Reborn at Eighteen The Billionaire's Second Chance novel Chapter 99

Chapter 99

My whole body tensed. I knew those footsteps. I’d heard them for

years. Coming down the hallway at Blackwood Estate. Coming into

my room without knocking.

The door opened.

Julian walked in. He stopped just inside. Looked at me.

I couldn’t read his expression. His face was controlled. Blank. But his eyes–they moved over me. Took in the thin gown. My bare feet. My

hands twisted in my lap.

Something flickered in his expression. Too fast to catch.

“Dr. Chen told me about the Plan B.”

My heart dropped. I’d known he’d find out. But hearing him say it

made it real.

He moved closer. Each step slow. Deliberate.

I wanted to back away. But there was nowhere to go. I was already

pressed against the examination table.

Chapter 99

“When did you take it?”

His voice was quiet. Too quiet. That was when he was most

dangerous.

“Saturday. After Atlas bought it for me.”

“Atlas bought it?”

The words came out sharp. His jaw tightened. I saw the muscle there

jump.

“I asked him to.” I kept my voice steady. Tried to. “I didn’t want to get

pregnant.”

Julian didn’t say anything. Just stared at me.

Five seconds passed. Ten.

Then he laughed. The sound was cold. Wrong. Nothing about it was

actually amused.

“You have quite the independent streak.”

He moved closer. Put his hands on either side of me on the

examination table. Not touching me. But close enough that I could

Chapter 99

feel the heat from his body. Could smell his cologne.

I pressed back. Tried to create space. There wasn’t any.

“Making decisions without telling me,” he said. His voice was low.

Controlled. But I could hear the anger underneath.

“It’s my body-”

“Your body?”

He leaned in closer. His face was inches from mine. I could see the

dark flecks in his eyes. Could see the tight line of his mouth.

“Elara. What did we agree this morning?”

I swallowed. My throat felt dry. “That you’d… handle certain

arrangements.”

“And taking emergency contraception behind my back–is that

following our agreement?”

I met his eyes. Forced myself to hold his gaze even though every

instinct told me to look away.

“I didn’t agree to give up control of my own body.”

Chapter 99

His eyes narrowed. I saw his hands grip the edge of the table harder.

His knuckles went white.

“You agreed to be mine.” His voice dropped lower. Dangerous. “That

includes your body.”

“No.”

The word came out stronger than I felt. My heart was pounding. My

hands were shaking. But I kept my chin up.

“I agreed to be your mistress. Not your property.”

Something changed in his expression. The anger was still there. But

underneath it–surprise? Uncertainty? I couldn’t tell.

He straightened. Took a step back.

The sudden space felt like I could breathe again.

He ran a hand through his hair. Messed it up. That was rare. Julian never looked anything but perfectly controlled.

“Dr. Chen says Plan B is harmful if used repeatedly.” His voice was

calmer now. Clinical. “You’re not to take it again.”

Chapter 99

“Then what-”

“I’ll arrange proper contraception.” He wasn’t looking at me anymore.

He was looking at the wall behind me. “Pills. Or an IUD. But nothing

happens without my knowledge. Understood?”

I wanted to argue. To fight. To tell him he couldn’t control every

single thing about my life.

But I was so tired. The fight drained out of me all at once.

“Understood.”

He glanced at me. Something in his expression softened. Just slightly.

“Good.” He turned toward the door. His hand on the handle. “Get

dressed. We’re leaving.”

He paused. Didn’t turn around.

“And Elara. Eat something today. You’re too thin.”

Then he was gone.

I sat there. Stared at the closed door.

Chapter 99

That last part–the concern in his voice. It confused me.

Was it real? Or just another way to control me?

I didn’t know anymore.

In the hallway, I stayed close to the wall. Tried to be invisible.

Julian walked ahead. His phone was out. His thumb moving across the screen. Already focused on something else.

I watched the back of his head. His shoulders. The way he moved.

I’d watched him for years. Knew every gesture. Every expression.

But I didn’t understand him. Not at all.

Then a voice called out. “Julian?”

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Reborn at Eighteen: The Billionaire’s Second