Chapter Thirty-Seven
Julian
I sat stiffly in the dressing room chair, eyes locked on the mirror in front of me as Lena flitted around, adjusting my hair, dusting powder across my cheekbones. But none of it registered.
Not when Miles stood against the far wall—arms crossed, his quiet strength filling every inch of the space like armor wrapped around me.
I’d convinced him to come today. For the first time.
And God... I was glad.
Because knowing he was here—knowing that warm, steady gaze was on me every time I dared glance over—made the crushing weight on my chest feel just a little lighter.
He smiled when I met his eyes in the mirror. Soft. Encouraging.
It kept me breathing.
For the first time in months, I didn’t feel completely trapped on this set.
But that feeling didn’t last long.
The shoot wrapped quickly—just some dull beachwear shots to fill out the season’s portfolio. I peeled the loose tank top off, grabbing my bag, ready to leave, eager to get to the safety of Miles and his car—
“Julian.”
My whole body locked.
Victor’s voice. Right behind me.
Cold dread slid down my spine like melting ice.
I turned slowly, heart pounding.
Victor stood there, his smile thin, sharp, deadly.
“I see you brought company today,” he said, his gaze flicking to where Miles lingered by the door, watching us. His jaw tightened, but he stayed silent—like he knew something. Like he was waiting.
“I told you to keep him away.”
I opened my mouth, but Victor’s hand shot out, gripping my wrist tight—fingers digging in, hard enough that I knew it’d leave a bruise.
“You didn’t listen.”
I gasped softly, struggling not to pull away, because I could see it—out of the corner of my eye.
Miles. Phone out. Recording.
Keep him talking. Keep him angry.
“You just don’t learn, do you?” Victor leaned in closer, breath hot and poisonous against my ear.
“You think dragging your little boyfriend here is going to protect you?” His voice dropped, a growl.
“He’s going to regret ever touching you.
I can make him disappear, Julian. I’ve ruined better men than him. ”
I gulped. My pulse was a deafening drum in my ears.
Miles, please... please keep filming...
Victor’s grip tightened, wrenching my wrist sharply. I flinched, biting my lip.
“You belong to me until that contract burns. You don’t breathe without my permission.
” His fingers slid to the side of my throat, pressing there—just enough to make my skin crawl with terror.
“You think you can play brave just because your boyfriend’s watching?
I’ll break him first. Then I’ll break you. ”
I felt a spark of panic—rising, choking, hot in my throat—
But then... movement.
Out of the corner of my eye, Miles stepped closer, the phone still in his hand, expression calm but deadly.
Victor didn’t see him. Too busy spewing poison.
I met Miles’s eyes.
And for the first time... I felt hope.
Maybe... this was finally enough.
Victor leaned in one last time, his lips curling cruelly.
“End this thing with him, Julian. Or I’ll end him for you.”
My stomach twisted. My knees nearly buckled. But Miles... he was still there. Recording. Watching.
I couldn’t think. Could barely breathe. But deep down, under the fear, under the shame...
I knew.
This was the final nail in Victor’s coffin.
Victor finally let go of my wrist, shoving me back a step before turning sharply on his heel and stalking out of the dressing room.
The door slammed.
The sound echoed like a gunshot.
For a moment I stood there frozen, chest rising and falling in sharp, shaky breaths. My whole body trembled. My throat burned where his fingers had pressed, and my wrist throbbed under his bruising grip.
I didn’t realize I was clutching that wrist against my chest until I felt a warm hand wrap gently over mine.
“Miles...” I whispered, my voice breaking.
“I got it.”
I blinked, startled.
He held up his phone, screen still lit—the recording app open and running. His face was serious. Dead serious. His thumb hovered to stop the recording.
“Every word, pretty boy.” His voice was soft, but steady. Strong. “Every threat. Every disgusting promise. It’s all right here.”
The breath I’d been holding collapsed from my chest.
“We have him, Julian.” Miles stepped closer, cupping the side of my face so gently it made my eyes sting. “We have him. It’s over. You can walk away from this. From him. From all of it.”
