Julian Donovan’s phone rang just then. Both of them instinctively turned toward the source of the sound. When Naomi Shaw saw the na displayed on the screen, she quickly looked away.
"You should get that. I’m going to head back first!"
The call was from Juliet Jennings. She couldn’t bear to watch him be all sweet and lovey-dovey with Juliet.
Julian Donovan glanced at Naomi Shaw, who was turning to leave. He reached out, grabbed her arm, and answered the call. Naomi’s expression was uneasy as she looked at him. He simply held her gaze while he spoke to Juliet Jennings.
"Hello, Juliet."
His voice was calm. When Naomi heard him say Juliet’s na, she lowered her eyes. Julian wouldn’t allow her to hide. He reached out and tilted her chin up, forcing her to et his gaze. He stared into her clear, dark eyes and spoke calmly to Juliet.
"I’m busy with sothing here. I won’t be back for now."
Ever since Juliet Jennings had abruptly shown up in Thailos a few days ago, Julian Donovan had felt a distance growing between them, though it wasn’t enough to make him speak coldly to her. Juliet said sothing on the other end, and he frowned slightly, his tone turning a bit chilly.
"Juliet, calm down. We’ll talk when I get back."
With that, he hung up and let go of Naomi’s hand.
Naomi swayed slightly, her palms slick with sweat. Her first instinct had been to run. She really couldn’t face him saying sweet nothings to Juliet. But she never expected him to hold her back and end the call after just a few simple words.
Julian Donovan glanced at her standing there anxiously, wringing her hands. He picked up the docunts he needed for his eting and slung an arm around her as they walked out.
"I’m off to my eting. You can go now."
In reality, he had taken the call with Juliet in front of her just to make her believe what he’d said—that he would handle things with Juliet once he returned to ridia.
Naomi felt a little awkward. ’Did I... overthink things just now? Didn’t he already say he would handle things with Juliet? I shouldn’t have distrusted him.’
When they reached the elevator, she turned and gave him a quick peck on the cheek.
"I’m sorry about before. I shouldn’t have doubted you."
The elevator doors happened to open at that exact mont. Ken had co up to tell Julian to get ready for the eting and to let him know the car was ready. He hadn’t expected to see this scene and imdiately let out a light, smiling cough. Mortified, Naomi quickly ducked into the elevator and headed straight for the first floor.
When Julian Donovan returned that night, Naomi Shaw was already asleep. She had, however, left a light on for him. Seeing it from outside, Julian felt the exhaustion of his long day lt away into a warm feeling.
Though deep in a drowsy sleep, Naomi was woken by him and compliantly joined him for a round. Once a man has had a taste, there’s no going back. Now that Julian had decided to make things work with her, their physical entanglent beca all the more passionate and intense. Drowsy and limp, she let him tease and thrust into her as he pleased, while he pleasurably enjoyed everything she had to offer.
Far away in ridia, Juliet Jennings was so furious about Julian’s call that she threw down the script she was reading. She couldn’t believe Wendy Lowe’s operation had failed. Even more, she couldn’t believe that woman had soone so loyal by her side, soone who would even take a bullet for her. The thought made her grind her teeth in hatred.
So, the mont she heard the news, she had called Julian Donovan, urging him to co back at once. Since that woman hadn’t been hard, every extra day he spent by her side was another day of danger. But to her shock, he had said he wasn’t coming back for now.
She had questioned him, but he had just impatiently said they would talk when he got back and hung up. ’How can I accept that! It must be that woman. During his ti in Thailos, she must have pulled so trick to keep him there.’
Naomi Shaw’s hand injury and Arnold’s wounds had mostly healed. Arnold ultimately chose to study abroad in Aethelgard. When it was ti for Julian to leave, Naomi took Dylan to the airport to see him off. Because all his previous hocomings had ended with them giving each other the cold shoulder, Naomi had never felt so reluctant to see him go.
