Chapter 148 Sydney's ears burned red, hot enough to feel as if they might bleed. She stammered, "I-I'll go to the bathroom myself." "Wait." Julian caught her wrist and drew her closer, knotting his suit jacket neatly around her waist to hide the stain on her skirt. "T-Thank you," Sydney whispered. With Alan and the others due back at any moment, this felt safer. Her cheeks flushed as hot as her ears. Instead of heading straight to the bathroom, she detoured to her car. She always kept spare clothes in the trunk, though she hadn't expected to need them today.
Her disrupted sleep schedule had thrown her cycle off. Still, after checking her pulse yesterday, she had known it was near and packed pads in her bag just in case. After cleaning up and changing, she stepped out of the bathroom and met Julian's dark, steady gaze. Awkwardness still clung to her. Holding out the jacket, she said softly, "I'll wash this and-" "This one's pricier than the last," Julian cut in. 'So merciless...' The thought of losing another small fortune to her period made Sydney's head spin. She rubbed her stomach, ready to argue, when the jacket slipped from her hands.
Something flickered in Julian's eyes as he reclaimed it. "Never mind. I'll wash this one myself." "You'll... wash it yourself?" The words escaped before she could stop them. They had lived under the same roof for nine years, and she had never once seen him do his own laundry. Besides, suits weren't meant for the machine. Julian's grip tightened. His gaze flicked to the stain before he cleared his throat. "I'll take it back and have it cleaned." "Alright then." She nodded just as Alan came in from the backyard with Marcus. Alan set down his fishing rod and handed over the catch.
"I'll make you a soup so fresh it'll melt your tongue later. Least I can do after that century-old Sengra root you gave me." Julian slipped the jacket over his arm with practiced ease and a faint smile. "Then I'll count myself lucky." Sydney blinked. "Century-old Sengra root?" Rare herbs like that were always on her radar. The only one available lately had been the root at the last auction. Alan grinned. "The very same one you regretted not winning to give me as a birthday gift at lunch today." Sydney couldn't help glancing at Julian, confusion stirring.
She had thought he bought it for Charlotte's father's recovery. Alan clapped Julian's shoulder. "Up for a few games? Playing with Marcus is no fun. He always lets me win." Not just Marcus-most people gave way to Alan, whether out of respect or because they wanted something from him. Only with Julian did he find a true challenge, no matter the outcome. 1/2 "Sure," Julian agreed without hesitation. "I'll help Eliana in the kitchen, then," Marcus offered. "I'll go too-"Sydney began. Julian's voice cut across hers, "It's cold. Brew some tea." Alan nodded.
"You don't cook anyway, so don't get in the way." "Fine..." She busied herself with the tea, though her mind kept circling back to Julian's words. Did he mean it was cold and, because of her period, she shouldn't handle too much water? Or that it was cold, so she should prepare something warm for him? By the time they finished dinner, night had fallen. Sydney was about to get into her car when Julian strode over, his long legs eating the distance. "Elliot's gone. I'll ride with you." "I..." she began. 2/2