I blinked fast, trying to make the tears go away. “Y-You sure? Miles, what if—what if he finds a way to bury this or twist it, or—”
“No.” His voice sharpened, firm and certain. “Renee’s lawyer will eat this alive. There’s no coming back from what he just said. You’re done, Jules. This is it. You’re free.”
Free.
The word felt foreign in my head. Distant. Unreal.
“I...” My throat worked uselessly. I didn’t know what to say. My knees felt weak.
But Miles just pulled me in. Arms around me, steady and warm and safe.
“Breathe, baby,” he murmured against my hair. “It’s over. You’re okay. You did so good. So fucking brave.”
It seems like lately all I’ve been doing was crying because the tears I’d been trained to hold, broke loose—quiet and sudden. I clutched the front of his shirt, breathing him in, letting him hold all the fear and weight and exhaustion I’d been dragging behind me for months.
“We’re gonna send this to Renee,” he whispered. “She’ll take care of it. You won’t ever have to be alone with him again. I promise.”
I let out a shaky breath against his chest, a tiny laugh buried in it. “I can’t believe you actually caught it. You really recorded everything.”
“I told you.” He pulled back just enough to kiss the corner of my mouth, soft and slow. “I’m not letting him touch you again. Ever.”
The weight in my chest eased—just a little. Enough to breathe. Enough to finally believe... maybe this nightmare really was ending.
And this time... I wasn’t facing it alone.
Miles kissed my temple, lingering there like he wasn’t ready to let me go—not even for a second. His arms stayed around me, strong and sure, holding me steady when my knees still wanted to give out.
I gripped his shirt tighter. My chest squeezed painfully, breath catching behind my ribs.
He stayed. Through everything. Even when I told him to go. Even when I shoved him away. Even when I tried to protect him by breaking his heart.
He saw me. Not Julian the model. Not the perfect, polished brand. Not the disaster behind the cameras.
Me.
And he never gave up.
The words pressed against my throat, hot and trembling. I gulped.
“Miles...” My voice cracked.
He pulled back just enough to look at me, eyes gentle and wide with concern. “Hey. I’ve got you. You’re safe. It’s okay.”
I shook my head, tears burning at the corners of my eyes again. “No. I need to say this. I need you to hear it.”
His hands cupped my face, thumbs brushing the faint wetness from my cheeks. “Anything, baby. Say it.”
I exhaled a shaky breath. My heart pounded like it was trying to break free from my chest.
“I love you.”
His eyes softened instantly, like the whole world melted behind them.
“I love you, Miles.” My voice broke, but I kept going. The truth poured out quickly and frantically. “I fought it. I fought you so hard. I told myself you couldn’t care about someone like me. Someone broken. Someone messed up and weak and pathetic and—”
Miles shook his head fiercely, pressing his forehead to mine, his breath warm and steady.
“Stop. No more of that. No more tearing yourself down.”
I closed my eyes, breathing him in.
“You’re the only one who cared enough to really see me,” I whispered, tears slipping free. “You’re the only one who stayed. Who kept staying. When I pushed you away. When I shut you out. You never let go.”
“Never will,” he murmured, brushing his thumb across my cheekbone. “You don’t get rid of me that easy, pretty boy.”
A watery laugh escaped me, tangled in a sob.
“I love you,” I said again, quieter this time. Like the words were fragile, meant only for him. “So much it scares me.”
Miles smiled. God, that smile—soft and full of so much warmth it cracked me wide open.
“I know,” he said softly, kissing the tip of my nose. “I’ve been waiting for you to say it. And I’m not going anywhere, Julian. I’ll be happy to keep reminding you every day.”
He pulled me closer, cradling me like I was something precious. Like I wasn’t broken at all.
“I love you, too,” he whispered against my hair. “So fucking much.”
And for the first time in forever... I let myself believe it.
I let myself have it.
Him.
Us.
Safe.
Together.