Second Marriage The Billionaire's Planned Love (Quinn and Julian) novel Chapter 244

Chapter 244 Too Close to Ignore

Finished.

Quinn didn’t respond after that, and the silence settled again, heavier this time, until Julian spoke once more, shifting the topic as if nothing had happened.

“The place is finished,” he said. “You and Lucy can move in. She’s not going to be able to get around much for a while, so I’ll have to count on you to look after her.”

Quinn nodded, her tone steady even if her thoughts weren’t. “She’s my best friend. That’s not something you have to ask. When I was in the hospital, she was there for me the whole time.”

“That may be true,” Julian said, glancing at her briefly, “but that doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate it.”

Quinn gave a small acknowledgment, but her mood didn’t lift.

She had already been feeling off when she left home earlier, and then Lucy got hurt, and now she was sitting here with Julian again, close enough that she couldn’t ignore him no matter how hard she tried.

The more she tried to avoid him, the more often he seemed to appear.

And every time he did, she felt herself slipping just a little further.

This isn’t something I can control anymore…

So the only thing I can do is stay away.

She kept her eyes on the window, refusing to engage, but even that didn’t help as much as she wanted it to, because she could still catch that faint, clean scent around him, something subtle but unmistakable, and it pulled her straight back to memories she didn’t want to revisit.

Leaning against him.

Falling asleep in his bed.

Moments that hadn’t been defined, hadn’t been labeled, and yet somehow already felt too real.

If this actually turns into something real, what happens when it ends? Would I even be able to walk away?

Fortunately, Julian didn’t press her further.

When they arrived, he personally helped Lucy upstairs, making sure she was settled before sending someone to bring over their things from the old place.

Quinn went along to help, but there wasn’t much to pack, so it didn’t take long.

When she returned, Lucy was already stretched out on the couch, her injured leg propped up, casually watching TV.

Julian wasn’t anywhere in sight.

Quinn let out a quiet breath of relief.

11:08 am P ppp.

Chapter 244 Too Close to Ignore

Finished

She carried Lucy’s things into the bedroom, then went to organize her own, and by the time she stepped back out, Lucy had moved to the dining table.

“Are you hungry?” Quinn asked. “What do you feel like eating?”

Before Lucy could answer, the kitchen door opened.

Quinn turned instinctively, not expecting anything.

And then she froze.

Julian walked out wearing an apron, holding a plate like it was the most natural thing in the world.

For a second, she just stared.

He hadn’t left.

Lucy, on the other hand, lit up immediately. “Julian’s cooking, so we don’t need to order anything. Come on, sit.”

Julian set the plate down and spoke as if this had already been decided. “You’re not going anywhere for a while, so I’ll come by and cook.”

If this had happened before, Lucy probably would have been overwhelmed, flattered, maybe even

nervous.

But now she understood perfectly well.

This wasn’t about her.

He’s not even trying to hide it anymore…

Still, she didn’t dare say anything.

“Got it,” Lucy said, playing along. “Thanks, Julian, seriously.”

11:08 am Pppp

11:08 am Pppp

Julian followed her into the kitchen without hesitation. “I’ll take care of it,” he said, reaching out.

Quinn set the dishes down and kept her voice polite, but there was a clear line in it. “You already cooked. It wouldn’t feel right making you clean up too.”

Julian didn’t move right away, and when he spoke again, his voice lost a bit of that easy tone. “If you really feel that bad, you could at least talk to me a little. You didn’t say a word during dinner. Anyone watching would think I did something to you.”

Quinn lowered her eyes, focusing on arranging the bowls as if that mattered more than anything else. “If you’re that dedicated, then… thank you for the effort.”

She turned to leave, clearly done with the conversation.

Julian reached out and caught her arm. “Quinn.”

The reaction was immediate.

She pulled away as if his touch had startled her, taking two steps back before she even realized she had

done it.

Julian’s hand remained in the air for a brief second before he let it fall, his gaze dropping to his own fingers, something quiet and unguarded passing through his expression.

He hadn’t expected that.

Not like this.

The way she looked at him, like he was something she needed to avoid.

Quinn didn’t look back. She walked out quickly, almost like she needed to put distance between them as fast as possible.

Back in her room, she sat down on the edge of the bed, her hands resting in her lap, but her thoughts refused to settle into anything clear.

She told herself she couldn’t get involved with him, because if she did, the ending would hurt more than she could handle.

But pushing him away like this didn’t make things easier either.

Then what was this feeling sitting in her chest, heavy and sour, refusing to fade?

Why does this hurt more than when I left the Lane estate….

11:08 am P Ppp.