Reborn at Eighteen The Billionaire's Second Chance novel Chapter 216

Chapter 216

The ses of hot wiiee when she’s

settante thonghe of he has

been the disease ching she had to safety in a moms that hart never been kind so her.

Done waiting, done understanding, done being the secret I kept in the shadows while I smiled for cameras with

ay ben

ed in my pocket, but I ignored it. I knew who it was–Sloane, wondering where I was. Or my grandfather, demanding the pool investigation Or Alias, with some argent matter that couldn’t wait.

enf it mattered. Not anymore.

Turned away from the window and headed for the elevator, my decision crystallizing with each step. I didn’t know how I was going to do this, didn’t know what words I’d use or how I’d explain it. But I knew, with a certainty that felt like bedrock beneath my feet, that I couldn’t keep living this lie.

I pressed the button for the sixth floor.

When the elevator doors opened, I walked straight to Sloane’s room without hesitation. If I stopped to think, to second–guess, I’d lose my

nerve.

I knocked twice, firm and deliberate.

“Come in,” Sloane’s voice called from inside, and I pushed the door open.

She was sitting up in bed, and the sight of her stopped me in my tracks. Her eyes were red and swollen, mascara smudged beneath them despite the expensive skincare routine she never missed. She’d been crying–not the pretty, photogenic tears she could summon for cameras, but real, messy sobbing that left her face blotchy and her nose running.

The room was a greenhouse of sym

Ts crowding every surface, gifts from well–wishers who’d

1/3

216

st nudied to ha sale

oes he went into see a

Then he oversidered, donored Bit the ratio if the serie werdette e

tandererand Julian Vou had to make sure the with you are draperyotak

“I spent the entire night in her hospital room,” I cut her off, unable to let her build this narrative, this comfortable Serien as could both hide behind. “I was there until just now.”

nter face went pale. The hand that had been reaching for mine fell back to the blanket.

Sloane, I’ve been thinking about this for a long time, I continued, forcing myself to hold her gaze. About us About what were really doing here I took a breath, steadying myself. “I’ve fallen in love with Elara.

For a moment, Sloane just stared at me like I’d spoken in a foreign language. Then her face crumpled completely, and tears started streaming down her cheeks in earnest–not calculated, not controlled, just raw pain spilling over.

“So that’s it?” she choked out, her voice breaking. “You’re in love with her, so you’re just going to throw me away? Throw us away? Her hand moved to her belly, pressing against the slight swell there. “I’m carrying your child, Palian. Your child. How can you even think abou doing this to me? To us?”

The guilt was a living thing in my chest, clawing at my ribs, making it hard to breathe. This was exactly what I’d been afraid of the tears, the accusations, the knowledge that I was about to become the villain in her story, in everyone’s story.

But I’d made my choice. Standing in that hallway, looking out at the morning city and thinking about all the times I’d chosen duty over desire, responsibility over happiness–I’d finally understood what Elara had been trying to tell me all along

There was no compromise. No way to have both. I could either keep living the life everyone expectest of me, ar i euld choose the chans and uncertainty of loving Elara.

And I’d chosen her.

Tm going to take care of you and the baby.” I said, and I was surprised by how steady my wise sounded. Financially, legally- you need. The child will be recognized as a Vaur belt, with all the rights and privileges that entails. I’ll be involved in their life, I be

father to them. But Sloane..

2/3

13:20 Mon, Mar 30 N

Chapter 216

I had to force the next words out. “We’re going to announce that we’ve broken up. Mutually, due to irreconcilable differences. Besi

people we realized we wanted different things, that our relationship had run its course.”

‘You’re insane.” Sloane’s voice went shrill, all pretense of composure shattering. ‘Do you hear yourself? You know it this wil make me right? The woman who got knocked up and then dumped. The Kennedy girl who wasn’t good enough to keep a Vate. The scrambled to her knees on the bed, her hands gripping my shoulders. “Do you have any idea what that means in our world?”