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Chapter 41

Penulis: Michy Gaza
last update Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-08-11 23:50:57

From behind, Elara watched them, this strange, wonderful picture that felt both brand new and achingly right. For the first time in years, she wondered if maybe, just maybe, Mira wouldn’t have to grow up without knowing what it felt like to have a father who adored her.

Julian glanced up then, catching Elara’s gaze over Mira’s shoulder. Something unspoken passed between them, a silent acknowledgment that this moment had changed everything.

He adjusted Mira on his hip, ready to head out, when Lydia’s voice stopped them.

“Elara,” her mother said softly, drawing her aside. Her eyes were warm but steady. “You know… not all parents have to be connected by blood. Sometimes, the ones who choose to stay, the ones who decide to love a child as their own, they’re the ones who end up being the perfect parents.”

Elara’s throat tightened. She understood exactly what her mother meant, and the gentle certainty in Lydia’s tone made her chest ache in the best way.

Her gaze flickered to Julian, who was
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  • UGLY? No More!   Chapter 50

    Vivienne hummed low and thoughtful a dangerous sound, “Julian, my darling, you must realize if the Shaws ever find out, if Leonard even gets the faintest whiff that this child is his blood, he will use it. He will come for her. Not out of love, not out of paternal instinct but because men like him cannot bear the thought of someone else claiming what they believe is theirs”Her tone hardened “Especially not you”.Julian lifted his chin “He won’t take her from me”.Vivienne’s lips curved though the smile was devoid of softness this time “That’s the spirit but it isn’t about what you want or what you’ll fight for. It’s about perception. About power. The Shaws thrive on both and if they sense weakness they’ll exploit it. And a hidden child… oh that’s the kind of scandal that could ignite wars in boardrooms and headlines alike”.Julian’s jaw flexed “Then we’ll be ready”.Vivienne studied her son closely and for the first time that evening her gaze softened just a fraction “You truly love

  • UGLY? No More!   Chapter 49

    His mother studied him for a long, silent moment, as though trying to see past the polished armor he wore so easily. Finally, she exhaled softly, a sign of reluctant patience.“Fine,” she murmured. “But don’t make me wait too long, Julian. I’ve missed enough of her life already.”She moved toward the door, but not without giving him one last pointed look over her shoulder, the kind that said she wasn’t letting this go.When she was gone, Julian stayed where he was, staring out at the glittering skyline. His phone buzzed in his pocket, a text from Elara.Dinner’s on. Mira’s still talking about the slide.His lips twitched. Complicated or not, that was his family now. And he’d burn down anyone who tried to take it from him.The buzz of Elara’s text was still warm in Julian’s palm when instinct shoved him into motion.He strode out of the room and down the long corridor toward the front steps, his pace quickening as he caught sight of Vivienne’s driver opening the rear door of the Bentle

  • UGLY? No More!   Chapter 48

    On the other end, a quiet, urgent voice spoke quickly.Julian’s jaw tightened as he listened, one hand sliding into his pocket, the other rubbing briefly at his temple. “I’ll be there in twenty. Keep it contained until I arrive.”When he ended the call, both Elara and Lydia were watching him, their expressions mirroring the question in Mira’s wide, curious eyes.“I’m sorry,” he said, and the regret in his voice was real. “There’s an urgent matter I have to deal with back at my place. I...” He glanced at Mira, his gaze softening. “I wish I didn’t have to go.”Mira’s little face fell instantly. “But… you promised dinner,” she whispered, and her lower lip began to tremble.Elara crouched beside her daughter, brushing a thumb under her chin. “Hey, sweetheart, remember what we said? Grown ups sometimes have to handle things they can’t put off. Doesn’t mean he doesn’t want to be here.”Julian crouched, too, meeting Mira’s eyes. “Princess,” he said gently, “I’ll make it up to you. Tomorrow,

  • UGLY? No More!   Chapter 47

    Julian got Mira and Elara to the SUV, opening the back door so Mira could clamber inside with her usual theatrical sigh.“Seat belt, princess,” he reminded her, his tone warm but edged with that faint authority that made her do as she was told.“Okay, Daddy,” she chirped, tugging it into place.Elara glanced at him as he closed the door, brows lifting. “Everything alright?”He gave her a faint, reassuring smile, one hand brushing hers. “I’ll be right back. Just need a quick word with someone.”Before she could ask, he was already striding away, smooth, unhurried, but with that undercurrent of purpose that made people get out of his way without thinking.The paparazzo looked up from his camera at the wrong moment, just in time to see six foot two of sharp, tailored intimidation closing in.His breath hitched.This wasn’t the reaction he’d expected. Usually, when high profile men noticed the camera, they turned their wives and kids away, muttered curses, or demanded deletions. This man

  • UGLY? No More!   Chapter 46

    The phones came out again. A few subtle, a few brazen.Elara’s hand twitched with the urge to tell them to stop, but Julian beat her to it, without saying a word, he glanced toward the offenders with a cool, practiced look that made more than one camera lower in embarrassment.Still, the murmurs didn’t fade. If anything, they swelled.Elara stepped closer to him when he returned, lowering her voice. “They’re going to post this everywhere by tonight.”He glanced down at her, an unreadable expression in his eyes. “Let them.”Her brows knit. “You’re not worried?”He smirked faintly. “About what? That people will see me happy, spending the afternoon with you and Mira? I can live with that.”Her breath caught, though she told herself it was just the heat of the day making her cheeks warm.Mira’s laughter pulled them both back. She was still swinging high, hair flying wildly in the breeze. “Come on, Mama! You too!” she called.Elara hesitated, glancing at the crowd again.Julian extended hi

  • UGLY? No More!   Chapter 45

    They watched her climb the tower, her small hands gripping the bars with determination.Elara’s instinct was to stand, to hover protectively nearby, but Julian stopped her with a gentle hand on her arm.“Let her,” he murmured. “She’s braver than you think.”Something about the quiet confidence in his voice made her still. She realized then that he wasn’t just good with Mira, he understood her. Saw her. And for a little girl who had been through more than she should have, that was rare.“You’re good for her,” Elara said softly.Julian glanced at her, his gaze steady. “I want to be.”The words sat heavy between them, sincere and without embellishment.When Mira finally descended from her “tower,” triumphant and grinning, she came running straight to Julian. “Did you see? I went all the way to the top!”Julian scooped her up effortlessly, spinning her once before setting her on his lap. “I saw. You were amazing.”Elara couldn’t help smiling at the picture they made, Mira’s arms looped ar

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