Reborn at Eighteen The Billionaire's Second Chance novel Chapter 66

Chapter 66

Elara

Julian’s fingers tightened around my wrist. Not enough to bruise. Just

enough to make it clear I wasn’t going anywhere.

He pulled me toward the brick wall beside the door. The rough surface

scraped against my shoulder blades as he positioned himself in front

of me, one hand still gripping my wrist, the other braced against the

wall beside my head.

Trapped.

“Explain,” he said, voice low and sharp, “what just happened in there.”

I tried to pull my arm free. His grip didn’t budge.

“I don’t understand what you’re-”

“Don’t.” The word cut through the air like a blade. He leaned closer,

eyes boring into mine. “You reinforced the ribbons on that dress. You

knew Victoria would try something, so you set a trap and waited for

her to walk into it.”

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I kept my expression carefully confused. “I was just worried about the

quality. Tristan gave me those dresses–how was I supposed to know

if I could trust them?”

His laugh was cold. “You really expect me to believe that?”

“I don’t know what you want me to-”

“I’ve been watching you, Elara.” His other hand came up, palm flat

against the wall on my opposite side, caging me completely. “Every

move you’ve made these past few weeks. You stopped chasing me.

Started calculating instead. Even learned how to lie without

blinking.”

My pulse hammered against my ribs. The alley felt too small, the air

too thin.

“So I’m going to ask you one last time.” His face was inches from mine now, close enough that I could see the flecks in his irises. “Did you

deliberately set up Victoria?”

The lie sat on my tongue, ready. No. Of course not. I would never-

But I was so tired of lying.

I took a breath. Met his eyes.

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“Yes.”

His pupils contracted. The fingers braced against the wall curled into

a fist. But he didn’t interrupt.

“Tristan’s ‘apology dinner‘ was a setup from the start,” I said, voice

steady now. “They prepared three dresses–all sabotaged. The black

one had loose ribbons. The blue had faulty clasps. The red had been

re–sewn at the seams. No matter which one I picked, I was supposed

to fall apart in front of everyone.”

I paused, watching his face. No reaction. Just that terrible, assessing

stare.

“I checked every dress. Chose the most obvious trap. Then I

reinforced it.” My voice dropped. “I knew Victoria would make a move.

Because…”

“Because what?”

“Because she’s done it before.” The words tasted like ash. “Last year.

Thanksgiving dinner at Blackwood. Someone tampered with my dress

-loosened the back seam. When I walked down the staircase, it split

open. Everyone laughed. I stood there for five minutes, not knowing

whether to go up or down.”

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Julian’s jaw tightened. “Why didn’t you tell anyone?”

The question was so absurd I almost laughed.

“Tell who? You?” I tilted my head, something bitter rising in my chest.

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