Reborn at Eighteen The Billionaire's Second Chance novel Chapter 138

Chapter 138

He hung up. Gave Atlas an address without looking at me.

The car turned around.

For several blocks, neither of us spoke. Julian stared out the window.

His jaw was set. His shoulders were tense.

I knew that tension. I’d seen it before, in my past life. It was the

tension of a man trying to be in two places at once. Trying to manage

two parts of his life that didn’t fit together.

In my past life, I’d always been the part he sacrificed. The part he put

aside when Sloane called.

Nothing had changed.

“I’ll drop you off,” he said quietly.

“Don’t bother.” I reached for the door handle even though the car was

moving. “Let me out here.”

“Elara-”

Chapter 138

“You made your choice.” I looked at him. Really looked. “You always

do.”

Something crossed his face. Pain, maybe. Or frustration. It was hard

to tell.

“It’s not that simple.”

“Yes, it is. She calls. You go. That’s how it works.”

“She’s pregnant with my child-”

“I know. You don’t have to explain.” My throat felt tight. “Just let me

out.”

“I can’t just leave you on a random street corner-”

“Yes, you can. You’re good at leaving.”

He flinched. Actually flinched.

The car slowed. Julian stared at me. His eyes were dark. Unreadable.

“Fine,” he said. “Atlas, pull over.”

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Chapter 138

The car stopped at the next corner. Somewhere in Brooklyn. I didn’t

even know where.

I opened the door. Got out.

Julian leaned forward. “Elara-”

His phone rang again. Sloane. Again.

He looked at the phone. Looked at me.

I knew what he was going to do before he did it.

He answered the call. “I’m five minutes away. I promise. Just breathe.”

I closed the door. Stepped back onto the sidewalk.

Through the tinted window, I saw Julian’s mouth moving, Saw him

talking to Sloane, reassuring her, telling her everything she needed to

hear.

The Maserati pulled away from the curb. Disappeared into traffic.

I stood there on the corner. People walked past me. The city moved

around me.

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Chapter 138

My phone buzzed. Raven.

“Where are you? Are you okay?”

I looked around. Found a street sign. Texted her my location.

“Stay there. I’m coming.”

Twenty minutes later, she showed up. She was dragging the easel and

the folding table. Her face was red from running.

“I grabbed everything,” she panted. “Took two subway trains. Are you

okay? Did he hurt you?”

“No.” I took the easel from her. “I’m fine.”

“What happened?”

“The same thing that always happens.” I started walking, Raven

followed. “He got a call from Sloane. She needed him. He left.”

Raven was quiet for a moment. Then: “He’s an asshole.”

I almost smiled. “Yeah.”

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Chapter 138

We walked to the subway station together. The evening rush was

starting. The platform was crowded. We stood there with all our

supplies, looking like exactly what we were–two broke art students

trying to survive.

But my pocket was full of cash. Cash I’d earned. Cash that was mine.

I thought about Emily and her friends showing up to support me.

About the couple with the pink–haired girl. About the old man with

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