Reborn at Eighteen The Billionaire's Second Chance novel Chapter 262

Elara

From the driver’s seat, Atlas spoke without turning around. ‘Mr. Vane has prepared all necessary documentation. The Vane family holds a significant

advantage in these negotiations.”

I wanted to ask what kind of documentation, what kind of advantage. But the words stuck in my throat. Instead I turned to the window and watched

Manhattan give way to highway.

Julian didn’t let go of my hand the whole drive.

The Kennedy estate looked like something from a movie–old brick, perfect lawns, the kind of money that had been there for generations. Atlas drove up the

long driveway and my stomach twisted tighter with every second.

A butler met us at the door. He led us through a marble foyer, down a hallway lined with paintings that probably cost more than my entire life, into a room

with dark wood paneling and leather furniture. Floor–to–ceiling windows overlooked gardens that must have needed a dozen people to maintain.

Robert and Kelly Kennedy were already seated on a burgundy sofa. Robert stood when we entered, shook Julian’s hand with the kind of careful politeness

that revealed nothing. He was maybe late fifties, silver in his hair, the build of someone who played tennis at country clubs. When he looked at me, his eyes

did that thing rich people’s eyes do–assessed, measured, dismissed.

“Mr. Vane, he said. “Welcome. Please, sit.”

Kelly Kennedy didn’t look up from the tea service on the table. She was younger than her husband, blonde hair in one of those styles that looks effortless but probably took an hour. Cream dress. Pearls. The uniform.

I didn’t see Sloane at first. She was sitting in a wingback chair off to the side, almost in shadow. When I did notice her, I felt something twist in my chest.

She looked terrible. Face pale and waxy, eyes swollen like she’d been crying for hours. A loose cashmere sweater, hands clasped tight in her lap. When she saw us–saw me–her expression went through about five emotions at once. Anger. Hate. Something that looked like despair.

What made it worse was how her parents sat with their backs to her. How neither of them had looked at her even once since we’d walked in. Kelly lifted her

teacup, took a sip, and I realized she hadn’t glanced at her daughter once. Like Sloane wasn’t even there.

Julian sat down beside me. He didn’t bother with small talk.

‘Mr. Kennedy,‘ he said. ‘I appreciate you meeting on short notice. I’m here to address my engagement to your daughter and propose a resolution that serves

both families.”

Robert Kennedy’s expression didn’t change, but something shifted in his eyes. He set down his teacup. I see. Mr. Vane, I understand your concerns. Sloane’s recent difficulties have created an unfortunate situation. The publicity has been regrettable.”

Kelly finally looked up. Her blue eyes moved from Julian to me and back. ‘We’ve been discussing this ourselves. We believe we have a solution that minimizes damage to both families‘ reputations.”

Julian waited. That patient silence that somehow felt aggressive.

Robert leaned forward. “We propose dissolving the engagement by mutual agreement. We’ll release a statement saying that due to Sloane’s health challenges -physical and mental–she’s unable to fulfill such a commitment right now. This protects both families while acknowledging reality.”

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Chapter 262

And in return, Kelly added, ‘we expect the Vane family to cease any investigation into Sloane’s past work. She’s suffered enough public humiliation. There’s no need to continue a vendetta that serves no one.”

Julian’s hand tightened around mine. From her chair, Sloane made a sound–half sob, half laugh. I watched her body shake. Tears slipped down her face as she stared at her parents. She opened her mouth like she wanted to speak, but nothing came out. After a moment she just closed it again, shoulders curving

inward.

I felt something complicated in my chest. Part of me wanted to see her face consequences. But another part, looking at her sitting there while her parents negotiated her future like she wasn’t even present, felt something close to pity.

I glanced at Julian. His expression had gone blank. That careful blankness that meant he was actually considering the offer.

My stomach dropped. He was going to accept. He was going to take the easy way out and Sloane would walk away with nothing more than a dissolved engagement and some vague health excuse.

The silence stretched out. Everyone waiting for Julian to respond.

“No.”

The word cut through the room. Robert Kennedy’s face shifted from polite to calculating.

Julian didn’t wait for a response. “Mr. Kennedy, I think you’ve misunderstood. I’m not here to negotiate ending my engagement to your daughter.”

He paused. I felt the power in the room shift.

“I’m here to inform you that I’m ending it. Unilaterally. Immediately. Without requiring your permission, cooperation, or input.”

Kelly’s teacup clattered against the saucer, Robert’s face flushed. “Mr. Vane, I don’t think you understand-”

“On the contrary. Julian’s interruption was deliberate. A power move. “I understand perfectly. You’re trying to use the dissolution as leverage to protect your daughter from consequences. But you’ve forgotten something.”

He let go of my hand and leaned forward. “There was never any formal agreement between our families. No contract. No legal documentation. The engagement was verbal, based on mutual benefit. Which means I can end it whenever I want, for whatever reason I want, without anyone’s permission.”

Atlas stepped forward and placed a leather portfolio on the coffee table. He opened it to show organized documents,

“Our legal team has prepared an analysis, Atlas said. ‘As you’ll see, there is no legally binding agreement between the Vane and Kennedy families. The engagement was entirely informal, giving Mr. Vane complete autonomy.”

I watched Robert Kennedy lean forward to look at the documents. Watched the moment he realized Julian was right. His jaw tightened. His hands clenched

into fists.

“What exactly are you saying?‘ Robert’s voice was tight. “That you’re just walking away? Abandoning my daughter while she’s pregnant with your child, while she’s dealing with mental health issues, while her reputation has been He stopped, seemed to remember I was sitting right there.

Julian’s expression didn’t change. ‘I’m saying the engagement is over. I’ll take full financial responsibility for the child. Trust fund, medical expenses, child support beyond any legal requirement. But I won’t marry your daughter. And I won’t let you use our engagement as a bargaining chip to protect her from accountability.”

The room felt like it might explode. Kelly had gone pale. Sloane made another choked sound.

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“Then what do you want?” Robert demanded. “If you’re not here to negotiate, if you don’t care about the child or Sloane’s wellbeing, why are we having this

conversation?‘

Julian sat back. I realized he’d been waiting for exactly this question.

“I’m here to discuss Sloane’s future in the art world. Specifically, I’m proposing that she permanently and publicly withdraw from all artistic pursuits.”

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