Chapter 32: The Heiress's Guilt

[Juliette’s POV]

My shoulders sank in surrender. “You have my word. I won’t talk to him.”

His brows finally relaxed. But they immediately knitted again, this time in concern. “Can I trust you, Juliette?”

Those words and the pleading tone hit me hard. Guilt consumed me. My body remembered all that had happened between us in the past month, and my loyalty towards this man returned like an old habit.

I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around him. “Yes, Ralph. You can trust me.” I buried my face into his warm chest, feeling his human heart beating gently against my forehead, and drew in a deep breath, taking his powerful scent with me before resting my cheek on the steady thudding.

His arms came around me and he hugged me back, as though it was a confession of love.

And my heart melted once more.

*****

After dinner, Ralph wanted to start the ball rolling for the preparations for the party . So we were in one of the lounge rooms, Ralph and I next to each other on the long c