Please Come Back, My Love novel Chapter 41

1:58 pm MA

Please Come Back, My Love

Chapter 41

Elena: POV

I watched his silhouette disappear through the bedroom door, the soft click echoing like a final judgment in the silence.

For a moment, I just lay there. Staring at the ceiling. Listening to his footsteps fade down the hallway, then the distant sound of the front door opening and closing.

Gone. Again.

Always fucking gone when Victoria called.

My hand moved to my stomach, fingers splaying protectively over the still-flat surface. Seven weeks. A tiny life growing inside me that its father would never want. Never know about.

I’m sorry, baby, I thought, tears burning behind my eyes. I’m so sorry your father is such a fucking coward.

The bed felt too big. Too empty. Too cold.

Don’t think about it, I told myself. Don’t think about where he is right now. Who he’s with. What he’s doing.

But I couldn’t stop the images. Julian holding Victoria. Stroking her hair. Whispering those gentle words he never said to me.

The hours crawled past. One AM became two. Two became three.

He’s never coming back, a bitter voice whispered in my head. Not tonight. Maybe not ever.

Dawn broke through the floor-to-ceiling windows, painting the bedroom in shades of gray and rose.

I dragged myself out of bed, my body heavy with exhaustion. The mirror showed the damage-dark circles under my eyes, skin pale as paper, hair a tangled mess.

I looked like a ghost.

The concealer did its job covering the worst of the shadows, and a bit of blush brought some color back to my cheeks. But I couldn’t hide the hollow look in my eyes.

Get it together, I told my reflection. You can’t fall apart. Not yet.

I stepped out into the hallway, my bare feet silent on the hardwood. “What are you doing here?”

“Elena.” Her voice was syrup-sweet, dripping with false concern. “You look terrible. Those dark circles… did you not sleep?”

I didn’t answer. Just stood there, my arms crossed over my chest, trying to look stronger than I felt.

“Of course you didn’t sleep, Victoria continued, her smile widening. “You were up all night wondering where Julian was. Wondering who he was with.” She paused, letting the words sink in like poison. “Julian stayed with me until dawn. Held me while I cried. Such a caring man.”

The words hit me like physical blows. My stomach twisted, bile rising in my throar

All night. He stayed with her all night.

“He was so sweet,” she went on, examining her perfectly manicured nails. Stroking my hair. Telling me everything would be okay. Making me tea. All those little gestures that show someone really cares. Her eyes flicked to mine. “You know what I mean, right? Oh wait-I forgot. He doesn’t do those things for you, does he?”

My hands clenched into fists at my sides. “Why are you here, Victoria?”

 “Why?” She laughed, light and musical. “Because this is where I belong. Julian and 1-we’re meant to be together. Everyone knows it.” She took a step closer. “You’re just… temporary. A mistake he’s trying to fix.”

“Then why hasn’t he divorced me yet? The words came out before I could stop them.