Chapter 19

Amanda hadn't called the police, despite the fear that coursed through her veins. Instead, she called Jonathan—Erica's grandfather—and Julian. The weight of the situation demanded action, but it wasn’t something law enforcement could easily handle, not with the complexities of Erica’s world now tangled with Julian’s.

The car that pulled up to the gates wasn’t a police cruiser, but a sleek black sedan, its engine barely making a sound as it approached. The door swung open, and Julian stepped out. His movements were swift and purposeful, the kind of urgency that only came from someone whose entire life had been spent navigating crises. His face was a mask of concern, but beneath that, his thoughts were racing.

He had known this moment would come eventually—the moment when his carefully constructed facade would crack and the truth would spill out. He had hoped to avoid it, but now it was inevitable.

Julian hurried into the house, his eyes immediately scanning the room for Erica. When he