Gifts
Her Night Dance
Chapter 10
I slapped him hard across the face.
“You’re disgusting.”
My hand trembled, the sensation of touching Ethan making my
skin crawl.
I rubbed my palm vigorously, as if trying to erase the contact.
Ethan’s eyes blazed with fury. “Disgusting? You didn’t seem to
think so when you were begging me like a slut in bed!”
He grabbed me roughly. “If you want to get laid, just say it. Stop
playing hard to get. Let’s go to the car–I’ll give you what you
need.”
1/4
I struggled against him, and when he leaned in to kiss me, I kneed.
him hard in the groin.
“Ugh–you bitch!” Ethan groaned, doubling over. “Fine, let’s see how you get down this mountain on your own!”
With that, he stormed off and drove away.
The chapel was on the outskirts of town, accessible by a winding
road that stretched up the mountain.
I’d taken a cab to get here.
Chapter 10
down, heavy and relentless.
2/4
I opened my rideshare app, but no drivers were willing to pick up.
Resigned, I started toward the chapel for shelter, but headlights pierced through the downpour as a black SUV pulled up in front of
- me.
Julian stepped out, umbrella in hand, tilting it to shield me from
the rain.
“Jules?” I asked, startled. “What are you doing here?”
“I’ve been following you since you left,” he admitted, draping his
jacket over my shoulders. It was warm, carrying his faint scent. “. figured you were meeting Ethan. I couldn’t leave you alone.”
It had been so long since anyone showed me such care. For a moment, my heart felt… soft.
“It’s fine. I can handle him. Did you run into Ethan just now?”
Julian’s expression soured. “I did. He even tried to block my car.”
I tensed. “Are you okay?”
“With that flashy little sports car of his? Please,” Julian said, a
hint of pride in his tone. “He wouldn’t stand a chance against my
custom SUV.”
His uncharacteristic smugness made his strong, stoic features
seem almost boyish.
Chapter 10
3/4
For a fleeting moment, it felt like I was looking at the teenager who
used to buy me candy.
Julian picked up the rain–soaked divorce papers. “He refused to sign?”
“Yeah.” I sighed, frustration creeping into my voice. “I don’t get him. We can’t stand each other anymore, so why won’t he let go?”
“Because he’s a selfish bastard,” Julian said bluntly, watching me
carefully for a reaction.
When he saw I wasn’t upset, a faint smile tugged at his lips.
“Meeting you all the way out here was probably part of his plan
He wanted to make things difficult for you.”
“Not really,” I said with a small laugh. “We used to come here on
dates.”
Julian’s face darkened. “What did you do here?”
“Nothing much–walked around, prayed at the chapel.”
“Let’s go pray,” Julian said suddenly, taking my hand.
The chapel’s priest recognized me immediately, despite my
two–year absence.
“You look radiant, as if your spirit has found clarity and purpose.
Truly,
Chapter 10
it’s something to celebrate.”
Julian bowed slightly. “Father, how much has Ethan Ward
donated here? I’ll give you a hundred times that.”
His generosity earned him two bracelets in addition to the
recognition of being the chapel’s top benefactor.
4/4
Julian slipped one onto my wrist, his voice steady and certain.
“Lara, as long as I’m here, nothing in this world will ever hurt you
again.”
As I touched the bracelet, a sense of peace washed over me. But
when I glanced up, I froze. Ethan was back.
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ir Gifts
Her Night Dance
