Please Come Back, My Love novel Chapter 76

Chapter 76

But late at night, when the apartment was quiet and I was alone with my thoughts, I’d check my phone. Scroll through my messages. Look for his name.

Julian.

Nothing. Not a single text. Not a call. Not even a fucking enl

Part of me had expected him to reach out. To beg me to come back. To promise things would be different.

But why the hell would he do that? He’s never loved you. Never wanted you for anything more than sex and convenience.

The realization settled over me like a heavy blanket. Cold. Suffocating. Final.

Hed held onto the marriage because of his pride. His possessiveness. His need to control. Not because he actually gave a damtr about me.

And now that I’d left, he was probably relieved. Probably already planning how to explain it to his grandfather. Probably already thinking about Victoria.

Good. Let him have her. Let them be together.

2

By Friday afternoon-exact

one week after I’d left Julian-the vest was finished.

I’d hand-stitched the lining-champagne-colored silk that would feel soft against Arthur’s skin. Added tiny hidden pockets on the inside because I knew he liked to carry his reading glasses and his pocket watch.

The final touch was embroidering his initials on the inside back panel. A.S. In thread so dark it was almost invisible unless you looked close.

A secret. Just for him.

I held it up to the light, examining every seam, every stitch. It was perfect. The best work I’d ever done.

At least I can give him this. At least I can show him I was grateful for everything he did for me,

Sophia came home late that night, looking exhausted. She dropped her bag by the door and collapsed onto the couch beside me.

“Is that it?” she asked, nodding at the vest.

“Yeah.”

“It’s beautiful, Elena.”

“Thanks,” I folded it carefully, wrapping it in tissue paper. “One more thing to do tomorrow. Then it’s done.”

She squeezed my shoulder. “He’s going to love it.”

I hoped so. God, I hoped so.

2:04 pm

Chapter 76

MA

also rent that week thinking about what came next while I worked on the vest. After the birthday party. After the divorce went through. After I was finally free.

I wasn’t going to stay in New York. That much I knew. This city held too many memories.

No. I needed to leave. Start over somewhere new.

Maybe Europe. Paris, or Barcelona, or Milan. Somewhere with a fashion industry where i could use my skills. Somewhere far enough away that I’d never accidentally run into him at a restaurant or a gallery opening.

Somewhere I could raise this baby without his shadow hanging over us.

Tomorrow was the birthday party. Tomorrow I’d see Julian again. Face his family. Pretend everything was fine one last time.

And then I’d be done. Free. Gone.

But first, there was one more place I needed

to

Paws & Whiskers Café looked exactly the same as always. Same neon sign. Same cozy warmth glowing through the windows. Same cats lounging in the

front display.

I pushed open the door, and the bell chimed overhead.

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