Bella's POV
"No, I don't want to hear it. Just leave." Julian cut me off before I could respond, diving under his blanket with a muffled voice. He reminded me of an injured animal—desperate for comfort but terrified of being hurt again.
My voice stayed steady. "Remember this, Julian. You're you, and whatever happens, I'll always care about you."
Both physical injuries and emotional wounds needed time to heal. To escape this darkness and break through those mental walls, Julian had to save himself.
I turned and left, trusting that Julian would work through this eventually.
The door clicked shut softly behind me. Muffled sobs came from the bed—a man trying desperately to contain his anguish.
The moment I walked through the courtyard gate, I saw Helena rushing toward me. Her face burned with fury, though her eyes showed deep worry.
Helena stopped dead when she spotted me.
