Semua Bab New Body, Old Obsession… Complete Decadence: Bab 21 - Bab 30

It was Cassandra.Back in high school, Cassandra was the class beauty.As expected, there was never a shortage of admirers around Julian.…"Julian, I brought lunch for you. My family runs a restaurant chain, and this meal was prepared by our five-star chef. You've been busy all day. You probably haven't eaten yet, have you?"Julian didn't respond, his eyes still on the computer screen. Cassandra took a step closer."Thank you for treating my uncle. He's already feeling much better.""Cassandra," he said coldly, finally raising his eyes. His dark gaze was sharp and glacial. "So you booked an appointment with me, not to seek treatment, but just to say thank you?"The chill in his voice was unmistakable."You're wasting a slot. That delays real patients who need care. Do this again, and the hospital system will blacklist you for three months.""Uh... I..." Cassandra hadn't expected him to be this blunt, not even giving her the courtesy due an old classmate."I just... I only w

Audrey's explanation, in truth, sounded weak and unconvincing.Anyone who truly knew Julian knew that he was aloof, cold, with standards far above ordinary, and once off duty, he exuded nothing but distance. Audrey had only come by after overhearing some nurses gossip about a woman who'd tried to deliver a meal to Julian, only to be promptly rejected. She wasn't surprised. He had never shown interest in any of those women.Except for that one day when she had seen a woman sitting on his lap in the office.That sight alone sent a surge of insecurity through her.What Dr. Owen didn't dare say was: That woman wasn't old at all. And she was stunning.But one look at Audrey's face, and she swallowed the rest of her words. Audrey was the daughter of the hospital's director. It was best to stay in her good graces.…By September, Julie had started first grade.Josephine brought her daughter to school that morning, offering a long string of reminders. After watching Julie disappear t

Julian's figure loomed over Josephine, casting a long shadow.He reached past her and opened the drawer, pulling out the medicine box. "These are either expired or have lost effectiveness. You've been taking them too long. They're useless now."Josephine hadn't expected it. She never imagined that Julie would call Julian. And even more unthinkable—he actually came.Julie clutched Stella's arm. "Grandma Stella, this is Dr. Faulkner. He's really amazing! When I went to the hospital for my heart checkup, he was my doctor."Stella glanced between Josephine and Julian. Just from appearances, they looked perfectly matched."You're a doctor? You look so young."Julian asked, "Do you have a blood pressure monitor?""Yes," Josephine replied, snapping out of her daze. She retrieved it from the drawer and handed it over.Julian took it and checked Stella's blood pressure. She cooperated quietly as he asked a series of questions, "Are you feeling tight in the chest? Any headaches or dizzin

After the meal, Josephine and Julian stepped out of the diner into the night. Julian walked beside her in silence for a few steps, then said, "You should take Stella to the hospital soon. Her blood pressure medication needs to be changed. It might help prevent something like this from happening again."Josephine gave a quiet nod. "Thank you."It was a little past nine. The sky was deep blue, the streets quiet but not empty. Her dress rippled in the breeze, her black hair swaying softly.Standing beside his car, Julian opened the door, then looked over at her, pausing as if debating whether to say more. After a few seconds, he asked, "Where's your husband?"From the phone call and from how the elderly woman had acted, he could tell she was Josephine's mother-in-law. Julie had called her "grandma." But every time he saw them at the hospital, it was always Josephine with the child, never a man.She frowned slightly. "He's overseas. Sorry to trouble you tonight, Dr. Faulkner. Take c

Josephine watched Julian's back and subconsciously bit her lower lip.The orange glow of the setting sun spilled across his white coat, casting a soft, cool light on his handsome profile. It gave him an almost gentle air—yet the sharp line of his eyes and brows remained distant, aloof.Julian turned around.His steps paused.His gaze landed on Josephine, standing three or four meters away. His brows lifted slightly.Julie greeted him politely, "Hello, Doctor."Julian gave a small nod. "Mm." He took a few steps forward, and just as he passed by Josephine, he hesitated, but only for a second. He said nothing.He glanced down, briefly, at the delicate curve of her lashes lowered over her eyes.Then he continued walking.A faint trace of his cologne lingered in the air as he passed.When the sound of the closing door echoed behind him, Josephine finally let out a quiet breath, as if releasing something tightly held.She walked over to Stella's bedside. "I brought you something n