Chapter 5: Moan like her

Nathan wasn't supposed to be at this table.

He sat right in front of me, and I could feel him staring. Around us, the powerful, respected men of the Ashford clan, who had already proven their worth, and their wives became quiet.

He was 29, and he hadn't proven anything yet. The only reason he got a spot was because he was the clan's favorite, the clingy one who always sent support and love to his family. In terms of career achievement, he had nothing to show.

And the only reason I was able to sit with him at this table before was because Nathan would use his puppy eyes and charm on his family. But I guess, in return, he wouldn't say anything when they started to insult me, because I think he himself was afraid to piss them off.

Tonight, the only reason I was able to sit at this table again was because of the man in the middle of it. My ex-fiancé's uncle. My husband.

Julian.

The spot was reserved for the most powerful man of the Ashford clan. The billionaire who was worth almost a trillion.

The rest of the Ashford clan, like Nathan's cousins, were at another table.

"Julian," an old man's deep, happy voice said, slightly echoing.

I knew that voice. Mr. Julio Ashford, Julian's father. He sat beside me, so it was me, him, then Julian in the middle of the long table.

I looked at Mr. Julio. He was happily looking at Julian. Then our eyes met, and he smiled at me.

I smiled back.

I didn't have anything against Mr. Julio. Among the Ashford clan, he was the only one who seemed to secretly care for me. Whenever his family insulted me too much, he would speak up.

'That's enough. Let's all eat. Julian is hungry.' It was always his line. Then everyone would look at Julian and become quiet.

That was how I realized how much power and control Julian had in his family.

"Lonora," Mr. Julio greeted me.

"Mr. Julio," I greeted back.

He laughed.

"Call me Julio, please," he said.

I blinked, my face warming a little from shyness.

"I don't think I can," I said respectfully.

"Why not?" he asked, smiling.

He looked at Julian and leaned in a little toward him.

"Is it true she's your wife?" he whispered, though it was still quite loud.

I ducked my head, shy and flustered.

Julian nodded.

Even the way he nodded was intimidating.

Mr. Julio's smile widened. He looked at me and offered his hand.

Confused, I took it anyway and shook it.

"Welcome to the family," he said happily.

It was quite loud, out of excitement, I assumed.

I felt everyone's glances in our direction, and my cheeks burned.

One woman cleared her throat. I looked in her direction and saw her roll her eyes at me before she looked at Julian.

I just sighed quietly and clasped my hands together under the table.

Here they go, I thought. They were starting.

"Julian, how could you marry a whore?" the woman said, disgusted.

The word landed like a slap, even though I had heard it a hundred times.

I looked at Julian. He didn't react. He didn't move. He just kept eating peacefully.

I wasn't expecting him to defend me anyway.

"How could this even happen?" another woman said. "Last time we knew, you were engaged to Nathan."

"Are you planning to seduce every man of the Ashford clan?"

Different women joined the insulting, the same women who always belittled me.

"Disgusting whore," a woman shouted, making me close my eyes and flinch.

Once again, I unconsciously slouched my shoulders. I felt so little. Heat crawled up my neck, shame mixed with a tired anger that I had no right to show. I had been humiliated at this table so many times that I should have been used to it.

I never was.

I felt a leg brushing against mine and looked at the person in front of me. Nathan was looking at me. He gave me a quick, apologetic smile, the same one he used to give me to comfort me in situations like this.

But I didn't need his pity now. It would only make me feel worse.

I moved my feet back. His eyebrows furrowed.

Then the sharp clink of a fork against a plate made everyone go quiet.

I looked at the man who had made it.

Julian.

He had set his fork down on purpose. He lifted his gaze and looked at those women.

"Shut your mouth," he told them.

He sounded so calm. But he made it obvious he didn't want to tell them twice.

The women became quiet.

Julian quickly glanced at me, then looked at each person at the table. Every eye he met tried to avoid his gaze, and they bowed their heads one by one.

"I think we need to clear something up here," Julian started. "Lonora is now my wife." He glanced at me, then at Nathan.

Nathan was shocked. When he met Julian's gaze, he flinched and lowered his head.

Julian looked at everyone again.

"You're talking to my wife, not to Nathan's ex-fiancée, who you can just bully. From now on, I demand you respect her the way you respect me."

Julian emphasized each word.

I saw the rest of the Ashford clan look at each other again. I just knew they were against it.

"And those who refuse, their business will suffer," Julian said.

Nathan shoved his chair back and stood. The legs scraped loudly against the floor, and he walked out.

But I didn't have to think about him. My brain was still processing what had just happened.

This was the first time someone had stood up for me. Even though it was just for show.

Something warm settled in my chest, and I didn't trust it. This was only an act, I reminded myself. Still, I couldn't remember the last time anyone had stood in front of me like that.

So this was what it felt like to be protected?

The rest of the dinner went well. Everyone pretended as if I wasn't there. The men talked about business, while the women talked about trips and luxury brands.

Julian was busy talking to his dad, though I could see him glancing at me once in a while, checking if I was okay. Which was maybe part of our act. And sometimes, Mr. Julio would check on me and ask me about a few topics.

