Chapter 6

Nadia's face turned red again as Julian's teasing had her blushing to the tips of her ears. She bit her lip and stood on her toes, brushing a quick kiss across his cheek.

"Is that enough?" She wanted to leave as soon as she planted the kiss.

Julian’s eyes slowly widened, and something cold in his eyes seemed to melt away. He reached out and pulled her back, his hand holding the back of her head. He bent toward her, his warm breath sliding over her cheek. "How can one kiss be enough?"

He dipped his head lower as soon as he finished saying that, and his thin lips almost touched her soft lips. Their breaths tangled with one another's. His gaze burned like a beast that had been watching its prey for a very long time.

Nadia held her breath as she felt her cheeks were burning hot. It felt like her heart might leap straight out of her chest as she was on the verge of suffocating before Julian finally let her go. Her pulse still thudded wildly. Her eyes were misty as she looked up at him, as if she had just been bullied.

"So... Does that mean you agreed?" she asked in a small voice.

Julian’s eyes were full of restraint, but he still smiled faintly. "Of course I'll fulfill my wife’s request."

Nadia turned her eyes away and quickly ran from the room. A strange heat had just swept through her body, something unfamiliar was waking up inside of her...

Julian let out a quiet laugh as he watched her run, his eyes growing even darker. She might look like a cherry bomb, exploding at any time, but she was just someone who could be easily bullied on the inside.

Her prickly exterior was only her armor.

-

Two days later, Nadia brought Julian back to the Thompson residence.

"Grandpa," Nadia greeted Philip in a light-colored dress.

She stood neatly in front of him, all proper, looking very well behaved as she made the introductions.

"This is Julian, the one I told you about."

Philip looked at the man at her side and nodded in satisfaction with a smile. "Good. Not bad at all."

Julian was handsome and composed. "Grandpa, this is just a small meeting gift."

Brayden carried in the gifts one by one and set them on the long table before quietly withdrawing. Soon, the table was piled with expensive gifts and fine liquor. He had clearly put thought into every choice.

Philip, dressed in dark red traditional attire, laughed heartily. "Now that you and Naddy are married, we're one family. No need to be so formal with us now."

"It's only proper. One shouldn't skip the proper social protocols." Julian’s words and bearing both showed his upbringing.

With a single look, Philip knew Nadia had chosen well this time.

Back when Nadia’s father, Howard Thompson, had been gravely ill, he had worried about who would look after her in the future. He had entrusted her to his longtime friend and business partner, Kenny Jones, and had even hoped for Nadia to marry into his family.

Nadia was eighteen that year and had just confirmed her relationship with Harry. Before he died, Howard had told her to stay with Harry and cherish him. Harry had stood in front of Howard's deathbed and promised he would love Nadia for the rest of his life.

No one had expected the two families would still end up linked in marriage, only with the groom changed from the younger brother Harry to the older brother Julian.

"Naddy, go to the chapel and light the candles in remembrance of your parents and grandmother," Philip said. "Julian and I need a moment to talk."

Nadia glanced at Julian, worried, and did not answer at once. She knew how her grandpa liked to put people on the spot. Harry had been put through the same rodeo more than once. Not only was he afraid of Philip, but he also resented her grandfather.

In the last few days she had stayed with Julian, she had seen how meticulous he was, even if his tongue was sharp at times. He really was a good choice for a husband.

And since this was a whirlwind marriage for both of them, she did not want to drag him into anything awkward.

Seeing this, Philip teased her. "Are you afraid I'll bully your husband?"

Nadia’s face flushed bright red.

Julian chuckled softly and turned his head. "It's alright. I'll have a chat with Philip. Go on."

Only then did Nadia nod and head for the chapel. She lit up the candle, then took a clean cloth and carefully cleaned the altar.

She had been treasured by her family since the day she was born. Her mother’s hand would ruffle her hair with gentleness as she said, "Naddy is the apple of our eye. She should live happily, without worries... She deserves every good thing in the world. She is the treasure of our family."

That was right…

She was the family’s treasure, yet Harry had always made her sad, pushed her away, and looked down on her.

Nadia felt she had let them down.

If her parents saw what she used to be like in front of Harry, as humble as a little dog wagging its tail and begging for scraps of affection, they would be heartbroken.

Her eyes reddened at the thought, and tears splashed onto the marble altar.

"I'm so useless..."

The ache in her chest was too much. She squatted down, wrapped her arms around her knees, and cried like a child.

When she took too long to return, Julian had a servant lead him over. He arrived just in time to see her clinging to herself with the altar behind her and sobbed her heart out.

The sound of her crying made his chest tighten. He crossed the chapel and helped her up, pulling her into his arms.

"Calm down," he murmured. "Stop crying. Don't be sad."

He thought she had simply missed them too much, and his heart ached as he soothed her.

"From now on, I'll take care of you and love you on their behalf, alright?"

Nadia broke down and cried even harder when she heard those words. Julian held her close, his chest aching as if someone had carved a piece out of it.

Only when she had bawled her eyes out did she slump weakly against Julian's chest. He carried her out of the chapel.

They left the Thompson residence soon after. But before they left, Julian quietly told the house staff not to mention what had happened, so Philip would not get worried.

In the car, Nadia finally began to calm down. Her nose and eyes were still red, her voice rough from crying. "Julian, thank you."

Julian sat on her left, his gaze gentle as he looked at her. "If you really want to thank me, then be happy. Being happy is what matters most."

Hearing that, Nadia felt as if she were waking from a dream. Back then, all Harry had told her was, "Nadia, no one can spoil you forever. You need to learn to compromise and tolerate others, or we'll break up sooner or later."

Nadia nodded, feeling the weight on her chest had been lifted. She suddenly realized that Julian, whom she had once feared, was better than Harry in every possible way.

-

When they got back to the villa, Nadia went to take a shower first. While Julian was in the bathroom, her phone rang. The screen showed a local unfamiliar number.

She did not think much of it and answered. Harry’s furious voice blasted into her ear.

"Nadia, are you done already? You blocked my calls, blocked me on Messenger, and you won't even come home! What exactly are you trying to do?"

After days of silence, the sound of his voice only filled her with disgust. "Remember that we've already broken up. Whether I go back or not has nothing to do with you anymore."

Harry went quiet for a moment. In the past, a cold war between them had never lasted more than a few hours. As long as he comforted her, things would always go back to normal.

Her attitude this time made him feel uneasy. He forced his tone to soften.

"Fine. I admit I went too far for ditching you on getting our marriage registered that day. I'm apologizing already, so stop with your tantrum already, alright?"

Nadia let out a cold laugh. "Don't you understand plain language? We've broken up, so don't call me again."

"Nadia, don't push your luck!" Harry growled on the other side.

However, Nadia could not be bothered to argue with him anymore and was about to hang up when the bathroom door swung open. She looked over at the sound.

Julian walked out with only a towel low around his hips. The chiseled abs and that clear V-line made her forget to end the call.

"Who's calling?" Julian came closer, his eyebrow raised in an arc as he glanced at the screen, even though he already knew the answer.

Nadia’s gaze was still fixed on the solid planes of his chest. For a second, she did not respond at all.

Harry heard the man’s voice, and his mind exploded. "Nadia? There's a man with you? Who is he?"

Julian took the phone from her hand, a cold glint flashing through his eyes. "Don't worry. You'll know who I am soon enough."