Reborn at Eighteen The Billionaire's Second Chance novel Chapter 268

Chapter 268

‘Terminate? Sloane’s smile was bitter. I tried. But my parents found out. And suddenly I had lawyers and doctors all explaining why that wasn’t ‘in anyone’s best interest. Her fingers drummed on the armrest. “So here we are. I carry it, I deliver it, and then it becomes Julian’s problem while I get my settlement and disappear. Everyone wins.”

“Except the baby.”

“The baby will be the heir to two fortunes, raised by nannies in a mansion, wanting for nothing. It’ll be fine. Better than fine–it’ll have everything I never did. Real legitimacy. Real acceptance. Her voice cracked.

I looked at her, searching for the monster I’d built in my mind. The woman who’d stolen my art, pushed me into a pool, tried to drown me. But all I saw was a girl barely older than me, trapped and hating the child growing inside her and hating herself for it.

“Do you love him?” The question came out quieter than I meant. “Julian. Did you ever actually love him?”

“Love?” She tested the word. “What does that even mean? I loved the idea of him. I loved what we represented together–the perfect couple, the merger of dynasties, the life we were supposed to have.”

“But as it love?” She continued, harder now. “Or was it just comfortable? Safe? The future I was supposed to want?” She looked at me directly. “Here’s what I’ve learned in this place: love is the most useless thing in the world. It doesn’t protect you. It doesn’t save you. It just makes you weak and stupid and willing to destroy yourself for someone who’ll never choose you back.”

“That’s not-

“Isn’t it?‘ Sloane leaned forward. “You loved Julian. Look what it cost you. I loved him too, in my way. Look where I am. Love is just another word for losing.”

Footsteps in the hallway. The door opened without warning. Julian stepped inside, his presence filling the room. He looked between us, his expression carefully neutral, but I saw the tension in his shoulders.

I thought you might want a ride back,” he said to me, though his eyes were on Sloane. “Unless you need more time.”

Sloane’s face went blank, all traces of vulnerability erased. “No, please. Take her away. I’m sure you both have better things to do than visit the crazy pregnant girl.

When he spoke, his voice was quiet but firm, “Before we leave, there’s something you should know. The baby will need a DNA test after birth. Standard procedure for establishing paternity and inheritance rights.”

The color drained from Sloane’s face. Her hand flew to the wall for support. She stared at Julian with something like panic. ‘What… what are you talking about? Of course it’s yours. Who else would-

“I’m not accusing you of anything, Julian said, steel underneath the gentleness. It’s simply procedure. My lawyers insist on it. For the child’s protection.

Sloane’s legs gave out. She sank back into the chair, all color gone. Her breathing went shallow and rapid. She pressed both hands to her stomach. When she managed. “When would this test happen?‘

After the birth. Once you’ve recovered, Julian’s voice stayed steady. “Nothing invasive. Just a cheek swab.”

“Right.” Sloane’s voice was barely a whisper. “Right. Of course. That makes sense. But her hands were shaking. She couldn’t meet his eyes.

Julian watched her for a long moment. Then he turned to me, his hand touching my elbow gently. “We should go.”

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Chapter 268

The hallway felt longer on the way out. Julian’s hand stayed on my lower back as we walked past the common rooms and through security. Neither of us

spoke until we were in the car, the gates closing behind us.

“She panicked,” I said quietly, watching the facility disappear. “When you mentioned the DNA test.”

Julian’s hands tightened on the steering wheel. “I know.”

“You think the baby might not be yours.”

“I think Sloane has spent her entire life building a persona. Somewhere along the way she lost track of what was real.” He glanced at me. “I think she’s

capable of anything if she believes it will get her what she wants. And I think she’s terrified of what the truth might show.”

“What will you do if the test results were really similar to what you guessed?”

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