Please Come Back, My Love novel Chapter 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 alwaysstood.

“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.

His jaw clenched. ‘I’ll talk to her.”

“Don’t The word came out sharper than I intended. “Don’t make it worse by forcing her to pretend.”

Silence fell again, heavier this time.

We drove through Manhattan, following Victoria’s Mercedes toward whatever restaurant she’d chosen. Probably somewhere elegant. Exclusive. The kind of place that would make me feel even more out of place.

My phone buzzed in my purse, I pulled it out, expecting maybe Mom checking in or Sophia asking if I was okay.

Instead, it was a text from an unknown number:

[Enjoying the welcome party? Don’t worry-it only gets worse from here. XOXO]

I stared at the screen, my blood running cold.

Victoria. It had to be Victoria.

“What is it?” Julian glanced over, concerned.

‘Nothing. I deleted the message, my hands shaking slightly. “Just spam.”

But as we pulled up to the restaurant-some trendy TriBeCa spot with floor-to-ceiling windows-I saw Victoria standing at the entrance, her phone in her hand, that same victorious smile on her face.

Julian parked and came around to open my door. His hand found the small of my back as we walked toward the entrance.

Victoria saw us approaching and waved, all false warmth. “There you are! Your parents are already inside.”

She linked her arm through mine- unexpected, invasive-and leaned in close enough that only I could hear.

“Try to keep up, sweetheart,” she whispered. “Evelyn wants to have a little chat with you. Alone.”

Julian hesitated. I felt it in the way his fingers pressed into my back.

“Go,” I said quietly, not looking at him. “I’ll be fine.”

Liar.

He squeezed my shoulder once-brief, almost apologetic-then followed his father out.

The door closed behind them with a soft click that sounded like a death sentence.

And then it was just the three of us. Me, Evelyn, and Victoria.

“Sit, Elena.” Evelyn gestured to the chair across from her again.

I sat. Kept my spine straight. My hands folded in my lap. Everything Mom had taught me about posture and presentation.

Don’t let them see you break.

Evelyn studied me for a long moment, her blue eyes assessing. Calculating.

“You know,” she said finally, I’ve been thinking about you quite a bit since Julian mentioned this… arrangement.”