CARA’S POV The heavy double doors swept shut, cutting off the night air and signaling Dante’s final departure.
Standing in the middle of the grand foyer of Aunt Val’s estate, I listened to the quiet crunch of gravel outside as his car pulled away into the dark.
He was gone.
A strange, hollow feeling settled low in my chest, and I forced it down before I could start questioning why it was there.
The silence that settled over the house was almost heavy enough to suffocate.
The staff had long since retreated to their quarters, Danny was upstairs fast asleep under heavy pain medication, and Aunt Val was down the hall reviewing security logs in her office.
That left only Julian.
Nobody had asked him to leave, and he made no move toward the exit.
He stood near the grand entryway, adjusting his cuffs while watching me with an intensity that made my skin prickle.
We hadn’t spoken a real word to each other all night.
When he showed up at the docks right as we were on the verge of finding Danny, everything had descended into pure chaos.
Then Dante had stepped in, taking complete control of the room and keeping Julian firmly at arm’s length.
But now, with the adrenaline of the rescue fading, the lingering wreck of our past stood staring me right in the face.
“You’re still here,” I said, my voice cold as I turned away to pick up a discarded glass from the console table.
I walked into the adjoining living room to set the glass down, and Julian followed me right inside, his shoes sinking quietly into the rug.
“I wanted to make sure you were actually okay before I left.” “I’m fine, Julian.” “Isa, look at me,” he murmured, his tone shifting into something soft.
He reached out to take my hand.
I let him hold it for one weak second before pulling my fingers back.
“Just listen to me.
I know what I did.
I know there’s no fixing it.
But we were together six years.
Six years, Cara.
That has to count for something.” “It did.” My voice came out rougher than I intended.
“It meant everything until the night I walked into your apartment and found her in your bed.” “I know.” He looked as if the words physically cost him something.
“I’ve thought about that night every single day since.
I keep trying to understand how I let it happen, and I don’t have an answer that makes it okay.
There isn’t one.” “Then stop trying to find one.” I stepped back toward the cold fireplace, putting space between us.
“You don’t get to explain your way out of this.
I gave you six years, Julian.
Since I was sixteen.
And you threw it away in one night with my best friend.” “I never stopped loving you.” His voice cracked.
“Not once.
When your dad, when everything happened and you vanished, I didn’t know if you were alive.
Do you understand what that did to me?
I called every hospital in three states.
I sat outside your old house for weeks hoping you’d come back.” “You don’t get to say that to me.” A sharp pain twisted in my ribs.
“You don’t get to turn this into your own tragedy.
I was the one who had to run.
I was the one who didn’t know if I’d live to see Danny again.
You got to stay here, safe, going to work every day like the world hadn’t ended.” “That’s not fair.” “None of this is fair!” My voice broke.
“None of it!
And you standing here now, reaching for me like the last six months never happened, that’s not fair either.” He stepped closer, reaching for my wrists.
“Isa, just listen to…” “Release her.” Aunt Val’s voice cut through the room from the living room doorway.
Julian dropped his hands immediately, stepping back with his palms raised.
“It’s not what it looks like.” Aunt Val walked fully into the room, stepping between us and keeping her eyes fixed on his face.
“You want to tell me what I’m looking at, then?” Her voice was low and dangerous, far worse than if she had screamed.
“You don’t get to come into my home and corner my niece.” She tilted her head slightly.
“Do you have any idea how broken Cara was when she called me that day?” “Aunt Val,” I said, reaching out to touch her arm, trying to stem the rising tide.
“Stop.” She ignored me, stepping further into Julian’s space.
“She cried until she couldn’t breathe.
I had to board a flight from Russia just to make sure she survived the week.” “Ma’am, I…” “Listen to me, young man.
You and my niece are finished.
Whatever existed between you is dead.
First thing in the morning, you leave this property, and you do not show your face near my family again.” She took a sharp breath, steadying her posture.
Julian’s jaw worked, but the fight had drained out of him.
“I’m sorry.
I’m so sorry for what I did to Isa.
I never meant for any of it to happen.” He swallowed hard.
“Things with Grace ended that same night.
I haven’t spoken to her since.” “Please,” I said, the anger draining into raw exhaustion.
“Just go.
I can’t look at you right now.” “I have something to tell you.” Julian’s eyes flicked to Aunt Val before returning to me.
“About your father.
Something you need to know.” “Not tonight.” Aunt Val’s tone shut down any room for negotiation.
“Whatever it is, it waits.
Out.” Julian held my gaze a moment longer before giving a tight nod.
“I’ll go.
For now.” He paused at the living room threshold.
“I’m not heading back to Woodend yet.
Not with all of this hanging over your head.” “I’m not asking you to stay,” I said.
“I know.” His voice dropped low.
“I’m staying anyway.
Because I still love you.” I turned my back to him, refusing to let the words take root.
A few seconds later, the heavy front door clicked shut down the hall.
Aunt Val’s hand rested gently on my shoulder.
“I’m so sorry, sweetie.
Everything is going to be fine.
I’m right here.” I let out a shaky breath, waiting for the knot in my chest to loosen.
“It’s okay.
I have you and Danny.
That’s all I need.” Aunt Val nodded quietly.
She guided me over to the large leather sofa in the center of the room.
We sat down together, and I pulled my knees up, leaning into her side.
I took in the familiar scent of her perfume, trying to anchor myself.
“Cara…
we need to talk,” she said, her body instantly going rigid against mine.
My pulse spiked.
“What is it?
You’re scaring me.” I sat up, pulling away to look at her face.
Her expression was entirely grim, the soft comfort from moments ago completely gone.
“It’s about your dad.” “What happened?
Did he find out where we’re staying?” She shook her head.
“No.
Worse.” “What could be worse than that?” She let out a slow sigh, her eyes heavy.
“My lawyer just called.
Your father is filing for full custody of Danny.” The air left my lungs.
The room went silent, the shock hitting so hard I couldn’t even form a response as the temporary safety we’d just fought for collapsed beneath us all over again.