Julietta / JuliaA gasp escaped my lips, and I rose, watching Dominic with surprise. Why was he being so charming when this was an act? He wasn’t the type to propose on one knee! The way his hand clasped mine, a warm tingle went up my arm. He seemed to note every little reaction of mine, his intense gaze holding me captive. “Julia, will you give me a chance? Will you marry me?” He looked tense, as if fighting an inner battle. My mouth hung open. I was a little disappointed. Was that all he would say? Was that his proposal? “Julia..” He gave me a stressed look. It brought me to my senses. With everyone watching us, I couldn’t let him down. “Yes, Dominic. I’ll marry you.” My cheeks flushed with color as I used his name for the first time. He smiled with satisfaction and pushed the ring onto my finger. Loud applause and congratulatory wishes poured in. Dominic rose, standing awkwardly by my side. “Thanks, everyone. The wedding is next Monday in Santorini, Greece. All of you are
Julietta / JuliaEver since Aunt Vera started planning our engagement, Dominic had disappeared. I hadn’t seen him since lunch. Diego had no idea where his dad was. It was as if he had abandoned me here after announcing his decision to marry me. The entire family drove me crazy with their questions about us. What could I tell them? “I’m so happy today, Julia! From the day I saw you, I knew you were the one for Dom.” Aunt Vera and I had come over to a boutique to buy a dress for me. She paid no heed to my protests. So here we were with already three dresses bought so far. With no money in my wallet, I felt embarrassed that she had splurged so much on me. “Oh! How? He hardly acknowledges my presence.” I watched her pick up an expensive turquoise dress. She smiled and waved me off. “That’s what you think. I find him always looking at you differently. So, how’s this dress for your pre-wedding party in Greece? I want you to wear it.” My mouth hung open, but not because of the dress. How
Julietta/JuliaI gaped at him for a minute. Did I hear him correctly? “Excuse me?” I was sure I had imagined that. Why else would he ask me to marry him? He smiled to see how confused I was. Who wouldn’t be if you dropped such a question on them abruptly? “Will you marry me, Julia?” He repeated, but this time I could see the amusement in his eyes.Was he playing some game with me? “Are you sick or something?” He nodded with a smirk. “Or something.” He watched me closely while I tried to get a grip on myself. “So do I take it as an affirmative?” I shook my head vigorously, looking around to check if anyone was around. I didn’t want others to eavesdrop on our conversation. “No, please. I can’t marry you, Mr. Sylvester. I’m your employee.” Did he forget he had appointed me as his au pair? “We haven’t signed an agreement. So what’s stopping you from marrying me?” He watched me closely. I panicked, unable to tell him about my real identity. What if he fell into trouble? What if Migue
Dominic I didn’t know how to tell Julia about the situation we were in. Diego had returned from football practice and churned up a tornado here. A few of his friends had bullied him when he boasted about his new mom! They drilled into his head that his parents needed to be legally wedded to live under a roof! Now he refused to settle for an au pair and announced our wedding to the family. My grandfather and mom were over the moon with happiness, and I had no way of bursting their happy bubble. I urgently needed to talk to my son, but it would be an impossible feat here with so many supporters surrounding him.How would Julia react to it? The door opened, and Mom peered out with a bright smile on her face. Thankfully, I was saved from answering Julia. But I had landed in a bigger mess now. How would I save myself from my family? What if they had planned this event to get me engaged to Julia? After all, it was a rare feat for Dominic Sylvester to agree to marry someone. My family h
Julietta / Julia “Are you staying with us forever?” Although Diego tried to curb his excitement, I knew he was happy with this arrangement. I had no problem staying at home and looking after the house and him. “I can’t promise forever. But yes, I’m staying for a long time.” “Great. So, will you be my mom like Aunt Brynne is to Leo?” He gave me a hopeful look. The situation might have left a lasting effect on him. For years, he and Leo had grown up together, sharing the same single-parent situation. Now that Leo had found a loving mother, Diego was desperate to find the same for himself at all costs. I couldn’t decline him. “You can call me Mom.” I smiled at him, serving his dinner. Ever since Mr. Sylvester announced his employment offer, he had disappeared into his study. Diego had summoned him twice for dinner, yet there were no signs of him joining us. “Thanks, Mom. That’s what I’ll call you. Hang on, I have to inform Leo right away.” He gave me a wide smile as he typed a mess
Julietta / Julia“But they’re too big for Aunt Julia!” gasped Diego, taking them from his dad and chuckling at the sheer size of the clothes. It made Mr. Sylvester glare at his son.“Diego, what are you doing here? Why didn’t you go to school?” Mr. Sylvester looked furious now. “It’s Foundation Day at school, Dad.” Diego smacked his forehead. “I’ll help you with your luggage, Aunt Julia.” “No need. You can go to your room and study.” His dad sounded upset, and I wondered if it was because of the clothes. Obviously, they would never fit me. Eric wasn’t as tall as he was, yet his clothes hung loosely around my delicate frame. Diego grumbled and walked away, with Aunt Vera following him out. Mr. Sylvester gave me a death glare. “Are you planning to stand here all day? Why don’t you change out of these?” He carried my belongings to the room I had previously occupied. “Thank you for letting me stay. I’ll leave when I find a place of my own.” I felt ill at ease within the closed confi