You Had Me, You Lost Me, You'll Never Find Me novel Chapter 89

After being trapped by reporters for a grueling hour, Sylvia and Julian finally managed to break free from the airport.

Julian had a car waiting. The moment they stepped out of the terminal, they slid into the back seat.

A faint shadow of exhaustion clung to Sylvia's features. She had slept the entire flight, but her energy was completely depleted.

The constant traveling and the violent emotional whiplash had drained her soul.

The stunning blue sapphire engagement ring still rested on her finger. The deep, oceanic stone caught the passing streetlights, flashing with blinding brilliance.

Set against her luminous skin, it looked like a perfect, frozen blue tear.

"I only said those things to the press to get you out of that nightmare," Julian said softly. "I'm not expecting you to marry me right this second. We can go back to how we were before."

Julian smelled of crisp, clean pine. He was endlessly steady and gentle, like a completely indestructible safe haven.

Sylvia offered a bitter, fragile smile, her eyes growing damp.

How could she keep using a man this good, over and over again?

He was so perfect...

She looked up, meeting his gaze directly. "If only I had met you first..."

Then there would have been no toxic history with Ashton. The sweeter the beginning had been, the more catastrophic the ending.

She had burned herself to the ground loving Ashton, leaving nothing but ashes and ruins in her wake.

It was Julian who was carefully picking up the shattered pieces, trying to rebuild her.

The night he returned from his conference, she had been drowning in absolute despair.

"It's not too late," Julian said evenly, stating it as an indisputable fact.

"You still have a long life ahead of you, don't you?"

But the world was so much bigger than that. She shouldn't have written off her own future—or his—so quickly.

A beautiful, genuine smile touched her lips, hiding the moisture on her lashes. "Julian, can we try? If you don't mind that I come with a child."

In that moment, she realized that if her unborn baby could have a father as incredible as Julian, it would be the most beautiful thing in the world.

Julian leaned in and pressed a soft, lingering kiss to her forehead. "Of course. I'd love nothing more."

The high-end club was drowned in pulsing neon lights and intoxicating bass.

Ashton had ordered two bottles of vintage wine. He drank slowly, the rich crimson liquid staining his lips. Despite the chaotic energy of the dance floor, his VIP booth was packed with his usual inner circle.

Reina sat pressed tightly against his side, dutifully refilling his glass.

Tristan Hale laughed from across the table. "You and Reina are meant to be, Ash. After everything, you're still tying the knot. I always knew you two would end up together."

They had all grown up in the same elite circles. Tristan was fully aware of Reina's obsession with Ashton.