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Chapter 75

Author: Michy Gaza
last update Last Updated: 2025-08-29 21:06:53

Elara’s cheeks warmed as she clinked her glass with his again, her lips curving into a smile that reached her eyes. She believed in him, in them. And for tonight, that was enough.

Julian’s hand never left Elara’s the entire ride back. The city lights stretched endlessly beyond the tinted windows, but all she could think about was the steady warmth of his palm, the quiet reassurance it carried.

They had left the restaurant behind, left the candlelight and champagne flutes, and now, he was driving her somewhere new. Somewhere that wasn’t the atelier, wasn’t the Cross estate.

When the car pulled into the underground garage of one of the city’s tallest residential towers, Elara turned to him with a raised brow. “Julian… where are we?”

He only smirked, that little secretive curve of his lips that always made her pulse flutter. “Home,” he said simply, as if the word had always belonged to them.

The elevator ride was silent except for the hum of the machinery and the rush of her own heartbea
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  • UGLY? No More!   Chapter 92

    Julian finally found his voice, low and harsh. “You’re lying.”Diana flinched, her tears faltering for a second before she caught herself. “If you truly believe that, meet him. Look him in the eyes and tell me he isn’t yours. Tell me he doesn’t carry your blood.”Her words slithered under his skin like poison, leaving Julian gripped by a fury he couldn’t entirely place.Because as much as he hated it, the possibility, even the smallest fraction, was enough to shatter the ground beneath him.And Diana knew it.Julian sat stiffly, his knuckles white around the edge of the table, his gaze locked on Diana like she was a cobra poised to strike.Diana’s tears dried almost instantly as she read his silence. The soft, pitiful act cracked like porcelain, replaced by steel. Her back straightened, her chin lifted, and her voice lost its tremor.“You think I care if you’re in the picture or not?” Her tone was razor sharp now, slicing through the quiet of the restaurant. “I don’t. This isn’t about

  • UGLY? No More!   Chapter 91

    Leonard’s voice cut through the fog, soft and persuasive. “What do you think, Elara? Will you take it?”She swallowed, straightening in her chair. “Fine. Yes. I’ll do it.”Her tone was flat, distracted. She didn’t even look up when she spoke. But Leonard did. And as she agreed, his lips curved into a smile he quickly hid, tilting his head down as though reviewing his notes.The glimmer in his eyes, however, was unmistakable.Perfect.She hadn’t noticed the trap she had just stepped into.She was too busy nursing her wounds, too busy breaking silently inside. And he, he was patient. He could wait. This was just the beginning.“Excellent,” he said smoothly, sliding the folder back toward himself. “I’ll have my assistant finalize the details. You’ll be hearing from me soon.”Elara only nodded, her gaze fixed somewhere beyond him, at nothing, at everything. And Leonard leaned back, watching her from the corner of his eye.That sly, triumphant look curled across his face. Because in his mi

  • UGLY? No More!   Chapter 90

    Behind him, Elara stood alone at the table, staring at the pencil lines of her newest design, but not really seeing them. The atelier around her buzzed with quiet industry, assistants moving, fabric samples being shuffled, soft conversations rising and fading.But to her, it was all a blur.Her chest ached with the kind of quiet devastation she remembered too well. The same one she’d carried years ago when Leonard had discarded her like she was nothing. Different man, different love, but the same ache.Her lips pressed together tightly as she blinked fast, forcing back the sting in her eyes.Why does it always feel like I’m the one left in the dark? Like no matter how much I give, there’s always a secret waiting to ruin it all?She placed her hand lightly against the table, grounding herself. For Mira, she reminded herself. For the life she wanted to build. But deep inside, an old, familiar voice whispered, Maybe you were never meant to be lucky with men.And as Julian’s office door

  • UGLY? No More!   Chapter 89

    Elara’s lips curved into a small smile. Not warm, not amused, sharp. Knowing. But she said nothing.Instead, she shifted in her seat, folding her hands neatly over her lap. The kind of smile that wasn’t a smile at all stayed on her face, and her silence spoke louder than any accusation could have.Julian felt it, the weight of it pressing against his ribs, heavier than her voice could ever be.He exhaled, eyes fixed ahead, jaw hardening.If he admitted anything now, it would be betrayal. If he said nothing, it would still be betrayal.So he did the only thing he could, he drove on, pretending the world outside the windshield demanded all his focus.Elara turned back to the window slowly, her reflection staring back at her. That same smile lingered, but her chest ached. Secrets. Always secrets. And always from me.The car carried them forward, but between them, the silence returned with sharper teeth.By the time Julian eased the car into the Cross Atelier’s private parking, Elara’s th

  • UGLY? No More!   Chapter 88

    The morning sun streamed through the penthouse windows, scattering soft light across the living room. Mira’s voice carried with excitement as she packed her little bag, stuffed bunny, sketchbook, and an entire box of crayons she refused to leave behind.“Grandma Lydia says I can paint with her!” Mira announced proudly, skipping around Julian and Elara as they stood by the door. “She has a whole room just for it!”Julian crouched down, zipping her bag with an indulgent smile. “Then make sure you fill that room with your best work. We’ll come back for you later.”Elara kissed her daughter’s cheek, smoothing down the wild strands of hair that Mira always refused to tame. “Behave, okay? No climbing shelves this time.”“I won’t,” Mira promised with a mischievous grin that said otherwise.The drive to the Hayes’s estate was filled with Mira’s endless chatter. She told them about a dream where she’d been the queen of a candy kingdom, her laughter filling the car.Elara listened with a soft s

  • UGLY? No More!   Chapter 87

    Julian’s grip on the phone was tight enough to whiten his knuckles. He had half a mind to hang up before a word was exchanged.“What do you want, Diana?” His voice was sharp, clipped, entirely lacking the warmth he had reserved moments earlier for Elara and Mira.On the other end, there was silence at first, then a soft, trembling breath. “Julian… don’t be so cruel. You never used to sound like this with me.”His jaw flexed. “It’s late. You’ve already called a dozen times. If this is one of your games...”“It’s not!” Her voice cracked, small and pitiful, almost childlike in its desperation. “Julian, please. Just listen to me. You think I don’t know? I’ve seen the news, I’ve seen her. Elara. And that little girl. I know you’re moving on. But you can’t, not until you hear me out.”Julian closed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Diana, I don’t have time for this. Whatever you think you know, keep it. I’m not interested.”“Please,” she whispered, and for once, her tone wasn’t dr

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