Share

Chapter 49

Author: Michy Gaza
last update Last Updated: 2025-08-16 07:47:47

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
Continue to read this book for free
Scan code to download App
Locked Chapter

Latest chapter

  • UGLY? No More!   Chapter 172

    Julian thanked the driver before stepping out, holding the door open for Milo.“Come on, buddy,” he said, crouching a little so he was at eye level. “You’re safe here, alright? No need to be nervous. Elara and Mira are really excited to see you.”Milo nodded slowly, clutching the strap of his tiny backpack. His voice was barely above a whisper. “Okay.”Julian smiled again, patient and soft. “That’s my boy.”He placed a guiding hand on Milo’s shoulder as they walked toward the elevator.Inside, the mirrored walls reflected their figures, Julian’s tall frame beside the small boy, their resemblance almost startling when they stood together like that.Same dark hair, same stubborn chin. Even the way Milo’s lips pressed into a line when he was deep in thought reminded Julian of himself at that age.When the elevator doors slid shut, Julian glanced down. “You’re thinking pretty hard again,” he teased lightly.Milo blinked and shifted his backpack nervously. “Just… wondering if Mira will lik

  • UGLY? No More!   Chapter 171

    Milo sat in the backseat of the car, watching the city blur past the tinted window. His little hands fidgeted in his lap, his fingers tracing the edge of his sleeve where a loose thread had come undone.His stomach felt funny. Not the kind of funny from laughing too hard or eating too much candy. The other kind, the kind that made you feel like something heavy was sitting there, pressing down.Mom had said he’d done good today.She’d smiled that big smile, the one she only wore when she was trying to make him feel better, even though her eyes didn’t smile at all.He had done what she asked.He told Julian that they should all live together again. He said it exactly how she told him to. But Julian didn’t say yes. He didn’t even look angry or anything, he’d just looked... sad. Like he didn’t know what to say.Milo didn’t understand that look. He had thought, if he said it right, if he reminded Julian about Mom, then maybe everything would go back to how it was supposed to be. Maybe they

  • UGLY? No More!   Chapter 170

    Julian had lunch brought up to his office, nothing too formal, just something light for him and Milo.The conference table had been cleared, the blinds half drawn, sunlight filtering through the city haze.Milo sat across from him, legs swinging just slightly under the chair, eyes fixed on the edge of his plate. He was quiet, too quiet.Julian had noticed it the second they walked in.The first time Milo came here, he’d been buzzing with curiosity, asking about every framed photo, the model cars on the shelf, the city skyline outside.He’d smiled when Julian showed him the view, even pressed his small hand against the glass like he could touch the world below.But today, there was none of that.Julian poured juice into Milo’s glass, trying to keep his voice light. “You used to like these,” he said, sliding a small box of fries toward him. “Still your favorite?”Milo nodded once, muttering, “Yeah.”“Good.” Julian smiled a little, watching him pick at the food without eating much. “You

  • UGLY? No More!   Chapter 169

    Julian didn’t catch it, but he noticed the way Milo’s small shoulders stiffened, just slightly.When the door finally closed behind her, Julian exhaled slowly, rubbing the back of his neck before crouching down beside the boy.“Hey,” he said softly. “You doing okay?”Milo nodded, eyes darting toward the door, then back to Julian. “Mom said I should always listen to you. And make sure you don’t get sad.”Julian blinked at that, his chest tightening. “Did she?”Milo nodded again, small and solemn.Julian smiled faintly, brushing a hand through his hair. “Well, that’s kind of you, but how about we just try being… a family instead? No one’s in charge of keeping anyone happy, okay?”The boy’s lips curved slightly, almost a smile.Julian straightened, looking toward the city again.He didn’t know what kind of damage Diana had already done, what the boy had been told, or how long it would take to undo it, but one thing was certain, whatever came next, Milo wasn’t going back to that house.No

  • UGLY? No More!   Chapter 168

    Julian adjusted his tie as the elevator doors slid open onto the top floor of the Cross Corporation building.The familiar hum of quiet efficiency greeted him, assistants walking briskly with files, phones buzzing softly, the scent of freshly brewed espresso in the air.It felt grounding, in a way. Order. Structure. Everything the rest of his life wasn’t right now.He strode into his office, nodding at his assistant who immediately followed with a tablet in hand. “Get the legal team on the line,” Julian said, loosening his jacket as he sat. “I want the guardianship documents drafted by noon. Temporary custody to start, I’ll handle the permanent arrangements once things are stable.”“Yes, Mr. Cross,” she said quickly, jotting notes before stepping out.Julian leaned back, rubbing the bridge of his nose. The skyline of the city stretched out before him, glittering and indifferent. For the first time in days, he felt a sliver of direction. He couldn’t undo what had happened, couldn’t era

  • UGLY? No More!   Chapter 167

    The next morning, sunlight poured softly through the tall windows, painting golden streaks across the marble counter and the half finished breakfast spread.Mira’s laughter echoed faintly from the living room where she sat cross legged on the rug, building a lopsided tower out of cereal boxes and crayons.Elara smiled faintly at the sound as she sipped her coffee, the silk robe she wore loosely tied around her waist.The air smelled of pancakes and the faint sweetness of strawberries, Julian’s doing, apparently.He stood at the stove, sleeves rolled up, flipping something in the pan like he’d been doing it his whole life, though she knew full well he’d only learned because Mira had declared one morning that “daddies make pancakes too.”It was the kind of domestic peace Elara had once thought she’d never have again.“Don’t stare too hard, Hayes,” Julian said without turning around, voice low and amused. “You’ll make me nervous.”Elara smirked over her coffee. “I wasn’t staring. I was…

More Chapters
Explore and read good novels for free
Free access to a vast number of good novels on GoodNovel app. Download the books you like and read anywhere & anytime.
Read books for free on the app
SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP
DMCA.com Protection Status