Chapter 5

Jullian.

I stood in the middle of my room with an open suitcase on my bed, staring at it like it had personally offended me. Half my closet was already folded inside, my shirts and well-tailored trousers were folded neatly inside the suitcase. I looked around my room for anything that I may be forgetting.

My gaze drifted to the window. The curtains swayed slightly with the morning breeze, the sunlight slipped through in soft lines across the floor. Everything felt… normal. In fact, too normal, like nothing had changed, except it had.

Dante was back and somehow the air in the house had changed. Why had my mother agreed to let me stay with this dude who had abandoned his family?

I exhaled slowly and dragged a hand through my hair. “It’s just an internship,” I muttered to myself. “You’re acting like you’re being exiled.”

“Talking to yourself now?” I flinched slightly at my mother’s voice and turned.

She leaned against the doorframe with her arms crossed loosely and a small smile on her face. But her eyes, those gave her away. There was something tight in them, something she wasn’t saying.

“How long have you been standing there?” I asked.

“Long enough to hear you negotiating with your suitcase.”

I huffed a quiet laugh. “It’s not cooperating.”

She pushed off the doorframe and stepped into the room, her gaze sweeping over the half-packed luggage before settling on me.

“You’ll be fine,” she said gently.

I nodded automatically. “I know.”

She didn’t move, instead, she reached out, smoothing down the collar of my shirt like she used to when I was younger. The gesture was so familiar it almost made something in my chest ache.

“Julian,” she said softly, “this is important.”

“I know, Mum.”

“I mean it.” Her voice sharpened just slightly. “This is your chance to build something for yourself. Away from… everything.”

I knew what she meant. Away from the family and definitely away from whatever Dante had become.

“I’m not planning on messing it up,” I said.

Her lips pressed into a thin line, like she didn’t fully believe me, which was new. Or maybe, she didn’t trust the situation.

“You need to stay focused,” she continued. “Keep your head down. Do your work. Don’t get distracted.”

Something about the way she said it made my stomach tighten.

“Distracted by what?” I asked, and I wasn’t sure I knew what she meant. Her eyes held mine for a second too long.

“You’re smart, Julian,” she said instead of answering. “Use that.”

Before I could press further, she stepped back slightly, as she’d already said more than she intended.

“I’ll leave you to finish packing,” she added, her voice lighter now. “Breakfast is downstairs when you’re ready.”

She turned to go, then paused at the door. “And Julian”

I looked up.

“Be careful who you trust.” Then she was gone.

Her words settled over me heavily. Be careful?

By the time I came downstairs, my father was already seated at the dining table, a newspaper spread open in front of him. He didn’t look up immediately, just turned a page like he had all the time in the world.

“Morning father,” I said.

“Hmm.” was his only response

I grabbed a piece of toast and poured myself some coffee, it was my typical morning routine. I wasn’t sure how much of it would change when I leave here.

“You’re leaving today,” he said after a moment.

I knew it wasn’t a question. “Yes.”

He turned another page of the newspaper.

“And you’ll be staying with Dante.”

I hesitated. “For a while. Just until I settle in.”

He finally looked up.

There was no warmth in his expression, so it was hard to tell what he felt. “You don’t have to,” he said.

That caught me off guard. “Mum has already arranged…”

“I’m not talking about arrangements.” His voice cut clean through mine. “I’m talking about choice.”

Silence stretched between us. “I’ll be fine,” I said carefully.

His jaw tightened slightly. “That’s not what I’m worried about.”

I frowned. “Then what….?”

I knew he was worried about Dante, we all are. But I was bothered about the fact that everybody seems to think I can’t take care of myself. Dante took a wrong turn in the family, and so what? He’s only trying to help

“He’s helping,” I said, though it sounded weaker out loud than it had in my head.

My father let out a short, humorless breath. “That’s what concerns me.”

I set my cup down slowly. “You don’t trust him.”

“No,” he said plainly. “I don’t.”

The honesty in it made something shift in my chest.

“He’s still….” I stopped myself. Family didn’t feel like the right word anymore. Not after everything I’d heard.

My father noticed. “He’s not your responsibility,” he said. “And you’re not his.”

His gaze sharpened slightly. “Don’t let him decide otherwise.”

I swallowed, suddenly very aware of how much I didn’t understand. “I won’t.”

He held my gaze for a second longer, like he was trying to decide whether to believe me, but then he nodded once and went back to his newspaper. The conversation was over, just like that.

By noon, my bags were packed and sitting by the door. Everything I needed. Or at least, everything I thought I needed.

The sound of a car pulling up outside made my chest jump. I didn’t have to look to know who it was. My mother appeared beside me, her expression carefully composed.

“He’s here,” she said unnecessarily.

“I figured.” Why didn’t they just let one of the chauffeurs drop me off, did Dante really have to come pick me up?

She reached for my arm, squeezing lightly. “Call me when you get there.”

“I will.”

“And Julian…”

“I know,” I cut in gently. “Be careful.”

She gave me a small smile, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes.

My father didn’t come to the door. I wasn’t sure if that made it easier or worse. I grabbed my bags and stepped outside.

Dante leaned against his car, exactly like he had the other day. He looked unbothered

His gaze flicked over me once, quickly before settling on my face.

“You’re ready,” he said.

“Looks like it.”

He pushed off the car and reached for one of my bags before I could stop him.

“I can carry my own stuff.”

“I know.”

But he didn’t let go. I frowned slightly but didn’t argue. I didn’t think it was worth it.

The drive was quiet at first, it was comfortable but the air was a bit heavy,

“Did you pack everything?” he asked after a while.

“Yes.”

“No regrets?”

I glanced at him. “Should I have some?”

A corner of his mouth lifted slightly. “That depends.”

“On what?”

“On how well you handle what comes next.”

Something about the way he said it made my fingers tighten against my knee.

“I’ll manage,” I said

“I’m sure you will.” But his tone suggested something else entirely.

Dante’s penthouse was not exactly what I expected. It was sleek, minimal, but still looked expensive in a way that didn’t need to prove it. Everything was in its place, nothing was out of place. I had expected a regular apartment, like the ones most bachelors have.

I stepped inside slowly, taking it all in.

“This is where you live?” I asked.

“For now.”

That answer didn’t explain anything.

“Your room’s down the hall,” he added, already walking ahead like he expected me to follow and I did.

The room was… nice. Too nice, honestly. It wasn’t bigger than mine back home, but it was comparable. It was clean and empty in a way that didn’t feel lived in. Of course it wasn’t. Dante probably used only one room in the whole penthouse.

“You can settle in,” Dante said from the doorway.

I nodded, setting my bag down but he didn’t leave. I could feel his presence lingering behind me.

“You’re quiet,” he said.

“I just got here.”

“And?”

I turned slightly, meeting his gaze. “And I don’t know what you’re expecting.”

“Nothing,” he said. “Yet.”

I looked away first, moving toward my bag just to have something to do.

“You follow instructions well,” he added.

“I didn’t know unpacking was a test.”

“Everything is.”

I let out a quiet breath, shaking my head slightly as I pulled a shirt from my bag. “You’re not my boss.”

“No,” he agreed easily.

I turned to look at him again. “Then what are you?”

For a second, something shifted in his expression.

“Someone you should listen to,” he said calmly.

My jaw tightened. “I’ll decide that.”

His gaze sharpened slightly, like he was cataloguing the response. Then, slowly, he nodded. “Good.”

That threw me off. “What?”

“I’d be more concerned if you didn’t push back.” He straightened, finally stepping away from the door.

“Unpack,” he said. “We’ll see how long that lasts.” then he left.