Chapter 38
When Amara walked back to the table, the candlelight seemed harsher than before. Jullian stood up immediately, his eyes scanning her face with an intensity that made her want to flinch.
“Are you okay?” Jullian asked, his brow furrowed. He stepped toward her, his hand hovering near her arm. “Did you see anyone there? You were gone a long time p>
Amara looked at the half-eaten food, the expensive wine, and the man who was trying so hard to protect a version of her that no longer existed. The air in the restaurant felt too thick to breathe.
“No,” Amara said, her voice flat and exhausted. “I just want to go home. Please… take me home p>
Jullian searched her eyes for a moment longer, sensing the wall she had just built between them. He didn’t push. He reached for his coat and signaled for the check.
“Alright, Amara,” he said softly, his voice tinged with a hint of disappointment he couldn’t quite hide. “If you say so p>
They walked out into the cool night air in total silence. Behind them, inside the restaurant, Seb’s voice could be heard rising in a frantic phone call to Elara, the first domino in the collapse of the life they had built on lies.
The drive was suffocating. The hum of the expensive engine was the only thing filling the silence between them as the city lights blurred into long, light streaks against the window.
Jullian kept one hand on the steering wheel, his knuckles white. He glanced at Amara. She was staring out at the passing trees, her reflection in the glass looking like a ghost of the woman he had sat down to dinner with an hour ago.
“You’re trembling,” Jullian said softly.
Amara didn’t pull her hands away from her lap; she just tucked them deeper into the folds of her coat. “It’s just cold. The restaurant was… drafty p>
“Amara.” He pulled the car to the curb, the tires crunching against the gravel. He turned off the ignition, and the sudden silence felt louder than the engine ever had. “Don’t lie to me. Your eyes are different. You look like you’ve seen a ghost, or like you’ve just killed one p>
Amara finally turned her head. Her face was pale, but her gaze was steady. I didn’t kill a ghost, she thought. I just buried the man I used to love.
“I told you, Jullian. I just need time,” she said, her voice barely a whisper. “But seeing him all the time is heavy. I didn’t realize how much it would weigh until I had it in my hands p>
Jullian reached out, his fingers grazing her cheek. He was searching for the girl who used to give in to pressure and was madly and crazily in love with Seb, but he couldn’t find her.
“Is this about Sebastian?” he asked, his voice dropping an octave. “Did he follow you there p>
Amara forced a small, hollow laugh. “It doesn’t matter if he did. He’s part of the past now. A past that’s currently falling apart at the seams p>
She looked at Jullian, really looked at him, the man who promised to support her no matter what. “You said you’d take me somewhere next weekend. Somewhere I can breathe p>
Jullian nodded, his expression unreadable in the dark of the car. “I meant it p>
“Then take me,” she said, her voice gaining a sharp, cold edge. “Because if I stay here, I might end up burning down more than just Elara’s reputation and Seb’s Company p>
Jullian stared at her for a long beat, realizing for the first time that the woman sitting next to him was stronger than he had thought she was.
“Buckle up, Amara,” he said, restarting the engine with a low growl. “We’re going home p>
The car pulled up to the front yard of Amara’s house. The streetlights cast a soft, amber glow over the dashboard. Amara reached for the door handle, but she paused, her hand hovering in mid-air. The silence wasn’t heavy anymore; it was strangely peaceful.
“Amara,” Jullian said, his voice low and steady.
She turned to look at him. He was looking at her with patience that made her heart ache.
“I know things are moving fast,” he continued, his thumb brushing the steering wheel. “And I know you’re fighting a war right now. But you should know something. I’ve waited ten years for you. Ten years to have a chance with you, like now p>
Amara’s breath caught. Ten years? “I’m in no hurry at all,” he added with a faint, genuine smile. “I can wait a little longer for you to find yourself again p>
For the first time that night, the tension in Amara’s shoulders vanished. The ice she had built up in the bathroom with Seb began to melt. She felt a warmth spread through her chest, a sense of safety she hadn’t felt in a long, long time.
“Do you she started, then cleared her throat. “Do you want to come in? For some coffee? It’s late, but I don’t think I can sleep yet p>
Jullian looked at the darkened windows of the Pedro mansion, then back at her. A playful, mischievous glint entered his eyes, breaking the serious mood.
He let out a short, soft laugh. “Coffee, huh p>
“Just coffee,” she teased, a real smile finally touching her lips.
Jullian shook his head slowly, his grin widening. “I’d better not, Amara. I have a feeling that if I walk through that door tonight, I might never want to leave p>
Amara felt her face heat up. It wasn’t the forced blush she used to wear; it was real.
“Fair point,” she whispered.
“Get some rest,” Jullian said, his voice softening again. “I’ll call you in the morning. And Amara? Don’t think about Seb. He’s not worth the sleep you’re going to lose p>
Amara nodded, stepped out of the car, and watched him drive away. As she walked up to her door, she realized she wasn’t thinking about Seb at all. She was thinking about the man who had waited ten years just to tell her he wasn’t going anywhere.