Chapter 20
The heavy rain from the night before had finally cleared, leaving the afternoon washed in a soft, golden glow. For Amara, stepping into the cozy warmth of the cafe felt like the first breath of fresh air after a long suffocation.
Julian was already there. He sat by the window, the sunlight catching the sharp line of his jaw. When the chime above the door announced her arrival, he looked up, and for a heartbeat, he simply forgot to breathe. She looked ethereal fragile, yet beginning to bloom again.
“Hi, Mr. Vale,” Amara said, approaching the table with a shy, tentative smile. “Small world, isn’t it? My mother mentioned you two are acquainted. I realized I never properly got to thank you… for saving me, and for staying with me at the hospital p>
She extended her hand, her fingers trembling slightly. As Julian took it, his grip was steady and warm, a silent promise of safety.
“It was nothing, Amara,” he said softly, his voice like velvet. He gestured to the steaming cup already waiting on the table. “I got here a bit early and took a gamble on an order for you. If you don’t like it, we can get you anything else p>
Amara took a sip, the sweetness hitting her tongue. “Hot chocolate with extra foam? This is actually my favorite.” She looked at him over the rim of the cup, her brow furrowing in thought. “You know, Mr. Vale… you look incredibly familiar. And I don’t mean from the accident. I mean from way back p>
Julian leaned back, a flicker of guarded hope in his eyes. He played it cool, nodding slowly. “Is that so p>
Suddenly, a memory flickered in Amara’s mind like an old film reel.
The high school hallway was buzzing. “Amara, look! It’s him!” her friend had squealed, clutching her arm. “Oh my god, he’s actually looking at you!” > A group of girls was swooning over a tall, brooding senior with effortless style. But back then, Amara hadn’t even tilted her head. Her heart had been foolishly locked away on Seb, leaving her blind to the boy in the hallway who had always lingered a second too long when she walked by.
Amara’s eyes widened as she snapped back to the present. She let out a soft, melodic laugh that made Julian’s heart do a clumsy somersault.
“Wait… you were my college senior! The Julian Vale? The most popular guy on campus?” She took another sip of her tea, a mischievous glint replacing the sadness in her eyes.
“I wouldn’t say all that,” Julian replied, his lips twitching into a rare, genuine smirk.
“Oh, please,” Amara teased, leaning in. “Don’t tell me you never even got a love letter. I remember girls practically forming a line p>
Julian caught her gaze, his expression softening into something deeper, something he had been holding onto for years. “If I did, I didn’t notice. I kept everyone at arm’s length p>
Everyone but you, he thought, though he kept the words tucked safely behind his smile.
Julian raised an eyebrow, a playful glint in his eyes. “If I remember correctly, you majored in finance,” Amara noted, tilting her head. “So how come you’re a lawyer now p>
Julian leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand. The cool, distant senior was gone, replaced by a man who looked at her like she was the only person in the room. “Because I’m multi-talented,” he said with a devastating smile. “And apparently, I like a challenge p>
Amara laughed, the sound light and airy, momentarily forgetting the weight of the past few weeks.
“Alright,” Julian said, his tone shifting to something more professional yet still incredibly gentle. “Since I have the floor: what do you need advice on this time p>
Amara’s smile faded, replaced by a cold, sharp resolve. She set her cup down. “I want to sue Elara Langford p>
The air between them turned serious. Julian didn’t flinch, he simply nodded, his gaze darkening with a protective intensity. He opened his mouth to respond, but the chime above the door rang out again, harsh and jarring.
Across the room, Seb stepped inside, his eyes scanning the tables with frantic desperation. He looked disheveled, a far cry from the composed man Amara used to love. “I’ve checked everywhere,” Seb muttered to himself, his breath hitching. “She has to be here. This was always her favorite spot p>
His eyes landed on the corner booth. His heart spiked when he saw the back of Amara’s head, but then he froze.
Amara stood up to head toward the washroom, leaving Julian alone at the table. Just seconds later, Seb’s shadow fell across the entrance.
Seb’s eyes swept the room, landing momentarily on Julian. He froze. Julian Vale? The name echoed in his mind like a bitter memory. Julian had been the untouchable top student, the one who left for a prestigious career overseas.
Why is he back? Seb scanned the area for Amara, but with her out of sight, he grew restless and turned back toward the street.
When Amara returned to the table, she caught a glimpse of Seb through the glass window. He was frantically stopping strangers on the sidewalk, thrusting his phone in their faces. “Hi, have you seen this person?” he asked, his voice strained. “No? Okay, thanks anyway p>
Amara watched, her heart a tangled mess of pity and resentment. “Why is he here?” she whispered.
Suddenly, a car swerved near the curb. Seb, distracted by his search, tripped and fell hard against the pavement. Amara’s instinct was to bolt out the door to help him, her hand even reached for the handle, but she froze.
From the other side of the sidewalk, Elara Langford appeared, her heels clicking sharply as she rushed to Seb’s side.
“Are you okay?” Julian asked softly, standing close behind Amara. He watched her closely, testing her resolve. “He’s hurt. Would you like to go check on him p>
Amara watched as Elara helped Seb up, her movements possessive and loud. Amara pulled her hand back from the door, her expression hardening into a mask of calm. “No,” she said, her voice steady. “They’re a pair. Let them be p>
Outside, Elara was fussing over Seb’s scraped skin. “Your hand is bleeding!” she cried, though it sounded more like a performance than true worry. “Your mother is looking for you everywhere. Let’s go home, Seb. Come on, let’s go p>
Seb looked back at the cafe one last time, his eyes searching the windows, but Elara pulled him away toward her car.
Amara turned back to Julian, the golden light of the cafe making her look stronger than she felt. “Now,” she said, sitting back down. “About that lawsuit against Elara p>