Chapter 21
Carol held Helen back, lips twitching like she was trying not to laugh. Then she glanced at Ben some homeless guy loiter on our porch?”
and
said, “Well? Are you just going to let
She scoffed, giving Julian a once–over. “Look at him–drenched, disheveled, and babbling about knowing Savannah. It’s pathetic.”
Julian instinctively looked down at his wrinkled, rain–stained suit.
His throat tightened. He tried to explain. “No, it’s not like that… I–I’m usually put together. I nonstop. I haven’t even been sleeping-”
Savannah didn’t want to hear it. Not another word.
swear. It’s just… I’ve been looking for her
And judging by the look on Julian’s face, she knew he wasn’t planning to leave anytime
soon.
But she wasn’t worried.
She tilted her head back and glanced at the sky above–gray and heavy with clouds.
“If he wants to stay,” she said calmly, “let him.‘
And he did.
Julian stood outside her building the entire day.
By the time midnight rolled in, the skies opened up.
A torrential downpour, loud and relentless, like the world itself wanted to wash him away.
There was no shelter nearby.
Nothing but the house he used to know–the one that now shut him out completely.
But Julian didn’t move.
Because how could he? He hadn’t been forgiven. He hadn’t been invited in. What right did he have?
So he stayed, soaked to the bone, trembling from the cold.
Six–foot–three and shivering like a stray.
Then came the wind.
His body swayed under its force, knees buckling, vision blurring, but he kept his head up–eyes fixed on the second–floor window glowing with soft, golden light.
Inside, Savannah sat with Ben, their silhouettes framed against the rain.
They were laughing.
That hurt more than the cold.
Because everything Ben had said… was true.
He had taken Julian’s place.
That spot beside Savannah?
It used to belong to him.
They used to do this–sip wine by the window, watching the rain roll down the glass.
Back then, her eyes held nothing but love.
And he’d ruined it. With his own damn hands.
Chapter 21
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Something in him cracked. The pain hit hard. And then–everything went dark.
From upstairs, Savannah saw it clearly.
The moment Julian collapsed, her lashes fluttered. Just once.
Ben turned to her. “Should I call someone? Get him to a hospital?”
Savannah gave him a blank look, then turned back to the window.
“In this kind of rain? You’ll probably catch something.”
She paused, then shrugged. “Besides, I don’t need the drama. If he drops dead
Mom.”
on
doorstep, it’s just gonna be a problem for me and
“Hopefully he makes it till morning. Someone will find him.” She turned away, already done with the conversation. “Just… not here. Let him die somewhere else.”
Ben watched her go, lips twitching into a crooked smile.
Julian dreamed.
In that dream, Savannah rushed out into the storm.
She cradled him in her arms, crying so hard her voice broke.
He wanted to wipe her tears. But he couldn’t move.
And God, he didn’t want to wake up.
Because the dream was beautiful.
Reality was not.
He opened his eyes to white walls and the sterile scent of antiseptic.
A nurse walked in to check on him.
Julian’s throat burned as he forced out a question.
“Who… who brought me here? Was it a woman?”
The nurse blinked, clearly confused.
“Woman? You were found by the morning patrol guard.”
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