Novels by Triplediamond

"Are you going to stare at that apron until it can talk back?"Julian’s deep voice pulled Claire out of her daydream. She jumped, nearly dropping the phone she had been clutching tightly on the bed. She turned toward the slightly open bedroom door, seeing Julian standing there in a black shirt with the sleeves neatly rolled up.Claire let out a long breath, her eyes returning to the brown apron with the Central Café logo hanging behind the door. "I was just thinking. Should I wash it and return it, or keep it as a memento of my own foolishness?""A memento of what? Of how you were humiliated?" Julian walked in, leaning against Claire’s vanity with a calmness that felt out of place for their current situation."Of how I tried to stand on my own two feet, but there was still someone who wanted to break my legs," Claire retorted softly. She looked back down at her phone screen, scrolling through job listings on Namba’s employment websites.That morning felt incredibly heavy for Claire. S

"Julian, I’ll be coming home late again tonight."Claire set a plate of toast and omelet in front of Julian, who had just sat down at the dining table. The rich scent of butter filled the room, creating an atmosphere that contrasted sharply with the tension of the previous night.Julian stared at his plate for a moment before shifting his gaze to Claire. "What’s the matter this time?""There’s a big event at the café where I work. There are a lot of catering orders, so I’ve been asked to work overtime," Claire answered as she straightened her college bag.Julian took a bite of the omelet, chewed slowly, and gave a small nod. "Your cooking is always just right. It’s far better than the restaurant food I usually eat."That brief praise left Claire stunned. She had not expected a man as stiff as Julian to offer such simple verbal appreciation. She felt her cheeks warm slightly. "Thank you. Finish it all. I’m heading to class now."Claire hurried off before Julian could catch the faint sm

"Talk is easy when you have nothing."Arthur’s mother spoke before Julian left, crossing her arms over her chest and laughing mockingly. Her eyes swept over Julian from head to toe with a condescending look. Beside her, Arthur wore a sneering smile too, wrapping an arm around Natalie’s shoulders as she continued to fake sob."You want to make Claire happy? With what, Julian? With your odd-job laborer’s wages?" Arthur chimed in again with a dismissive tone. "You probably have to make installment payments just to buy a decent pair of shoes."Julian did not take the bait. His face remained calm, but his gaze was ice cold as he looked at Natalie. "We’ll see. But before that, I think this house has a pretty good security system. I’ll ask the guards to check the CCTV footage in this garden to see who actually attacked first."Natalie’s sobbing stopped instantly. She froze and glanced toward the hidden security camera amidst the dense foliage of the large trees. Cold sweat began to bead at h

"You remember your promise not to be late, right?"Julian’s voice was low as Claire just stepped through the grand entrance of the Blackwood family’s main residence. He was already standing there, dressed in a dark suit that made him stand out sharply against the opulence of the house filled with gold carvings.Claire was slightly out of breath, smoothing her wind-tousled hair. "I just finished class. The train was delayed," Claire said softly.Julian only gave a slight nod, then gestured for Claire to follow him into the living room. Inside, the atmosphere felt stiff. Silas Blackwood sat in his grand armchair, while Natalie, Arthur, and their parents occupied the luxurious sofa with unreadable expressions."Since everyone is gathered, I have something to say," Silas began, his eyes sharp as he looked at Natalie and Arthur. "Regarding your wedding plans, I have made a decision. You will get married in the near future."Natalie immediately sat up straight, a wide smile spreading across

"Oops, my hand is so slippery."The sharp sound of a porcelain cup shattering on the café floor made Claire jump. Natalie stood in front of her with an innocent look, while a spill of latte coffee stained Claire’s scuffed work shoes. The annoying woman had come back to the café where Claire worked today."Clean this up, Claire. It was an accident," Natalie said, wearing a satisfied smile.Claire clenched her hands at her sides next to her tray. She could feel the café patrons’ eyes turning toward them. Her breath quickened, but she closed her eyes for a moment, trying to swallow the anger that had risen to her throat."Alright, I will clean it up," Claire replied in a low, trembling voice."That’s more like it. A good waitress should be obedient," Natalie giggled, deliberately stepping on one of the cup shards before sauntering out of the café.Claire knelt down to pick up the porcelain pieces. Her finger was nicked slightly, but she didn’t care. She just wanted this night shift to be

"Are you trying to poison me first thing this morning?"Julian froze in the kitchen doorway, staring at Claire’s back as she bustled in front of the stove. The scent of fried garlic and sunny side up eggs filled the penthouse, a space that usually smelled of expensive aromatherapy and sterile, empty air.Claire turned around, holding a spatula, her cheeks slightly flushed from the heat of the burner. "I’m just making a simple breakfast. Consider it part of my rent here, since I can’t let you survive on canned food every day."Julian didn’t reply. He walked over, pulled up a tall bar stool, and stared at the plate of fried rice and eggs still steaming hot. It had been years since he’d eaten anything other than meals at fancy restaurants or protein bars in the middle of missions. Seeing an ordinary ceramic plate with food made by someone else’s hands made his chest feel tight. Yet his expression remained as blank as ever."Eat it. Don’t just stare," Claire said, setting a glass of water