This was the true highlight, even more enticing than anything he had previously mentioned. Aurora felt a surge of excitement at the thought of Hayden’s expression. Julian gently lifted her face. “How about this deal?”
His voice, devilish at her ear, revealed the true businessman in him, a master at manipulating hearts. He knew exactly what others needed and their weaknesses, making it easy for him to break them down.
Faced with this immense temptation, Aurora quickly regained her senses. “May I have some time to think about it?”
“You may, as long as you wish, this agreement will always be valid.” Julian knew when she spoke like this, the odds were in his favor.
“It’s getting late. Go freshen up,” Julian urged, and obediently, Aurora went to the bathroom.
Her heart was still restless. Was she just to be Mrs. Barnet like that? But could it really be that simple with this man? Cautiously, she decided to wait and see.
Dealing with such a cunning businessman, it was likely she could be completely devoured.
Julian, watching the bathroom light, felt somewhat helpless. Although he had schemed against many, he was sincere about love this time.
However, this woman seemed suspicious, and all he could do was keep her for now. Time would foster affection. He believed his charm could eventually win her over.
Finally, Aurora emerged in a silk pajama set. Originally, the housekeeper had prepared a very sheer silk nightgown for her. She was almost certain the housekeeper did it on purpose, knowing he was such a horny man, yet providing such a sexy gown.
At her pleading, the outfit was changed to long sleeves and pants, with a variety of daily necessities already prepared in the bathroom. The man was efficient, and he had everything ready without her agreement, from skincare products to toothbrushes and towels.
“It’s exactly midnight. You should go to bed.” Julian put down his magazine, automatically pulling the blanket for her.
Aurora felt the gesture overly intimate, but this was what she had agreed to, and her period had saved her for this time. Now, just spending the night with him would settle their previous conflicts, likely the smallest price she could pay.
She quietly lay beside him, hearing him turn off the lights. Then his strong arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her into his embrace. Initially, her back was to him, and now it rested against his chest.
Though it wasn’t their first touch, sleeping together like this was a first. “Sleep tight,” Julian said calmly, not behaving as she had feared.
He certainly wanted to be intimate, but if he truly wanted to win her over, he couldn’t afford to make a poor impression now. He had felt her tense up when his hand rested on her waist, so he deliberately spoke to help her relax.
Perhaps because he made no further moves, Aurora’s body gradually relaxed. After working all night, she was tired and soon fell asleep.
Julian, however, didn’t fall asleep as quickly. He watched the sleeping woman, her arms still crossed in front of her.
He thought of the words she had said before. What kind of life had she been through over the past three years?
His hand around her waist tightened. No matter what had happened before, from now on, he would be there to protect her.
Aurora’s sleep was actually quite troubled. Many nights, she would suddenly wake up in the middle of the night. At around two or three in the morning, when Julian was deep in sleep, she woke up again.
The woman in his arms suddenly screamed, “Don’t kill me!”
Breaking free from his embrace, Aurora then turned over and got out of bed, ready to flee. It was a purely subconscious act.
By the time Julian opened his eyes, Aurora had already run to the window, about to jump out instinctively, clearly not her first time performing such an act.
During her time on the run in the United States, she often encountered assassination attempts. Initially, she was just a defenseless woman.
All she could do was run, desperately run. She had to survive and return!
“What are you doing, Little Bunny?” Julian was terrified as the cold wind rushed in from the window, her bare feet poised on the window sill, ready to jump.
The wind blew her silk nightgown, fluttering with the direction of the curtains.
In the blink of an eye, Julian lunged forward and embraced her. “What’s wrong?”
Aurora, drenched in sweat, her eyes gradually clearing, murmured, “Mr. Barnet?”
“What’s wrong?” By the moonlight outside, Julian saw her face covered in sweat beads, her delicate face even paler.
Looking around, Aurora realized she was in Julian’s villa and collapsed against him.
Julian was also scared. Even though this was the second floor and a fall might not kill her, she would still be injured.
He carried Aurora back to bed while she unconsciously clung tightly to his neck, her emotions still unsettled.
Her forehead was covered in cold sweat, her emotions visibly troubled, and her heart was beating very fast.
This was the only time she had approached him on her own, her small body nestling into his broad, warm chest.
Julian’s heart ached. He held the woman tightly, kissing the top of her head to comfort her. “Aurora, it’s over. It was just a dream, only a dream.”
He gently wiped the sweat from her face, unsure what dream had caused such emotional turmoil.
Aurora dared not close her eyes. As soon as she did, it seemed she would be back in that terrible nightmare.
Under Julian’s soothing, Aurora’s emotions slowly calmed, her hands eventually moving from his neck.
But her other hand was still tightly grasping his shirt, as if he was her last hope, losing him meant losing everything.
Seeing her furrowed brows, Julian could guess her reactions were definitely related to her experiences over the years. From the bed to the window sill, it took only seconds. She clearly wanted to escape subconsciously, as she had just screamed, “Don’t kill me.”
He could vaguely guess how she had survived these years, likely someone was against her, and she had been constantly on the run.
His fingers gently stroked her furrowed brows and he thought silently, “Little Bunny, I will take good care of you from now on.”
Feeling Aurora tightly clutching his shirt, the feeling of being needed was actually quite pleasant. He wrapped one arm around her waist and gently covered her body with a blanket.
That night he dared not sleep again, choosing instead to stay awake and accompany her to prevent any recurrence of the incident.