Naomi rembered the previous night, how he had been on top of her, kissing her fervently and whispering in her ear,
"Give half a month at most. After half a month, I’ll co back for you and Dylan!"
She hadn’t said anything at the ti, only held him tighter and passionately matched his rhythm.
She had endured four years. What was half a month?
Her passion made him lose control. He viciously quickened his thrusts inside her, and she finally dug her nails into his back as she reached her peak. As she lay there, utterly spent, he whispered coaxingly in her ear,
"From now on, just tell what’s on your mind. Let know what you’re thinking, okay?"
She blinked, panting slightly as she asked him,
"If I tell you, will you give what I want?"
"I will,"
he said, kissing her smooth forehead.
She paused, mustering her courage.
"Then... I want your heart. Can I have it?"
A strange emotion flickered in the depths of his ink-black eyes. He didn’t answer her. He just bent down, captured her lips in a kiss, and sank his hips to continue their entanglent.
Am I going to say the next Chapter is about divorce? Pfft...
Julian Donovan returned to ridia. The first thing he did was have the housekeeping staff pack up all of Juliet Jennings’s things. Although he had never touched her, she chose to stay at his place for more than half the week. Even though they slept in separate rooms, she stubbornly insisted on coming. He had told her not to co before, but he couldn’t overco her persistence. ’Thinking back now,’ he thought, ’I wasn’t decisive enough.’
So n, after achieving success and fa, grow to disdain their families. This is why farces like cheating, mistresses, and extramarital affairs play out endlessly across the world every day. Other n, however, co to realize the importance of family after becoming successful, and Julian Donovan was one of the latter.
This was especially true after the attack; he had almost lost her and his son. It made him realize more than ever how important they were to him. ’From now on, I should put more ti into nurturing my relationship with her and our son. Love or no love, I’ll keep my promise and build a good life with her.’
As soon as Juliet Jennings found out he was back, she rushed over to his apartnt, only to find her belongings packed up and placed in the entryway. Her expression was one of shock and disbelief.
"Julian, you—what is the aning of this?"
Julian Donovan was just coming down from the second floor. He glanced at Juliet, lowered his eyes in a mont of contemplation, and then looked at her and spoke calmly.
"Juliet, I think we should just be regular friends from now on. This marriage of mine... it may have started without love, but now I want to try and make it work."
Juliet lost control.
"Julian Donovan, is this your ’result’ after going to Thailos to handle your marriage? Dumping to be with her?"
Julian’s expression was apologetic. The decision he’d made when he first went back was indeed not this one.
"I’m sorry, Juliet. I didn’t expect so many things to happen on this trip..."
Before he could finish, he was cut off by Juliet’s shrill voice.
"You gave luxury cars and mansions, you saved from Wendy Lowe, you boosted into Hollowind, you’ve worn the watch I gave you for years! You gave so much hope, and now you’re telling you want to be ’just friends’?"
Juliet’s words made Julian lower his gaze to his left wrist. He had indeed always worn the watch she gave him. All these years, even though the watch was long outdated and worn, he had never replaced it.
’I once thought I couldn’t bear to replace it because of love. But thinking about it carefully now, it was really just a habit. I’d gotten used to everything about the watch, and that’s why I never got rid of it.’
Seeing his silence, Juliet rushed forward, threw herself into his arms, and began to cry, holding him tightly.
"Julian, the one you love is clearly ! All you feel for that woman and her son is pity, not love!"
"Juliet, calm down!"
Julian tried to push her away, but she clung to him tightly. Juliet sobbed against his chest, her cries turning into desperate wails.
"I know I was wrong to leave you back then, but I had no choice! If Wendy Lowe had found out I was involved with you, he would have killed you! Julian, I can’t live without you! Please, don’t do this to ..."
Juliet’s words hit a nerve, reminding Julian of the despair he’d felt when they broke up, reminding him of those dark, hopeless days. But in the end, he still pushed her away.
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