Reborn at Eighteen The Billionaire's Second Chance novel Chapter 40

Elara

“What?” Victoria sounded eager and excited like a child being offered.

candy.

k

“If people knew the truth about her–about what she did in that motel

with Mason, about how she’s always throwing herself at Julian.”

Sloane’s voice was casual, almost thoughtful. “If everyone at school

knew what kind of girl she really is…”

“I could post about it! On Instagram! On that anonymous school

forum!”

“Well…” Sloane’s voice was hesitant and uncertain, but I could hear

the smile underneath like poison wrapped in silk. “That might be a bit

cruel. But if you think it’s necessary…”

“It’s totally necessary! She deserves it!”

The sound of typing and laughter filled the room, and more typing,

and I stood there with the tea tray in my hands and the pastries

perfectly arranged like an offering to gods who would never accept it.

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I’d heard enough.

I kicked the door open and it slammed into the wall with a bang that

made Victoria scream and Sloane jump up from the bed where they’d

been hunched over Victoria’s laptop like conspirators plotting

murder.

They both stared at me frozen in place, their faces caught in

expressions of shock and guilt.

I walked in and set the tray down on Victoria’s desk hard enough that

tea sloshed over the edges and a cup fell over, brown liquid spreading

across the white surface like blood.

“You.” I looked at Sloane. “You did this.”

“Elara.” She stood up and smoothed her dress, composing herself with

practiced ease. “I don’t know what you think you heard, but-”

“You told her to post about me, you told her to ruin my reputation,

just like you tried to drug me in Boston.”

Victoria’s face went pale. “What?”

“Ask her.” I pointed at Sloane with a shaking finger. “Ask your perfect

Sloane what she put in that champagne and soup.”

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“That’s ridiculous.” Sloane’s voice was calm and controlled in a way

that made me want to scream. “You’re clearly upset and maybe you

should-”

I slapped her.

The sound cracked through the room like a gunshot and her head

snapped to the side, a red mark blooming on her perfect porcelain

cheek.

Victoria screamed. “You crazy bitch!”

She lunged at me but I turned and slapped her too, my palm

connecting with her face in a satisfying crack.

She stumbled back and hit the bedpost, sliding down to sit on the

floor with tears already streaming down her face in ugly sobs.

“Call security!” She was fumbling for her phone. “Call Jules! Call

everyone!”

Sloane touched her cheek gently, her eyes wide with shock as tears

gathered but didn’t fall–she was good at that, keeping them right on

the edge for maximum sympathy. “Elara.” Her voice trembled with

perfect victim intonation. “I know you’re going through a lot, but violence isn’t the answer. I’m willing to forgive you if-”

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“Save it.” I turned to leave.

“You’re going to regret this!” Victoria was on her phone dialing

frantically. “Julian’s going to be so mad at you!”

The door opened behind me and a maid–Anna–appeared, looking

between us with confusion at Sloane’s red cheek and Victoria on the

floor.

–

“Don’t let her leave!” Victoria pointed at me with her free hand.

“Block the door!”

Anna hesitated for a long moment before stepping in front of the

exit, her face apologetic but her body blocking my escape.

I sat down in the chair by the window and crossed my arms. “Fine. I’ll

wait.”

Thirty minutes later, car doors slammed outside and footsteps echoed

in the hallway–fast, angry, purposeful–and Victoria jumped up from the bed where she’d been nursing her wounded pride.

“He’s here!”

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The door opened and Julian stood there with his tie loose and his hair slightly messy, like he’d been running his hands through it in frustration, and his eyes went to Sloane first–always first, always her.

He crossed the room and gently touched her face where the red mark was still visible, his fingers trailing across her skin with tenderness

I’d never seen directed at me.

“Does it hurt?” His voice was soft and concerned, the voice he’d never

used with me, not even once.

Sloane shook her head and leaned into his shoulder with perfect

fragility. “I’m okay. As long as you’re here.”

Julian’s jaw tightened and he looked at me with eyes full of cold fury.

“What the hell is wrong with you?”

“She hit us!” Victoria was still crying, her mascara running down her

face in black streaks. “She just came in and started hitting us for no

reason!”

“No reason?” I stood up slowly. “I heard everything–how you planned

to destroy my reputation online, how Sloane encouraged you, how

you both think this is funny.”

“You’re hearing things.” Sloane’s voice was so reasonable and calm

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Chapter 40

that it made me want to scream. “Maybe the stress is affecting you,

maybe you need professional help.”

“I need help?” I laughed and it came out harsh and bitter. “You

drugged me, you’ve been stealing my paintings for years, you’ve been

sabotaging my life since you came back, and I need help?”

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