Dawn broke.
Aurora awoke from her sleep, her eyes hazily opening.
“Good morning.” Julian’s voice came from beside her.
It was then she noticed that she was still clutching his shirt tightly. Perhaps too tightly, as her fingernails had scratched some red marks across his chest during the night.
“Sorry…” she said uneasily, looking at the red streaks she had caused on his chest.
She hadn’t slept well, and Julian had stayed awake the whole night, guarding her, fearful of any danger. Aurora noticed dark circles under his eyes.
“Did you stay up all night?” Even though she had a rough night, at least she had slept. It surprised her that Julian had been watching over her the whole time.
“What if I had fallen asleep and you had jumped out the window and hurt yourself? Little Bunn, how have you managed these past three years?” Julian finally asked about her past.
Aurora didn’t want to discuss her troubled past. She turned her face away. “It’s all in the past.”
Seeing she didn’t want to talk, Julian didn’t press further. Asking her about her hardships might just reopen her old wounds.
“Alright, I won’t ask further. If one day you feel like talking, I’m always here to listen,” Julian said as he let go of her waist and prepared to get up.
“Aren’t you going to sleep a bit longer? You were up all night.”
“Don’t worry about me. I can manage even three nights without sleep,” Julian said with a smirk, kissing her forehead. “Morning.”
After a light kiss, he got out of the bed and went to wash up. Aurora touched her forehead, feeling a warmth spreading through her heart.
She also got dressed. Julian’s wardrobe now had several women’s outfits, prepared by the housekeeper the previous night.
Hearing the sound of running water from the bathroom, she noted that Julian had a habit of showering in the morning. Dressed anew, she looked around the familiar yet still somewhat strange room. After having spent two nights there, it no longer felt unfamiliar, and for a moment, she felt as though she and Julian were truly a couple.
When he finished his morning routine, he looked refreshed, his energy not betraying his sleepless night. The fresh scent of his shower gel filled the air, lightening Aurora’s mood considerably.
She had no urgent school matters to attend to and was planning to continue handling some company formalities, but then she received a call from Cameron.
“Miss Montgomery, I’ve inquired about the house you were interested in. There’s one that meets your requirements. Would you like to see it today?”
That was welcome news. Aurora had no intention of staying in hotels indefinitely.
Since she planned to settle in Clothville, it was natural to find a residence that suited her.
“Okay, come pick me up later,” Aurora said, ending the call.
Julian was already ready. “What’s the plan for later?”
“Going to see a house,” Aurora replied, standing in front of a full-length mirror and putting on her earrings.
Julian took a necklace from the jewelry box, seemingly fond of adorning her with necklaces. In the mirror, the two of them looked intimately close, as if whispering sweet nothings.
“What kind of house would you like? I’ll just give it to you,” Julian said casually. His company was involved in many sectors, including real estate. For him, offering a house was as simple as giving a necklace.
“Don’t underestimate me. I still have the money to buy a house,” said Aurora, having stepped away from his embrace with the necklace securely around her neck.
“It’s not that I underestimate you. I just genuinely wanted to give you something,” Julian replied sincerely.
“I prefer using my own things, and it feels more solid. Let’s go downstairs. I’m hungry,” Aurora said gracefully, stepping towards the door in her high heels and giving him a sly smile as she looked back.
It seemed she was letting her guard down around him, which was a good sign. Julian smiled to himself and followed her downstairs.
The two descended one after the other. The woman was graceful and beautiful, and the man was handsome and regal. They truly seemed meant for each other.
The butler and maids thought the same, reflecting on how their master had waited so many years to find true love.
After breakfast, he considerately asked, “Shall I drop you off?”
“Take me to the nearby station. My driver is waiting there,” Aurora responded.
“Okay.”
“According to our agreement, we should be even now, right?” Aurora asked softly, sitting beside him. In just one day, she felt her relationship with Julian had significantly improved.
Her previous image of him had changed too. He had always been synonymous with the devil in her eyes.
But after spending the day and evening together, Aurora realized she had been too superficial before. Julian had shown a side of himself that was considerate and caring.
“Yeah.” Julian had proposed that agreement last night, knowing she would agree sooner or later, so he was in no rush.
The atmosphere between them had become much more harmonious as the car stopped near the bus station Aurora had mentioned.
“Take care, and call me if you need anything,” Julian said, his face appearing at the rolled-down window.
Aurora nodded, watching his car drive away. Her smile slowly faded. Julian, are you sincere or just pretending? She was past the age of naive belief in romance, especially not with a man like Julian.
Compared to love, she felt interests weighed more heavily. After all, for a businessperson, interests always came first.
“Miss Montgomery, this way,” Cameron called to her as she stepped out of the Bentley and waited for the car to leave before waving.
Aurora walked towards the Maybach. “Sorry to keep you waiting.”
“Not at all. I just arrived myself. Miss Montgomery, are we going straight to the property or shall we have breakfast first?” Cameron asked respectfully.
“Let’s go to the property.”
“Yes.”
The morning sun was quite glaring, so Aurora took out her sunglasses and put them on. “Cameron, tell me about the property.”
“Well, it’s a newly developed villa area, designed specifically for someone of your stature, built right by the sea.”
The house was close to the shoreline, with well-developed amenities nearby. Cameron had visited yesterday, noting the excellent greenery in the area.
Most importantly, it met Aurora’s needs. She didn’t want a large house but preferred one that was fully furnished and ready to move into. Cameron felt that Seacliff Manor was the best choice among the properties he had compared.
“Let’s see it first,” Aurora said. Her requirements for living weren’t too high. She had lived in worse places.
Now, all she needed was a place to settle down, and she was 90% likely to purchase this one, trusting Cameron’s meticulous choice.