Reborn at Eighteen The Billionaire's Second Chance novel Chapter 264

264

PMM.

Julian’s six cat through. His hand was on my face. “What’s wrong?”

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I forced myself to breathe. I was thinking about what you said. Sloane being sent to that facility, being isolated. My voice came out thin. “In my other life, that’s what happened to me.

His expression crumpled “Elara-

I was locked in that house. They druzzed me, said it was for postpartum depression. But really it was to keep me compliant, to make me paint for Sloane.” I had to stop, swallow, “When the drugs made me too fozzy to create, they took Lily. Put her in foster care. I couldn’t stop them because your family made

sure 1 had no rights.”

Julie’s hand tightened around mine.

“So I understand what Sloane’s about to go through,” I said quietly. “Being sent away by her own family. Losing control. It’s hell.”

Julian was quiet for a long moment. When he spoke, his voice was rough. “What the Kennedys are doing to Sloane, what my family did to you–it’s the same thing Being vulnerability as leverage

He turned to face me fully. “But I’m not them. I’m not my grandfather, not Tristan. Yes, I’m ruthless. Yes, I’ll destroy anyone who threatens you. But you—” His voice cracked. “You’re not a possession. You’re the person I choose, every day, over everything else.”

I searched his face. All I saw was honesty.

“Tell me something, I said. “About Sloane. The baby. What’s really going to happen?”

Julian took a breath. Sloane will have the best prenatal care. I’ll make sure of it–the baby’s innocent. After the birth, there’ll be a nanny, medical staff. The

child will want for nothing

“And Sloane?‘

She’ll get a settlement. Enough to live comfortably anywhere she wants, as long as it’s not New York and she stays away from art.” He met my eyes. “I’ll also make sure she has access to good therapists. I’m not trying to destroy her completely. Just make sure she faces consequences while still having a path

forward.

Something loosened in my chest. “Why? After everything she did?”

“because you care, His voice was soft. ‘I can see it in your eyes–you’re thinking about what it felt like to be in her position. And as much as you want justice, you don’t want her to suffer the way you did.”

I felt tears prick my eyes. In my other life, Julian had never asked what I thought, what I wanted. But this Julian was different.

“You’re right,” I said. ‘I don’t want her to suffer like I did. Not because she deserves mercy, but because someone with nothing to lose is dangerous. If we destroy her completely, she’ll find a way to strike back. But if we give her a way out–maybe she’ll take it.”

Julian nodded slowly. ‘Smart.”

I learned from you.

He studied my face. “When did you get so calculating?”

“When I stopped being afraid of you? The words came out before I could stop them. “When I realized being with you didn’t mean giving up my own

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Chapter 264

judgment. When I understood you’d actually listen.”

Something shifted in his expression. “I’ll always listen. Even when I don’t agree. Your voice matters more than anything.”

He leaned forward, resting his forehead against mine. We stayed like that while the car moved through traffic, the city lights streaming past.

Finally, Julian pulled back slightly. “I’ll call my lawyers tomorrow. Make sure the settlement is generous. And I’ll find therapists who can help her.”

And you’ll make sure she knows the baby will be taken care of?”

I’ll make sure she knows. That even though we can never be together, her child will be loved.”

I nodded, watching the city approach. My hand was still in Julian’s, our fingers intertwined.

“Elara?”

“Yeah?”

“What you said about being isolated and controlled.” His hand tightened. “That’s never going to happen to you again. I swear. I will never use my power to

cage you. You have my word.”

I looked at him and saw someone who meant it. Someone who’d proven, over and over, that he was willing to be better.

“I believe you,” I said.

We drove the rest of the way in silence, his hand holding mine. When Atlas pulled into the underground garage, Julian turned to face me.

“Thank you,” he said quietly. “For trusting me enough to tell me about Lily, about everything. I know it cost you.”

“You’re welcome.” I didn’t move to leave. “And thank you for believing me. For not dismissing it as impossible.”

‘I’ll always believe you.” He reached up to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. “And I’ll spend the rest of this life proving I’m not the man I was in that

timeline.”

I leaned into his touch. “You already are. You’re already different.”

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