Aurora noticed Julian’s vacant expression. It seemed he was lost in thought, which was unusual for him. Julian shifted his gaze away from her face. Everything had passed. From the beginning, his intention had been to protect her, but now, he truly cared about her.
Gradually, his desires grew, not just to possess her physically, but to win her heart as well. It had been a long journey, and after three years, was he still afraid to wait?
Aurora waved her hand in front of his eyes. He was an odd mix of domineering, gentle, and sometimes downright foolish. “Is it still hot?” Julian grabbed her hand and asked. Aurora thought the conversation had moved on, yet he was still concerned about whether she felt burned, recalling how he had helped cool her burn earlier.
Aurora blushed slightly. “No, it’s not hot anymore. You could have just handed me the water.”
“Aren’t you on your period? I’ve heard that women shouldn’t touch cold water, drink cold beverages, or eat spicy food during menstruation,” Julian said with unusual seriousness. His approach was as unpredictable as his thoughts, always leaving her guessing.
“Cough, how do you know that?” Aurora was surprised at his seriousness on such a topic, which men usually avoid. “My mom mentioned it when I was young,” Julian replied, his voice cooling slightly when he mentioned his mother.
“Oh, you should wipe your lips first,” Aurora suggested, initially thinking he was trying to take advantage of her by feeding her orange juice in that manner. But he had been concerned about her menstrual discomfort and pre-warmed the juice in his mouth.
She felt a twinge of guilt; she had overlooked an important fact. Whether three years ago or now, Julian had always trusted her deeply. Yet, he was Master Barnet, a man who could turn the business world upside down with a flick of his fingers, described by Asher as immeasurably wealthy. The business world was as ruthless as a battlefield, and only a shrewd man could survive in it.
Why then did he seem foolish in matters concerning her? Surely his skills were not inferior to Aurora’s. It was not the case; in the tricky business world, Julian trusted no one but Aurora. That night three years ago had sealed his trust in her, and he faced her with an open heart.
It was that trust that made him vulnerable to her, though Aurora never realized it, thinking it all coincidental. Julian’s casual gesture had stirred something in her heart, reminding her of their entwined fate from three years earlier.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have harbored any prejudice against him, especially after witnessing the relationships of Hayden and Susan, which had made her cynical about love. The flicker of emotion in her heart quickly passed, and she lowered her head to focus on her meal.
Julian took the napkin she offered. He had been observant of Aurora’s expressions, noticing the change in her eyes just then. “I need you to clean this up; it’s your lipstick,” Julian said, unashamedly challenging anyone to match his audacity.
Aurora pursed her lips, thinking over his recent actions. Maybe she could consider it a repayment of a debt. She would need to stand and lean over to reach his lips, and her black dress was anything but conservative.
When she sat, all was well, but as she bent over, her porcelain skin was exposed to his gaze. Aurora was earnestly wiping his mouth, yet Julian’s body began to stir restlessly. She caught the flames of desire in his eyes, following his gaze to her own chest.
“Scoundrel!” she exclaimed, tossing the napkin straight at his face.
“Eat,” Julian commanded, forcefully suppressing his desires, stubbornly waiting for Aurora to finish her meal.
Aurora, sensing what his looks implied, unconsciously slowed her pace, deliberately taking her time to allow him a chance to cool his ardor.
No matter how slowly she ate, the plate was bound to empty eventually.
“Are you done?” Julian’s voice broke the silence, and Aurora could only nod. Despite wishing to delay further, her stomach could take no more.
“Mhm.”
“Come with me,” Julian said, grabbing her hand. Aurora remembered his earlier remarks about getting work done after eating, and her feet felt rooted to the spot.
“It seems you like it when I carry you,” he said, bending down to lift her.
Startled, Aurora hurriedly stepped forward, her steps quickening as if the wind was beneath her feet. Julian chuckled lightly.
After the delay of shopping for clothes and breakfast, Aurora had gradually let down her guard. Now, as they took the VIP elevator to the penthouse, her heart tightened again.
Soon he would discover she was not really on her period. Could she truly not escape?
The penthouse was Julian’s private area, off-limits to all. He had designed it uniquely, with large sections of glass, allowing one to lie in bed and gaze at the stars at night-a luxury only he could enjoy.
The world of glass made Aurora dizzy as she looked down the glass corridors at the bustling streets below. The magnificent view made her feel numb.
She almost needed Julian’s support to enter the room, which was surrounded by glass. This glass allowed clear views from the inside but was opaque from the outside, even the bathroom was all glass.
Previously, since Julian was alone, it mattered little, but for a couple, it would seem quite romantic. Yet, Aurora only felt awkward, thinking about how exposed she would be during a bath.
No sooner had they entered the room than Julian, unable to contain himself any longer, pinned Aurora to the bed.
His kisses came fervently, leaving Aurora with no chance to resist. She was utterly restrained by him.
“Wait, wait, I…” she tried to find an excuse. “I’m on my period.”
Julian, however, wanted to hear nothing of it, his kisses trailing down her neck. Aurora wasn’t sure if it was her imagination, but her stomach hurt more than before.
“I’m in pain…”
Only then did his lust wane, and he looked up at her. “Where does it hurt?” His voice was hoarse, revealing his struggle.
“My stomach hurts.” This time, she wasn’t lying; she felt a leak!
Her periods were always irregular and painful. What she had initially lied about might have turned into reality.
“Let me rub it,” Julian offered, reaching for her stomach.
“I… I think it’s leaking.”
“What’s leaking?” Julian, caught up in the moment, looked confused.
Aurora pushed him away and stood up, only to find a bloodstain blossoming on the pristine sheets.