After I Left, His Empire Collapsed Chapter 18

After I Left, His Empire Collapsed Chapter 18

I got tired of the notifications. Switched to airplane mode.

Made it through security. Hugged my friend goodbye.

I was about to board when a voice cut through the terminal noise.

“Vanessa. Wait.”

I turned. Julian.

Sweat-soaked. Gasping. He’d been running.

He reached me. Bent over. Hands on knees.

“Why didn’t you answer? Why didn’t you wait where I left you?”

“Do you have any idea. I almost lost you. Forever.”

No warmth rose in my chest. I stepped back.

“How did you find me? You put tracking software on my phone?”

His eyes went red. Wounded. Indignant.

“How can you accuse me of that? I called every airline. Every flight to Europe. I found you myself.”

“Traffic was gridlocked. I ran. In dress shoes. My heels are destroyed. Don’t you feel anything?”

I glanced at his feet. Cheap leather. Ill-fitting. Clearly not his size.

“Julian. I gave you a custom pair of Church’s. Thousands of dollars. You refused to wear them. Insisted on those twenty-dollar fake leather shoes Sadie found at a discount bin. The wrong size.”

“You said it was her thoughtful gift. You couldn’t reject her kindness. Said they’d break in eventually.”

“Now your feet are bleeding? Take it up with Sadie. Don’t complain to me.”

His mouth opened. Nothing came out.