He Broke My Heart, My Family Broke His Empire Chapter 11

He Broke My Heart, My Family Broke His Empire Chapter 11

After his grandmother’s admonishment, Julian pressed his lips together and watched Felicity, who was now charming the rest of the family.

She was good at pleasing people, especially men.

Julian told himself that after Thanksgiving, he would stop. He would go back to Boston and finally build a real life with Clara.

“Don’t worry, Grandmother,” he promised quietly. “I know what I’m doing.”

But during Thanksgiving dinner, the unease returned. He cut into the turkey on his plate, but his mind was filled with images of Clara.

She was so afraid of the cold.

Alone outside, in a blizzard like this… had something happened to her?

He suddenly remembered the first Thanksgiving he and Clara had spent together after they started dating.

She had struggled in the kitchen all afternoon, finally emerging with a plate of Texas barbecue that was slightly charred around the edges. She’d set it in front of him and smiled nervously, like a student awaiting a grade.

“Sorry. It’s my first time… Next time, I’ll learn to make something Bostonians like.”

His heart gave a painful lurch.

Julian threw down his knife and fork, stood, and grabbed his car keys from the back of his chair. He rushed out of the dining room.

“Julian!” Felicity snatched her coat and hurried after him. “Where are you going?”

He didn’t answer, just sped all the way from Nantucket back to Boston.

He searched for a long time around their Beacon Hill apartment. The tires crunched over thick snow on the deathly silent streets. There was no sign of Clara.

Bang!

He slammed his fist against the steering wheel, his frustration boiling over.

She had nothing. Where could she have gone?

“Julian, don’t panic.” Felicity reached over from the passenger seat and gently stroked his arm. “Maybe she’s at a friend’s house. It’s freezing out. Let’s just go back, okay?”

Her fingertips were warm, her eyes filled with a familiar longing. Julian’s gaze swept over the delicate skin she had left exposed. The agitation from his failed search was quickly replaced by a more primitive urge.

He’d look for Clara later, he thought.

He started the car and drove back to the apartment building.

After killing the engine, he yanked Felicity into his arms and kissed her. He shoved the car door open, carried her toward the entrance, and fumbled the key into the lock.

The key turned.

The moment the door swung open, a polo mallet sliced through the air and slammed into Julian’s knee.