Chapter 3

Nadia froze, her heart thumping quickly. When Julian lowered his head and was about to kiss her, her body shivered subconsciously.

He felt it and stopped, the darkness in his eyes laced with restraint. "What is it? Scared?"

Nadia still had not snapped out of it.

Julian brushed his finger gently along the side of her nose, amused. "I was just teasing. Don't take it so seriously."

And then, the weight on her body lifted. Julian pushed himself up and headed into the bathroom for a shower.

Nadia finally let out a slow breath and patted her chest as she looked at Julian walking away, though her face was still burning.

She had really thought they were about to do it just now...

She was not especially conservative, but he was still Harry's biological older brother after all. Julian had always been stern with her. He was only a few years older, yet he acted like an old man.

The whole thing felt too strange.

Especially when she remembered that awkward mess between them three years ago...

Whatever.

Nadia shook her head and forced the thoughts away.

By the time Julian finished his shower and came out, she had already accepted the fact that she would be living with him and went to take a bath too.

Between bathing, applying skincare and body lotion, a full hour and a half had gone by. She assumed Julian would be asleep by then.

Instead, the moment she opened the bathroom door, his teasing voice came to her. "I thought you were planning to live there."

That tongue of his was as sharp as ever.

Nadia was used to it, though. She walked to the end of the bed and stood there, testing the waters. "So... Where do I sleep?"

Julian lifted a brow over that handsome face of his. "Nadia, I believe we registered our marriage in a perfectly legal manner, correct?"

"Yeah?" It took her a second to follow.

"So have you ever seen a legal, newly married couple sleep in separate rooms?" Julian asked and successfully had her stunned.

Forget it.

Nadia gave up arguing.

"Come here." Julian patted the space beside him.

This time, she cooperated and walked over. She had barely lain down when his playful voice sounded again close to her ear. "Mrs. Jones, the bed is already warmed up for you."

Nadia turned her head and gave him a look that grew stranger by the second, until she finally could not hold back any longer. "Julian, you have always disliked me. But you suddenly pushed me to register our marriage. Why don't you just tell me what you're after?"

Julian looked amused. "You think I dislike you?"

"Don't you?" Nadia was sure she was right.

"That brain of yours..." His low voice stretched out as he smiled. "It's really not that bright."

How bright could it be, when she had spent all those years liking Harry?

"What do you..." She never finished the thought.

Julian pulled her straight into his arms and held her there, his hoarse voice coming from above her head.

"Behave and go to sleep. You and I are husband and wife now. We have plenty of time to get to know each other." The exhaustion in his voice was clear, and his breathing soon grew heavier.

Nadia felt his warmth as she was pinned to his chest. She listened to his heartbeat and breathed in his scent. Her own heart beating faster and faster…

-

Meanwhile, late at night, in a luxurious private karaoke room.

Harry had spent the whole evening checking his phone repeatedly, completely distracted. In the past, Nadia never lasted half a day before coming to him on her own whenever she got angry.

She had been furious enough to swear that vicious vow earlier today after he had skipped the registration, but following her old patterns, she would have already apologized to him within three hours.

Yet it was already so late, and there was not a single message from her.

She had really grown some nerves.

"Harry, are you waiting for Nadia to call?"

Samantha sat beside him, her face full of guilt.

"Why don't you go and look for her? She must be really mad right now. This is all my fault. I shouldn't have come back today. Then you two would not have missed registering your marriage, and Nadia would not be so angry."

Samantha knew Harry well. She knew he cared about his pride. The more she talked like this, the more worked up he would get.

Sure enough.

Harry said in a nonchalant tone, "She's just acting like a princess. It won't be long before she comes crawling back. Just ignore her. And Sammy, this has nothing to do with you. We can register our marriage at any time, but you have only just come home after three years. Of course, I should be the one to welcome you back."

As soon as he finished, a few of their friends joined in.

"Exactly, Sammy. Harry really missed you in the three years you were gone."

"Honestly, if it were not for Nadia, you would not have gone abroad three years ago."

"Nadia's just too petty. She always picks the worst time to throw a tantrum. You really need to teach her a lesson this time, Harry."

Harry's face went cold, and he let out a snort.

"If she doesn't give Sammy a proper apology this time, I won't get back together with her."

Samantha's smile turned blissful. She slid her arm around his and leaned her whole body against him. "Thanks, Harry. You have no idea how scared I was to come back this time. If Nadia is unhappy, I'll have to leave again."

"That won't happen. I'm not letting her get her way this time. You stay here in Highport, and I'll protect you," Harry promised, turning his phone face down on the table.

Sammy smiled even wider. "You're so nice to me, Harry. You're the one who spoils me the most in this whole family."

Much better than their oldest brother, Julian.

Julian was always looking at her with that same sour face, as if she were his sworn enemy.

-

Back at the villa in Golden Bay, Nadia finally drifted off to sleep as she listened to Julian's steady breathing.

It was the most peaceful sleep she had ever had.

The next morning…

Nadia woke and opened her eyes straight into a pair of deep, beautiful eyes. Their owner, Julian, was watching her. His gaze was dark and gentle.

"Did you sleep well last night, Mrs. Jones?"

Nadia nodded. "Pretty well."

After spending a night in his arms, she did not feel nearly as awkward.

Julian smiled. "Seems you found this new husband of yours acceptable."

Nadia frowned. What did that have to do with anything?

Julian had already gotten out of bed and was walking toward the bathroom. "I have an early meeting, so I won't be here for breakfast."

Nadia let out a hum.

What she never got in seven years with Harry, she did not think she would find with Julian. Especially not in a whirlwind marriage.

Later, when Julian came out of the walk-in closet, he was already in a perfectly tailored suit.

Nadia was sitting at the dressing table and was working through her skincare routine. Then, she saw him approach her in the mirror.

The dark suit highlighted his noble aura. His brows were sharp, and his whole presence was carrying natural pressure as he walked toward her.

Julian stopped beside her, took out a black card, and set it on the table. "Buy anything that you like and buy more of it. You can get rid of the things you get from your old place, Mrs. Jones."

Nadia raised her head and looked up at him.

Seeing his composed manner, she almost thought that sharp-tongued, malicious man from last night had just been her imagination.

"I will," she said, taking the card without missing a beat. It was the same as accepting her new status as Mrs. Jones.

Whoever she married between the two brothers, she would still be Mrs. Jones in the end. The only difference was that her ex-boyfriend had now become her younger brother-in-law.

Having that upper hand was a good feeling.

Julian watched her drift off into thought, then suddenly leaned down. His warm lips brushed her ear as he said, "I hope you get used to that title soon, Mrs. Jones. The kind of marriage I want is one where we can do what a husband and wife are supposed to do."

Nadia's face went red all the way to the tips of her ears…