Everyone had been drinking wine for a while. It wasn't just ordinary wine. There was alcohol in it.

I accidentally glanced at Nathan, who had come back fifteen minutes after he walked out. His face already looked red. Our eyes met, and I quickly looked away.

I looked at Julian. He was looking at me. His face was a bit red now, too. He looked away first and focused on his dad.

Since I was bored, I quietly grabbed the bottle of wine and poured some into my glass.

I felt a pair of eyes on me. I wasn't sure if they were Nathan's or Julian's.

I didn't dare find out.

I focused on my wine, spinning it in my glass, then slowly drinking it. I lost count of how many glasses I drank after that.

I had a low alcohol tolerance. That was why, when a customer offered me a drink, I sometimes refused. I didn't want to get drunk.

While I minded my own business and drank, my mind was occupied by the past. It was crazy how I was thinking about Nathan, who was just in front of me. I could feel his feet trying to touch mine from time to time, but I refused every time.

If someone found out about what he was doing, I would surely be the one in trouble.

"Sorry, I need to pee," I quietly told Mr. Julio and Julian.

They both nodded.

I stood. I was on my way to the bathroom when someone grabbed my hand and dragged me somewhere.

"Let me go, Nathan," I said when I saw it was him.

We were near the fire exit.

"Did he force you to marry him?" Nathan asked.

He looked frustrated and concerned.

I laughed sarcastically.

"Stop acting, Nathan," I said coldly.

"I'm not acting," he said, running his fingers through his hair.

It was something he always did when he was frustrated and cared too much.

I swallowed and looked away.

Usually, when I saw him like that, I would immediately hug him and give him kisses on the cheek. I wouldn't do that now.

"I miss you," he said emotionally, and held both of my hands.

I closed my eyes and sighed. The moment I opened them, I pulled my hands away.

"Please come back to me," Nathan said. He looked so hurt, and his eyes were teary.

I always hated it when he looked hurt. It was one of my weaknesses.

I went back to the image of Ivy and him in our bed. That was enough to make my heart cold again.

"Leave me alone, Nathan. I'm already happy with your uncle," I said.

He looked displeased.

"How did you move on so easily? Have you been in a relationship for so long? Are you cheating on me?" he said, sounding mad and offended.

I chuckled.

"Have you forgotten what I saw last week, Nathan?" I said, my voice shaking with anger.

He sighed. He tried to hold my hand, but I shoved it away.

"I'm sorry, okay," he said. "It was a mistake. Give me a chance and it will never happen again. I promise."

His eyes were still teary.

"No second chance, my nephew."

Julian's deep, serious voice echoed.

I saw Nathan swallow hard and step back. Coward.

"Is this the way to the restroom?" Julian asked calmly. I felt his hand on my back.

Nathan left without saying a word.

I heard Julian chuckle.

"Coward," he muttered.

When we came back to the party, I never saw Nathan again until the time we were supposed to go home.

"Let's go," Julian said.

I nodded and followed him.

We were walking down the hallway. He had rented a room in this hotel, and that was where we were staying that night.

His phone rang.

He paused.

"Excuse me," was all he said before he moved away to answer it.

I noticed a veranda and went there. I was enjoying the air. We were only on the second floor, but the air felt like we were on the fifteenth.

I heard something.

I looked down and saw the figure of a man. I squinted to see who it was because he looked familiar.

The clouds in the sky seemed to move, and the light of the moon fell on the man's face.

It was Nathan. Because of the moonlight, I was able to see fully what was happening.

He was leaning on the wall, biting his lip, his face showing pleasure. He was looking down. I followed his gaze and noticed Ivy, kneeling and satisfying him with her mouth.

My breathing became too fast. I almost couldn't breathe properly. I felt my heart being stabbed, and it felt like losing him all over again. This time I couldn't even be angry first. I could only hurt.

I remembered that night.

My tears fell.

I moved back.

I bumped into someone.

Julian.

He looked at my tears, then followed the sound he heard. I saw him smirk.

"And he said it was a mistake," he said, mocking Nathan's words from earlier.

I faced him.

"Let's go," I said.

But then he moved forward. I was forced to move back. He kept moving forward until I felt the railing.

We could already hear Ivy moaning. I didn't dare look at what was happening below.

"I can help you moan like that too, until he hears you," Julian said.

My face heated. And something inside me awakened at the way he said those words.

Maybe it was because he was drunk, and I was a bit drunk too.

"Just give me permission. All I need is your consent," he added.

I heard Ivy moan again.

I looked at Julian. He looked patient, unlike the usual Julian who looked like he could control everything. It was as if he was giving me the freedom to decide now.

My heart pounded, nervous and unsure, but my body was already leaning toward the warmth of him. I wanted to stop being the one who got left behind.

I slowly nodded.

He quickly smiled.

He took his phone and dialed a number. My eyebrows furrowed. How was that related to what he wanted to happen now?

He put the phone to his ear.

"Tell everyone no one is allowed to enter the second floor."