Reborn at Eighteen The Billionaire's Second Chance novel Chapter 154

Chapter 154

Elara

The hallway was narrow and dimly lit, the kind of space designed for

staff to move unseen between the dining rooms. Julian had pulled me

into this hidden corridor with such force that I’d stumbled in my

borrowed heels, catching myself against the wall while he released my arm and turned to face me, his expression unlike anything I’d seen before–raw fury mixed with something that looked disturbingly

like pain.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

His voice was low, controlled, but I could hear the rage underneath it.

I straightened, forcing myself to meet his eyes even though my heart was hammering so hard I could feel it in my throat.

“I’m having dinner with someone who actually wants to help me.”

“By pretending to be his girlfriend? By letting him parade you

around?”

His jaw was so tight I could see the muscle jumping beneath his skin. He took a step closer, and I instinctively pressed back against the

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wall.

“He’s using you to get to me. This whole thing–the dinner, the award

slot, calling you his girlfriend–it’s all just a game.”

“And what am I to you?” The question escaped before I could stop it,

and I watched something flicker across his face. “Your dirty secret?

The girl you fuck when you’re done playing perfect fiancé with

Sloane?”

His hand shot out, gripping my chin and forcing me to look at him.

“Don’t. Don’t reduce what we-”

“What we what, Julian?” I jerked my head away from his grasp, anger finally overtaking fear. “We don’t have anything. You made that very clear when you chose her over me, again and again.”

“This isn’t about choosing-”

“Then what is it about? Your image? Your family’s expectations?” I was trembling now, all the hurt and rage I’d been suppressing finally breaking free. “I asked you for one thing. One chance to prove myself. And you threw it back in my face like I was some gold–digger trying to

copy your fiancée.”

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He closed his eyes briefly, and when he opened them again, there was

something desperate in his gaze.

“You don’t understand what you’re doing. Marcus Hartley isn’t—”

“He’s giving me a chance you refused to give me.”

My voice cracked despite my best efforts. Julian’s expression

darkened, and before I could process what was happening, he had me

pinned against the wall, his body blocking any escape route.

“You think you’re punishing me. You’re using him to make me—”

“To make you what? Jealous?”

Even as I challenged him, my pulse raced at his nearness. His hand came up to rest against the wall beside my head, caging me in.

“Didn’t you know exactly what seeing you with him would do to me?”

The accusation hung between us. I wanted to deny it, wanted to tell him I’d had no idea he’d even be here. But the truth was more complicated. Some small, vindictive part of me had hoped he’d find out, had wanted him to feel even a fraction of the pain I’d endured watching him with Sloane.

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Footsteps echoed in the main hallway, followed by Marcus’s voice.

“Julian? Where’d you disappear to?”

Marcus appeared at the end of the corridor, his expression shifting

from casual to calculated as he took in the scene–Julian crowding me

against the wall, my flushed face, the tension crackling between us.

“Am I interrupting something?”

Julian didn’t move, didn’t even look at him. His eyes stayed locked on

mine.

“We’re having a private conversation.”

“Looks pretty one–sided from where I’m standing.” Marcus took a few steps closer, and I felt Julian’s body go rigid against mine. “Elara, sweetheart, are you alright?”

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