All Chapters of UGLY? No More!: Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

Julian’s eyes searched hers, steady and unflinching. “We’ve crossed every line already. You let me in, and I…” He hesitated, something raw flickering in his expression before he pushed on. “I don’t want there to be any doubt about us. Not for you. Not for anyone else. Especially not for him.”Her cheeks heated instantly, memories of last night flashing through her mind, her body still remembering every touch, every whispered word. “Julian…” she whispered, a half smile tugging nervously at her lips.“I’ll give you the best wedding anyone has ever seen,” he continued, his thumb brushing lightly across the back of her hand now, grounding her as much as himself. “I’ll make sure the world knows you belong with me. That there is no room for Leonard, or anyone else, to even imagine otherwise.”Elara’s blush deepened, her lashes fluttering as she looked down at their joined hands.She liked the sound of it more than she wanted to admit. The thought of being his wife made her chest tighten in

Inside, the boutique was silent except for the soft hum of music and the hushed footsteps of attendants who bowed slightly the moment Julian appeared.Within seconds, they were being ushered into a private room, velvet lined, with glass cases displaying jewelry under warm lights.Elara’s curiosity flared as Julian turned to her, his expression a careful balance between businesslike calm and something far more personal. “A ring would draw too many questions. Too many eyes,” he said, his thumb brushing along her knuckles. “But I can’t walk around knowing you signed your name beside mine with nothing to show for it. You’re mine, Elara. And I want something on you that reminds both of us.”Her lips parted, but before she could speak, an attendant opened one of the velvet trays, revealing a stunning collection of bracelets. Fine chains of platinum and white gold, some adorned with diamonds, others sleek and understated.Julian picked one almost immediately, a delicate platinum band with an

Lila leaned against the balcony of her apartment, glass of red wine in hand, her sharp nails tapping lightly against the stem. She’d heard enough to know what Leonard was planning.The whispers of assistants, the small carelessness of a man drunk on obsession, he thought he was being clever, but Lila knew him too well.Leonard was digging into Mira’s records. He wanted proof. Proof that the child who clung so tightly to Elara was his.And the terrifying part? There was a very real chance that it was true.Lila’s grip tightened on the glass until she thought it might crack.Her reflection in the balcony doors stared back at her, polished, perfect, but with eyes that betrayed the storm beneath. If Mira turned out to be Leonard’s daughter, then everything she’d been carefully building with him, every stolen glance, every soft promise, every calculated move to tie herself to him, would shatter.He’d never look at her the same way. Not when he could play house with Elara and Mira, pretendi

The morning sun spilled across the Cross estate’s dining room, turning the long mahogany table into a glowing runway of silverware and porcelain.It was an oddly domestic scene for Julian Cross, a man who was more accustomed to boardroom tables and dim lit private clubs than to sunlight and chatter. Yet here he sat, jacket draped over the back of his chair, sleeves rolled, coffee steaming at his elbow, with Elara and Mira across from him.Mira’s laughter danced in the air as she spooned sugar into her orange juice, ignoring Elara’s gentle scolding. Her curls bounced when she wriggled in her chair, unable to contain her excitement.“Are you really going to marry Mama?” she asked, eyes bright and fixed on Julian.Julian’s lips curved, subtle but genuine. He reached across the table, brushing his hand over Elara’s. “Yes. I am.” His gaze softened as he spoke, not for the room, not for appearances, but for Elara alone.Before she could reply, the room’s other occupants shifted. Lydia Hayes

For a long moment, Diana simply stood there, gaze darting between Elara, Mira, and Julian.The silence was taut, dangerous, as if a thousand unspoken truths pressed against her lips.Finally, she smiled again, though it didn’t reach her eyes. “Of course. I can see you’re… busy. But don’t think this is over, Julian. We have history, you and I. And history has a way of resurfacing.”With a graceful turn, she walked back toward the elevator, her heels clicking against the marble floor like punctuation marks to her threat.The doors slid shut behind her, leaving the penthouse in a charged silence.Julian exhaled, running a hand through his hair. “I didn’t expect her to show up.”Elara’s voice was low, clipped. “Who is she?”He met her eyes, regret shadowing his features. “A mistake. One I should have cut off long ago.”Mira tugged at Elara’s sleeve, whispering, “Mama, I don’t like her.”Elara smoothed her daughter’s hair, but her gaze never left Julian’s. She didn’t like Diana either, not