Reborn at Eighteen The Billionaire's Second Chance novel Chapter 248

But then he wrote: “Thank you. For checking on me. It means more than you know.”

I stared at those words for a long moment, my throat tight, before typing back: “Just making sure you’re taking care of yourself. We need you functional for

this investigation.”

“Is that the only reason?”

My fingers froze over the keyboard. I could lie. Should lie. Should maintain the careful distance I’d been trying to establish.

Instead, I found myself typing: ‘Get some sleep, Julian. You need to rest.”

‘Only if you do the same. Promise me you’ll take care of yourself.”

Against my better judgment, I typed: “I promise. You too.”

“Goodnight, Elara. Thank you for not pushing me away tonight.”

I set my phone down and lay back on my bed, staring up at the ceiling, wondering when exactly I’d started looking forward to his messages, when I’d started feeling this pull toward him that I couldn’t quite resist.

Day Three: 12:30 PM

I was deep into a color study in the school studio, my hands stained with cadmium red and ultramarine blue, when someone knocked on the door. 1acked up, annoyed at the interruption, to find a delivery person in a crisp uniform holding an insulated bag.

‘Delivery for Elara Vance?” He checked his tablet. “From Marea?”

I blinked. “I didn’t order anything.”

‘It’s already paid for, including tip. Mr. Vane arranged it.” He held out the bag with a smile. “There’s a note.”

My face burned as I took the bag, acutely aware of the other students in the studio turning to stare. I opened it to find a carefully packed container of seafood risotto–my absolute favorite–along with a small tiramisu and a handwritten note on heavy cardstock.

The doctor says my wounds are healing well. You should eat properly too. -1

I stood there holding the note, my classmates‘ curious whispers buzzing in my ears, my chest doing something complicated and warm. He remembered. He remembered what I liked, how I always skipped lunch when I was stressed, how I’d once told him that Marea’s risotto was the best thing I’d ever tasted.

I pulled out my phone with paint–stained fingers and texted: “You didn’t have to do this.”

His response came immediately: “I wanted to. Besides, I know you skip lunch when you’re working. Someone has to make sure you eat.

‘How do you even know I skip lunch?‘

‘I pay attention. More than you think.”

I should have been annoyed by his presumption, by the way he kept inserting himself into my life. But instead, I found myself carefully unpacking the

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1:22 pm

Chapter 248

risotto, the scent making my stomach growl in a way that reminded me I hadn’t eaten since breakfast.

I took a bite, and it was perfect–exactly how I liked it, with just the right amount of saffron and parmesan.

I stared at that message for a long time, my chest tight with emotions I couldn’t untangle. Finally, I just sent back: “The risotto is really good.”

‘Good. That’s all I needed to hear.”

Raven slid into the seat across from me, her eyes wide with curiosity. “Was that from Julian Vane?”

It’s not what you think,” I said automatically.

“Uh–huh.” She grinned. “The great Julian Vane is now sending you gourmet Italian food. Totally not what I think.”

“We’re just…” I trailed off, not sure how to explain what we were. “It’s complicated.”

“Complicated is his middle name, Raven said, but her tone was gentle. “Just… be careful, okay? I know you’ve been through a lot with him.”

I will, I promised, and tried to mean it.

Day Five: 6:45 PM

I was in the middle of mixing a particularly tricky shade of burnt sienna when my phone rang. Julian’s name flashed on the screen, and my heart did that stupid flutter thing it had been doing all week whenever he contacted me.

‘Hello?‘

“Elara. His voice sounded strained, rougher than usual. ‘I’m sorry to bother you. I just… my back is really hurting tonight, and Atlas isn’t here. Could yo would you be able to come help me change the bandages?”

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