Reborn at Eighteen The Billionaire's Second Chance novel Chapter 229

Chapter 229

Elara

Day Two.

Rain was falling when I left the apartment the next morning, cold drizzle that made everything gray. I stood under the bodega awning with my umbrella, watching the bus stop across the street, trying to decide if I should wait or spend money on a ride.

The Bentley appeared through the rain like a ghost, hazard lights flashing as it pulled up. Julian lowered the window.

“No,” I said before he could speak.

“Your canvas bag isn’t waterproof.” He nodded at my portfolio case. “You’ll ruin whatever’s inside.”

I looked down. He was right–the corner was already getting wet. Inside were three weeks of sketches for my Praxis semifinal. Work I couldn’t afford to lose.

I hesitated for three seconds. Then I crossed to the car and got in.

It was warm inside, almost too warm. Julian had coffee waiting–the expensive kind from that place near his office–and a towel on the seat next to me. I dried my face and hands before taking the coffee. It was exactly how I liked it: two sugars, splash of cream, hot but not burning.

“Thank you,” I said, because my mother had drilled good manners into me, even when I wanted to throw the coffee in his face.

“You’re welcome.”

Day Three.

The breakfast bag had a note: “Nutritionist says you need more Omega–3s. Smoked salmon and avocado. -I‘

I stared at his handwriting for a long time, my thumb tracing the sharp angles. Then I folded it carefully and put it in my coat pocket. I didn’t throw it away. I told myself it was because I might need it later, as evidence of something. But that was a lie.

Day Four.

I fell asleep in the car.

I hadn’t meant to. I’d been up until three working on my Praxis piece, eyes burning, hands cramping around the brush. When I got in the warm car and felt it start moving, my body just gave up.

When I woke up, my head was on Julian’s shoulder. His jacket was draped over me. We were parked in the school lot with the engine running, and Julian was working on his laptop with one hand. His other arm was curved around my shoulders, keeping me from sliding.

I jerked up, face burning. ‘How long-”

“Ten minutes. He closed the laptop. “You were exhausted. I didn’t want to wake you.”

‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to-

‘Don’t apologize. You needed rest.”

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11 am

Chapter 229

I should have pulled away. Should have grabbed my bag and run. But I was still half–asleep, still disoriented. When Julian said, “Five more minutes?” in that quiet voice, I found myself nodding and settling back against his shoulder.

He smelled like cologne and coffee and something that was just him. For those five minutes, I let myself pretend this was normal. That we were normal. That loving him didn’t mean destroying myself.

When his phone alarm went off, I sat up without being asked. Smoothed my hair. Reached for my bag. Julian didn’t try to stop me. Just handed me my

portfolio and said, “See you this afternoon,” like we’d just had an ordinary car ride.

I walked into school with his warmth still on my skin and his cologne on my sweater. I hated myself for how much I’d wanted to stay in that car, in that

moment, pretending he could be mine without it costing me everything.

Day Five.

I left class ten minutes early, slipping out while the teacher was still answering questions. The hallways were nearly empty. I moved fast toward the main

entrance, portfolio bumping against my hip.

I was getting used to Julian. That was the problem. I was starting to look forward to the warm car, the thoughtful breakfast, the quiet company. And that scared me more than anything Sloane or Victoria had done, because it meant I was softening. Letting him back in through cracks I’d worked so hard to seal.

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Reborn at Eighteen: The Billionaire’s Second Chance