Reborn at Eighteen The Billionaire's Second Chance novel Chapter 226

Chapter 226

He started to protest, but I raised my hand.

“I need to go back to my room. I need to collect my things. You don’t need to follow me.”

For a moment, I thought he might argue. His whole body was tense, like he wanted to grab the wheelchair and refuse to let me leave. But then something in his face shifted–a tired acceptance that made him look older than I’d ever seen him.

“Let me at least help you,” he said quietly. “Let me push you back.”

I wanted to say no. To tell him I could manage alone. But my arms were shaking, and the thought of navigating the corridors by myself made my chest tight.

So I nodded once, and felt his hands settle back on the handles.

We moved through the hospital in silence. Just the soft whir of wheels and the beeping of machines behind closed doors. I kept my eyes forward, but I could

feel him behind me like a weight.

When we reached my room, he helped me inside, then stood by the door while I gathered my things–my phone, my clothes from last night, still damp and smelling of chlorine. I moved slowly, trying to ignore the way he was watching me.

“Where will you go?” he asked.

I paused. “Home. Back to the Bronx.”

“The garage apartment. With your roommates.”

Yes.”

“Let me drive you-”

“No.” The word came out sharp. I softened my tone. “My mother is coming to pick me up.”

He didn’t argue. Just nodded and stepped back.

“Elara.” Julian’s voice was soft. “I know you said no. But can I ask you one thing?”

I looked up. He was gripping the doorframe like it was the only thing keeping him upright.

“What?”

Is there any chance–in the future, is there any chance you might change your mind? If I prove I can be different?”

The question hung between us. I thought about lying, about making this easier. But I’d spent too long lying to him, to myself.

‘I don’t know, I said honestly. “Maybe. But Julian–I can’t spend my life waiting to find out if you’ll become the person I need. I have to move forward. I have to build a life that doesn’t revolve around you.”

He nodded slowly. “But you’re not saying never.”

“I’m saying not now. And maybe not ever. I’m saying I need to focus on myself, on my art, on building a future that belongs to me. I can’t be your secret

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Chapter 226

anymore. I can’t be the person you choose only when it’s convenient.”

“I chose you in front of everyone-

“I know. And I’m grateful. But Julian, you hesitated. When I asked you to choose, you hesitated. And that told me everything.”

He looked like I’d slapped him. “I only hesitated because I was trying to figure out how to do it right, how to minimize the damage-

“Exactly. You were thinking about damage control. About protecting your family’s reputation, about making sure Sloane and the baby would be taken care of. Those are important things. But when you really love someone, you don’t calculate the cost before you choose them. You just choose.”

Footsteps in the hallway. Julian opened his mouth, closed it, then spoke so quietly I almost didn’t hear.

*Please leave, Elara. This is for both of us.”

I blinked

Something we’ll both regret. Be

d, his voice breaking. “Just g

nents

Town on my knees and beg you for another chance, before I promise things I’m not sure I can

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Reborn at Eighteen: The Billionaire’s Second Chance