Reborn at Eighteen The Billionaire's Second Chance novel Chapter 55

The lunch bell rang just as Madison’s threats were still echoing off

the art room walls. I grabbed my backpack and pushed past the

dripping, furious girls blocking the door.

“This isn’t over!” Madison shrieked behind me. Her mascara–streaked

face twisted with rage. “You’re finished, Elara! Finished!”

I didn’t look back.

The hallway was packed with students heading to the cafeteria.

Conversations died as I walked past. Phones came out. More photos.

More videos to add to the collection.

Let them look.

My clothes were damp from the water fight. My hands were paint-

stained. My hair had come loose from its bun. I looked like I’d been

through a war zone.

Maybe I had.

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Chapter 55

I kept my chin up. Kept walking. I could make it home, eat lunch in

peace, and-

My phone buzzed. Then again. And again.

Instagram notifications flooded my lock screen. Dozens of them.

Then hundreds.

I stopped walking. Leaned against the brick wall outside the school’s

east entrance. Opened the app with shaking fingers.

The first thing I saw made my breath catch.

The tide had turned.

All the hateful comments–the ones calling me a homewrecker, a slut,

a gold–digger–most of them were gone. Deleted. The accounts that

had posted them were suspended or disappeared entirely.

In their place, a new hashtag dominated the trending topics:

#VaneGroupStatement.

I clicked on it.

The official Vane Group Twitter account–two million followers,

verified blue checkmark–had posted a statement one hour ago:

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Chapter 55

“Regarding recent online rumors: Miss Elara Vance is the daughter of

a deceased employee of the Vane family and has been under our care

since childhood. The allegations of an ‘improper relationship‘

between Miss Vance and Mr. Julian Vane are completely false and

defamatory. We have identified several accounts spreading malicious

rumors and have referred the matter to our legal team. We will pursue

all legal remedies available.”

Below the text: the Vane Group legal department’s official seal and

signature.

The comments section had exploded.

“OMG so she’s not a homewrecker? We totally got it wrong!”

“Feel so bad for her now… imagine being raised by them and then

getting accused of this.”

“Wait so all those posts calling her a slut were lies??”

But there were skeptical voices too:

“Why would the Vane Group defend her if she’s ‘nothing‘ to Julian?”

“This smells like damage control. Rich families always protect their

own.”

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Chapter 55

My hands were trembling. I gripped the phone tighter, staring at the

screen until the words blurred together.

He did this.

Julian did this.

But why?

I told him to stay out of my life. I said we should keep our distance. I

walked out of Blackwood Estate and swore I’d never go back.

And now he’d issued a public statement–from the company-

defending me?

My chest felt tight. Too many emotions at once. Relief that the worst

of the harassment might stop. Confusion about Julian’s motives.

Anger that he’d made this decision without asking me,

And underneath it all, a sick, twisting dread.

Because Julian Vane never did anything without expecting something

in return.

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Chapter 55

I took the subway home. The train was nearly empty–most people

were at work or school. I sat in the corner, backpack clutched to my

chest, and watched the darkness of the tunnel flash past the

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