Chapter 618

Julian shook his head, his voice barely above a whisper. "No one hit me. I just scraped myself by accident."

Claire's brows knitted together. "Do I look stupid to you? Those aren't accidental scratches. Who did this to you?"

Julian's gaze drifted toward the sleeping baby in the crib. He hadn't expected Claire to bring Bella here.

"Is this Bella?"

She had grown so much since he last saw her in the operating room. Nearly two months later, her delicate features were becoming more pronounced—a perfect blend of Claire and Lucas.

Claire grabbed Julian's wrist. "Stop deflecting. Who hit you? Was it your father again?"

Julian's silence was answer enough.

Claire exhaled sharply.

Without another word, she turned and scooped Bella into her arms. "Take me to your house. Now."

Julian stared at her, stunned. He had walked away without looking back, yet here she was—standing in his small town, demanding to see where he lived. It felt surreal, like a dream he couldn't wake from.

He lowered his head. "You should go back."

He turned to leave.

Claire's expression hardened.

"I drove for hours to find this place, and now you're telling me to leave? Julian, do you even care? Why did I come here if you're just going to push me away? What aren't you telling me?"

Julian bit down on his lip, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white.

Still, he refused to speak.

The tension between them thickened until Bella, sensing the unease, began to fuss.

Claire immediately softened, rocking the baby gently.

Bella stirred awake, her tiny face scrunching as she whimpered for milk. After days of caring for her, Claire had learned her cues well.

Julian stepped outside, shutting the door behind him. He crouched against the wall, pulling out a cigarette. The flame flickered as he took a slow drag.

By the time Claire emerged, the hallway was thick with smoke.

Anger flared in her chest. She snatched the cigarette from his fingers and crushed it under her heel.

"Since when do you smoke?"

This wasn't him.

The Julian she knew didn't do this.

Something was wrong—something he wasn't telling her.

Claire crossed her arms. "Did your father gamble again?"

Julian nodded.

"How much?"

Silence.

"Julian. How much?"

"Two million."

Claire froze.

"Two million? Last time it was three hundred thousand."

A heavy pause settled between them before she finally spoke. "I'll pay it."

Julian's head snapped up. "No. I don't want your money."

He had stopped relying on Claire's finances long ago.

After she cleared his family's debts the first time, he had saved every penny he earned, determined to stand on his own.

The bag he bought her—earned through odd jobs—was supposed to prove he wasn't the leech Lucas had accused him of being.

But now, he was trapped.

Two million was impossible.

He knew Claire could cover it, but he couldn't ask her again.

His family was a black hole, and he refused to drag her down with him.

"Claire, just go back. This isn't your problem." His voice cracked, tears glistening in his eyes. "I've dropped out of school. I'm not returning to Cresthaven. Throw out whatever I left at your place."

Claire's jaw tightened. "I came here to help you, and this is how you react? Did you ever really consider me your girlfriend?"

She pulled a card from her wallet. "This will cover the debt. Pay it off, then come back. We'll pretend none of this happened."

Julian shoved it back into her hand. "No. Don't you get it? What about next time? Or the time after that? Last time was three hundred thousand. Now it's two million. What if it's twenty million next? How many times can you bail me out?"

The card burned in his palm, a humiliating reminder of his helplessness.

Julian's face flushed with shame. He turned and ran before she could see him break.

Claire watched him disappear, frustration knotting in her chest.

She wasn't leaving like this.

Not after coming all this way.

Claire strapped Bella into the car seat and started the engine. She followed the path Julian had taken, determined to find him again.

The town was small—it wouldn't be hard.

Her car bumped along the unpaved road, kicking up dust as she navigated toward the cluster of houses on the hillside.

The steering wheel jerked in her hands, the uneven terrain testing her patience.

Minutes later, she parked outside a weathered farmhouse.

Chickens scattered as she stepped out, her shoes sinking into the mud. The air smelled of damp earth and livestock.

Bella slept soundly in the backseat. Claire hesitated, then left her there.

She scanned the property—and froze.

Inside, several burly men loomed, their arms covered in tattoos.