Page 28 of What You left in Me

And then, right on cue, Julian slides into the silence.

He’s all prefect lines and sleek sympathy, his voice smooth as silk, designed to soothe, to convince. He sets a hand on Ariane’s arm like he’s claiming her. “She’s right, darling. I’ll stay here with your mother. You should go home, get some sleep. You’ll be back first thing tomorrow. Richard will want to see you strong.”

His tone is perfect, sounding like a line out of a campaign speech, something practiced until it doesn’t even feel human anymore.

Ariane steps back at the words, looking betrayed.

“I don’t want to leave him,” she whispers. The crack in her voice nearly guts me. “Not like this.”

Julian tilts his head, gentle smile fixed on his lips. “Of course you don’t. But this is better. I’ll text you if anything changes.”

Eleanor folds her arms, nodding, satisfied with Julian’s delivery.

“Exactly,” she chirps, satisfied with the back-up. “Ariane, you need to be sensible. Don’t make this harder than it already is.”

That’s when Ariane snaps, soft but perceptive. “Don’t make thisharder?” Her eyes flash, and for a beat, she looks like she might tear the pearls from Eleanor’s throat. “Richard almostdied. I’m supposed to go home and sleep?”

“You’ll do what’s best for the family,” Eleanor says, unaffected, her tone final. “We don’t fall apart in public.”

Her words are shackles. I can see Ariane fighting them with trembling shoulders. She wants to fight but she’s too goddamn tired.

Julian is smoothing his thumb along her arm like he can iron her into compliance. “Darling, listen to me,” he cajoles her. “This is the smart choice. Trust me.”

“I’ll drive her,” I say, just to get this conversation to be over. I can’t stand any of this—any of them.

Julian’s head jerks toward me, brows rising. The man probably doesn’t like being interrupted mid-performance. His lips part like he’s about to argue, but I pin him with a look that makes the words die in his throat.

Eleanor doesn’t even blink.

She just studies me for a beat, and then she nods. “Fine,” she allows, again granting permission I never asked for. “Take her home. Make sure she rests.”

She trusts me more than she should.That’s her mistake.

Ariane’s eyes find mine.

There’s a hint of relief, but dread too, buried deeper, that she probably doesn’t want me to see. She doesn’t protest. Maybe she can’t. Maybe she doesn’t want to.

Julian clears his throat, trying to salvage ground. He presses a kiss to her temple, which looks more territorial than tender. “I’ll keep watch here. Don’t worry, darling. I’ll take care of your mother. You focus on yourself.”

Yeah, likefocusing on herselfis something that comes naturally to her. I see her once in a blue moon and even I know that’s fucking stupid.

Ariane’s mouth is set into a hard line. She nods stoically, not debating any further.

But when I step closer, close enough that my shadow falls over her, she shifts toward me like her body knows before her mind does.

“C’mon, I’ve got you,” I exhale, gesturing her on.

She glances back at Dad’s door one last time, eyes glassy, then turns back. Her heels scuff against the tile as she moves, small and quiet, but she follows.

Julian watches us go, his smile is polite, but his eyes give away the slight anxiety he’s feeling seeing her with me. It makes me feel more satisfied than I expect it to.

Eleanor doesn’t even bother to watch us go. She’s already pulled out her phone, probably already rehearsing the next move.

I shove open the doors, the night air slamming into us, agonizing and cold. Ariane hugs her arms around herself, andshe looks so fragile I want to strip my own skin to give her warmth.

But I can’t, so I just lead her to the car. She follows wordlessly.

Chapter 10 – Ariane - The Line You Can’t Uncross