Chapter 141 "Why not?" Raymond pressed, curiosity edged in his tone.. "Next week," Julian answered instead. He still owed Bruce a favor over the pen. He had to return it somehow. "Pretty sure Caleb will come too," Raymond reminded him. "Good," Julian replied. His gaze drifted toward the front door, unfocused yet intense. The steady, delicate rhythm of h34 breathing through the earbuds filled the quiet. Just one door separated them now. Raymond caught the subtle undertone and chuckled. "Not worried Caleb will catch on to your little crush?" Then he realized he'd asked a stupid question.
Since when had Julian ever cared what anyone thought? As expected, Julian didn't even reply. He checked his watch and shot a pointed look. "You done? You can leave now. Raymond clicked his tongue but didn't move. "Seriously, what are you up to tonight?" The less Julian said, the more suspicious it seemed. Julian ignored him and strode into the bathroom. Left with the dog, Raymond ruffled its head. "C'mon, Yoyo, tell me. What's your dad hiding?" Since when did secrets exist between him and Julian? Yoyo ignored him, shaking off the hand and padding lazily to its bed by the window.
"Yoyo..." Raymond whined. When Julian emerged, showered and dressed, the pieces clicked for Raymond. "You! How the hell did you get Sydney to agree to a date already?" he asked. Julian usually wore tailored three-piece suits, hair immaculate. Tonight, though, he was in casual clothes, his hair deliberately tousled, and he had swapped his watch for something subtler. Despite being 30, he looked more like a grad student, deliberately narrowing the age gap with Sydney. Julian gave Raymond a sideways glance, brow arched.
"Who said it was a date?" 'So not a date, yet it clearly involves Sydney,' Raymond thought. Raymond teased, "Then what? A parent-child outing?" "Get lost," Julian muttered, half amused. "We're going shopping." "Shopping? For who?" Raymond pressed. "She's buying for me, of course." Julian smoothed his jacket smugly. Raymond clicked his tongue in disbelief. "You? Shopping off the rack? With your germaphobia? Since when do you let anyone drag you into a store?" Chapter 141 +25 BONUS The Sterling heir's closet was stocked with bespoke pieces for years.
Even before trying anything on, the clothes required sanitizing. "You ask too many questions." Julian grabbed his coat. "Walk Yoyo since you're so free. Half an hour, minimum." Before Raymond could protest, the door slammed in his face. Of course he was ditched-for a girl. Sydney remained dead to the world as the doorbell rang relentlessly. She groaned and pulled the blanket over her head, trying to block it out. "Precious, it's almost six." The familiar low voice at her bedside made her mumble, half-asleep, "I don't care what time it is. I'm not getting up...
Halfway through, she jolted upright. No. This wasn't eight years ago. Back then, she had been impossible to wake. Alarms were useless. Only Julian could get her out of bed. He'd haul her upright, toothbrush and cup of water in hand. She'd sulk, but beneath it all, she'd always been a little afraid of him-just enough to brush her teeth. Every time, he said the same thing. "If you don't want your teeth, I'll just have them all pulled. Then you can sleep two extra minutes every morning."