After Aurora had tidied up and emerged, she found Julian still lying on her large bed. “Why aren’t you at work yet?” she asked.
“It’s Saturday,” he replied.
“For someone like you, even weekends must be busy,” Aurora said as she began selecting her outfit for the day from the wardrobe.
“Wear this one,” Julian suggested, suddenly appearing behind her and pulling a black dress from the wardrobe.
He had wanted to choose a white dress for her, but it seemed that her recent purchases were mostly darker colors. Aurora looked at the black chiffon dress with lace details that he held. It was elegant and flattering, showing off her waist well. The lace patterns at the hem added a feminine touch. Taking the dress from him, she said, “Alright, this one it is.”
She paired it with black high heels and started applying makeup in front of the dressing mirror, while Julian nonchalantly began changing his clothes.
Aurora paused, brush in hand, and stared at him in surprise. “Why do you have clothes in my room?”
“I have some of your clothes in my room too. What’s so surprising about that?” Julian buttoned up his shirt.
“What? When did you put them here? I didn’t notice,” she said, almost thinking he was a magician, or had discovered a secret passage between their apartments.
“While you were at the lecture yesterday, I got bored and had some of my clothes brought over to save the trouble of going back and forth,” he explained casually.
Aurora was exasperated. “I’ve already changed the smart lock’s passwords. You shouldn’t know my new code!”
“I jumped over from the neighboring balcony and then went down to open the door,” Julian replied nonchalantly, his casual tone rendering Aurora speechless. How much more rogue could this man be!
It was hard to guard against a neighbor like him. Their bedrooms were adjacent, making it easy for him to hop over.
“From now on, don’t just come into my place without my permission,” Aurora said sternly.
“I refuse,” Julian responded instantly. Would that mean he couldn’t come and see her whenever he wanted? He wouldn’t be that foolish.
“You imp!” Aurora, seeing his stubborn face, tapped his head with her brush.
Julian looked at her and teased, “Do you want me to take you right here and now?”
Aurora quickly withdrew her hand and continued her makeup without any backbone. When Julian came out after washing up, she was about to apply perfume.
“Use this one,” he suggested, picking up a bottle from her collection.
“Why?” Did he also understand perfumes?
“I like this scent. It’s the one you wore the night you came back,” Julian explained.
“Have you smelled these on other women?” Aurora’s gaze grew colder.
It wasn’t unusual for a man to know about colognes, but perfumes were typically worn by women, and the saying went, “A scent can reveal the woman.”
Seeing the chill in her eyes, Julian knew that after being betrayed by Hayden, Aurora’s greatest fear was betrayal. She had only just begun to open her heart to him again, and a misunderstanding at this point could mean he might never be close to her again.
“What are you daydreaming about? After having clothes delivered yesterday, I stayed in your room for a while. Since I was bored, I thought about how these perfumes are in close contact with you every day, so I opened the lids and smelled each one of them.”
Aurora thought of him alone in the room, looking bored, and her heart softened suddenly when she asked incredulously, “Really?”
“Absolutely. Do you think I have that much time to go kissing other women? Even if they wanted me to, I wouldn’t be willing.”
Aurora said nothing then, but in the end, she chose the perfume scent he liked.
Julian kept pestering her to make him breakfast, and Aurora, having no choice, went to prepare breakfast for this so-called lord.
Even though she only made a plate of spaghetti, Julian ate it with great relish. Aurora looked on, dumbfounded, “You don’t even get this happy look eating abalone and lobster.”
“How can abalone and lobster compare to the spaghetti you personally make for me? Besides, even Asher makes you breakfast, but I get to eat what you make with your own hands. He must be jealous of me when he knows it.”
Julian really finished the bowl of noodles down to the last bit, and sometimes Aurora really felt defeated by his logic.
But the more she spent time with him, the more she saw him change. Initially, he seemed like a tyrant, dominating and imperious.
Now, he was more gentle, considerate, and stable, and occasionally, he showed a bit of childishness.
Aurora couldn’t help but smile. Perhaps this was his truest self.
Before she could speak, he had already cleared the table. She cooked, and he washed the dishes.
Seeing his tall figure standing in front of the sink, she smiled, propping her cheek with her hand. Mrs. Hill had recently had some trouble at home and would come only after sorting it out.
Once Mrs. Hill arrived, he probably wouldn’t need to do the dishes anymore. Soon, she realized she was thinking about the future. Did she really like him that much?
“Aurora, do you have any plans today?” Julian felt truly addicted to this woman, constantly wanting to be by her side.
He felt uneasy when he couldn’t see her, always wondering where she was and what she was doing.
“Today, I need to go back to the Montgomery family,” Aurora said while sitting on the sofa applying lipstick.
“The Montgomery family?” At the mention of these words, Julian’s brow furrowed. “Why go back to that awful place?”
“I’m going there to seek revenge,” Aurora pursed her lips.
“Do you want me to come with you? I’m not comfortable with you going alone,” Julian said, feeling no fondness for those people after knowing how they had treated her.
“No need. They wouldn’t dare do anything at the Montgomery family’s manor, and besides, I’m not the Aurora of the past anymore. Don’t worry.” Aurora set down her lipstick.
“Help me see if it’s applied well?” She initially wanted to change the subject, but Julian seriously started inspecting.
“Hmm, the color is a bit strong.”
“Is it?” She was about to look in a mirror when Julian had already grasped her face, gently kissing her red lips.
This man… Aurora felt somewhat helpless. How could he resort to kissing whenever he had a chance, having fooled her several times already?
Julian didn’t kiss her roughly, and when he let go of her lips, he teased, “Hmm, that’s much better now. You even have some blush on.”
Aurora’s face turned red with his words. “Wipe your mouth!”