Please Come Back, My Love novel Chapter 59

Chapter 59

Victoria gasped. Evelyn, they re beautiful! You didn’t have to-”

“Nonsense. Consider it a welcome home gift. Evelyn’s smile was warm. Genuine. Everything she’d never given me.

My throat tightened. I pressed my hand against my stomach instinctive, protective.

“Mother,” Julian’s voice cut through the moment, sharp enough to make everyone turn. “We should probably head to dinner. The restaurant is expecting us.”

Thank God. At least there, at a table, I could hide behind a menu.

But then Evelyn’s expression changed. Subtly. Like storm clouds gathering on a clear horizon.

“Actually, Julian… She glanced at me-really looked at me for the first time since arriving-and something cold flickered in her eyes. “Victoria suggested we

take her car to dinner. She knows this wonderful place in TriBeCa.

No.

The word screamed in my head, but I couldn’t make it reach my mouth.

“Her car?” Julian’s hand on my waist went rigid. ‘Mother, we drove here together. Elena and 1-*

“I’m sure Elena won’t mind.” Evelyn’s tone was pleasant. Final. ‘After all, it’s been so long since we’ve seen Victoria. And you know how much your father and I enjoy catching up with her.”

She was doing this on purpose. Making it clear-crystal fucking clear-who was family and who was… what? An inconvenience? A temporary mistake?

“Mrs. Sterling,” I heard myself say, my voice surprisingly steady. “If you’d prefer→

“It’s settled then.” Evelyn was already linking arms with Victoria, steering her toward the exit. “Victoria, darling, tell me more about that Milan show. I heard Valentino himself attended?

Dylan followed without a word, his hand finding the small of Evelyn’s back in that automatic way married people move together. Like they were a single

unit. A teamı.

Julian stood frozen beside me, his jaw so tight I could see the muscle jumping beneath his skin.

“Julian,” I whispered. “It’s fine. Really. I can take an Uber-

“No.” The word came out harsh, Final. “That’s not-fuck.”

r

But his mother was already at Victoria’s car-a sleek silver Mercedes that probably cost more than most people’s houses. Victoria was holding the passenger door open, her smile victorious as Evelyn slid inside.

Julian!” Evelyn called out, waving from the window. “Don’t keep us waiting, darling. We’re absolutely starving.”

Dylan got into the back seat. The door closed.

And just before Victoria walked around to the driver’s side, she turned. Met my eyes across the parking lot.

2:00 pm MA

Chapter 59

Ha tie was slow. Poisonous. Triumpham.

Then she got in the car and drove away, taking Julian’s parents with her.

Julian’s hand finally dropped from my waist. He stood there, staring at the taillights disappearing into Manhattan traffic, his expression unreadable.

“I’m sorry,” he said finally, his voice flat. Empty. “She strouldn’t have-that wasn’t appropriate.”

Appropriate. Like this was a business meeting gone wrong instead of his mother making it painfully clear I didn’t belong.

“It’s fine,” I lied, hugging myself against the November cold. “Like you said, we should probably get going. Don’t want to keep them waiting.”

We walked to his Bentley in silence. He opened my door and I slid inside, the leather seats cold against my back.

The engine purred to life. Classical music filled the silence-some piano piece I didn’t recognize. Rrobably something cultured people were supposed to

know.

I stared out the window, watching the airport lights blur past, my hand pressed against my stomach where our baby was growing. A baby his mother would never accept. A baby I was hiding like it was shameful.

You’re not worthy of carrying my child.

Julian’s words from weeks ago echoed in my head, mixing with Evelyn’s cold dismissal.

Maybe they were both right. Maybe I’d never be worthy of this family.

“Elena.” Julian’s voice cut through my spiraling thoughts.

“Hmm?”

“Don’t.” His hand found mine on my lap, threading our fingers together. “Don’t listen to them. Don’t let them make you feel like you’re not enough.”

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2:00 pm

MA

Please Come Back, My Love

hapter 60

Elena: POV

The tenderness in his voice made my chest ache.

“Julian,” I said quietly, not pulling my hand away but not squeezing back either. “Your mother just made it very clear where I stand. Where I’ve always

stood.

“She doesn’t know you-

‘She doesn’t want to know me.” I turned to look at him, and something in my expression made him flinch. That’s the difference. Victoria gets diamond

earrings and warm hugs. I get polite dismissal.

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