Chapter 3: Mrs. Ashford

Vanessa lay still. When he bent to kiss her again, she flinched.

He noticed and stopped halfway, studying her.

“What's wrong? Are you afraid of me?”

She didn't know how to answer. He tapped the tip of her nose with a finger and laughed.

“I'm only teasing. Don't take it so seriously.”

His weight lifted. Julian stood and went into the bathroom.

Vanessa touched her hot face. For a moment, she'd thought he meant to go further.

She wasn't against being close to him. But this was Julian, Adrian's older brother. Until yesterday, she'd been nervous even talking to him. She needed time.

Once he'd finished showering, she accepted that they'd be sharing a room and went to wash too. Between her shower, skincare, and body lotion, she spent almost an hour and a half in the bathroom.

She assumed he'd be asleep by then. But the moment she opened the door, his teasing voice greeted her.

“I thought you'd moved in there.”

Vanessa went to the foot of the bed. “Where am I sleeping?”

Julian raised an eyebrow. “Our marriage certificate is legally valid, isn't it?”

“Yes,” she said, confused.

“Then in what world do newlyweds sleep in separate rooms?”

“Come here.”

He patted the mattress beside him. This time, she didn't resist. As soon as she lay down, his playful voice sounded near her ear.

“There you are, Mrs. Ashford. I've warmed your side of the bed.”

“You've always hated me. Why were you so determined to marry me? Just tell me what you want from this.”

He laughed. “What makes you think I hate you?”

Julian smiled. “You spent five years with Adrian. I'm not sure I trust your judgment of men.”

“What do you mean—”

Before she could finish, he wrapped his arms around her and drew her against his chest. His voice was muffled against her hair.

“Go to sleep. We're married. We'll have plenty of time to get to know each other.”

Within minutes, his breathing slowed.

Vanessa lay awake against his chest, listening until she began to relax.

* * *

That same night, in a private area of an exclusive club, Adrian had been distractedly checking his phone all evening.

Whenever they'd argued before, Vanessa had called within hours. He'd expected her to apologize before the evening was over.

It was past midnight now. No messages. No calls.

She really is making a big deal of it this time, he thought irritably.

“Are you waiting for Vanessa?” Natalie asked. “You can go and see her. This is my fault. I shouldn't have come back today.”

She knew how much he hated being told what to do. Offering to send him to Vanessa would only make him resist.

“Don't blame yourself,” he said. “She'll get over it. We can register any day. You've been away for three years.”

His friends immediately agreed.

“He's right, Nat. Adrian never stopped talking about you these past three years.”

“If it weren't for Vanessa, you wouldn't have had to leave the country in the first place.”

“That woman's so immature. Always throwing tantrums at the worst possible time. Adrian, you need to put your foot down.”

He scowled. “If she doesn't give Natalie a sincere apology, I'm not forgiving her.”

Natalie smiled with satisfaction. She hugged his arm affectionately and rested her head on his shoulder.

“Thank you. I was so scared Vanessa would be upset about me coming back and I'd have to leave again.”

“That won't happen. I won't let her get her way. You're staying here in Brookhaven, and I'll protect you.” He placed his phone facedown on the table.

“You're the best. Nobody in the family loves me as much as you do.”

Natalie thought Adrian was a thousand times better than Julian. Julian barely tolerated her.

* * *

At Hawthorne House, Vanessa drifted off to the sound of Julian's quiet breathing. For the first time in a long while, she slept deeply.

The next morning, Julian was already awake when Vanessa opened her eyes.

“Morning, Mrs. Ashford. Sleep well?”

She nodded. “Yes. Very well.”

After spending the entire night in his arms, she no longer felt quite so awkward.

Julian gave her a small smile. “Looks like I've passed the first test as a husband.”

He got out of bed and walked toward the bathroom, speaking over his shoulder.

“I have an early meeting, so I won't be able to have breakfast with you.”

“That's fine.”

After so many years with Adrian without receiving any real attention, Vanessa didn't expect a sudden marriage to change everything overnight.

When Julian came out of the dressing room, Vanessa watched him in the vanity mirror as she applied her skincare.

“Buy whatever you like. Don't bring any of your old things over from your apartment.” He placed a black bank card on the vanity. “It's all yours, Mrs. Ashford.”

In his suit, he seemed more like the Julian she remembered.

“I will.” She accepted the card without hesitation.

Whichever brother she'd married, her title would have been the same. The difference was that her ex-boyfriend was now her brother-in-law.

Not bad. At least I outrank him now.

Before he left, Julian bent toward her.

“I hope you get used to being my wife. I want a real marriage, Vanessa.”

Vanessa kept her eyes on the mirror until he'd straightened.