In the car, Nina Sinclair slowly regained her composure.
She turned her head slightly to glance at Julian Lancaster, who was attentively driving. His profile was hidden in the dim light, but the smooth outline of his jaw was strikingly handsome.
"If I didn’t come, would you have let them bully you?"
Nina felt a warm sensation in her heart, realizing that Julian had come specifically to rescue her.
She said softly, "I wasn’t bullied."
In reality, they couldn’t bully her; it was just that in their chaotic bickering, she was inadvertently dragged into the fray.
Nina reached out and touched her chin, feeling a bit of a throbbing pain, as if it was injured.
Julian noticed the faint mark on her chin, and his lips pressed tightly together, his eyes turning somber.
Before long, Nina realized they had returned to Royal Vista Estates. Suddenly, she felt a bit uneasy.
But Julian’s car had already come to a steady stop. After turning off the engine, he got out of the car, then walked around to open Nina’s door. "Get out."
Sigh! There was no other choice now.
Thinking this, Nina could only get out of the car and follow Julian back into Royal Vista Estates.
The door opened, revealing a familiar scene that unfolded before her.
The place still looked as it did when Nina and Julian had left, without a hint of change. ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ NovᴇlFirᴇ.ɴet
Even the spot where she had left her water cup remained untouched, which made Nina suspect that perhaps, after she left, Julian hadn’t come back to live here.
But if he wasn’t staying here, where else could he possibly stay?
As Nina was lost in thought, Julian had already found the first aid kit. He beckoned to Nina, "Come here."
Nina could only walk over and sit down on the sofa.
Julian began to treat her wound. Although it was just a minor scratch, he handled it with the utmost seriousness.
Nina sat obediently in front of him, letting him tend to her. After disinfecting, he applied a band-aid on her.
Watching Julian stand up to put the first aid kit back in place, Nina seemed hesitant, "Uh... Julian..."
Nina looked at him in slight surprise. Sleep? Here?
It was evident the answer was yes.
A moment later, Nina lay on the bed a bit nervously. After being apart for so long, this was the first time they would sleep together again. She couldn’t help but recall what had happened before at Goldenleaf Manor.
She anxiously gripped the blanket, glancing at the bathroom, where Julian was taking a shower.
She might as well fall asleep quickly before he comes out!
With that thought, Nina pulled the blanket up high and covered herself tightly, then shut her eyes firmly.
The bathroom door opened, and Julian came out with droplets of water still clinging to him. He wore black silk pajamas casually, looking fresh and clean as his gaze fell on Nina lying on the bed.
She was facing away, appearing as if she was already asleep. But her tense back clearly showed she wasn’t. Julian noticed that Nina was rejecting him.
Could it be she was dissatisfied with his performance last time?
Julian quickly furrowed his brow, feeling a bit frustrated while also reflecting on whether he had been too focused on himself before, not considering Nina’s feelings, which led to her current reaction.
He took a deep breath, then lay down beside Nina.
But Nina’s enticing fragrance kept drifting to him, making his throat dry. He couldn’t stay calm. Once one indulges in such desires, it’s very difficult to return to restraint.
Julian took a deep breath, then got up and went back to the bathroom for another cold shower.