Aurora and Mio clashed the moment they saw each other, sparks flying between them. Neither had any intention of yielding.
“I’ve finished handling the company’s matters, but I still have other business to attend to. Unlike you, Miss Montgomery, I’m not so free,” Mio said sarcastically.
“Is that so? Then I must thank you for your hard work, Mr. Vice President,” Aurora retorted with a cold huff before turning on her heel and heading toward the garage. Mio walked in the opposite direction.
He wasn’t going to handle business at all. Instead, he was headed to the nearby pet market. Last night, he had promised Rebecca that he would bring her a pet-a perfect opportunity to strengthen their connection.
Aurora, on the other hand, had plans to watch a movie with Julian that evening. As she reached the garage, a car window rolled down. It was Julian.
She was surprised. “What are you doing here?”
“What? Not happy to see me?” Julian smiled, the corners of his mouth lifting into a playful grin. “Do you really expect a pregnant woman to drive herself? Get in. I came specifically to pick you up.”
“Alright, I won’t refuse then,” Aurora said as she got into his car. Truth be told, she had spent the entire previous night dreaming about Julian.
In her dream, the two of them were on a deserted island with only a white cat for company. They had a wonderful time together on the island.
But later, the dream turned into something indescribable. She dreamed of them doing things she couldn’t even bring herself to think of now. The vividness of the dream was shocking-so real that Aurora couldn’t even look Julian in the eye today.
Julian noticed that Aurora was unusually quiet, staring out the window as if lost in thought.
“Did something happen at work today? You seem a little down,” Julian asked gently, always attuned to her emotions and hesitant to let even the smallest hint of unhappiness pass unnoticed.
Aurora couldn’t possibly tell him that she had dreamed of something so inappropriate. It was just a dream, yet she could still clearly remember the texture of his skin, every detail of his body.
Damn it. What on earth was she even thinking?
“No, nothing. I’m just a little hungry,” she lied, too embarrassed to reveal the truth.
“I’ve already made a reservation. It’s about ten minutes away. Hang in there-it won’t be long now,” Julian said warmly.
Aurora occasionally stole glances at him. His profile was strikingly handsome, especially when he was focused on driving. There was something incredibly attractive about a man who was so serious.
“Why are you staring at me?” Julian asked, catching her in the act. He reached out and gently ruffled her hair.
In her dream, he often ruffled her hair just like this. The sensation was identical. Remembering the dream made Aurora flinch in shock.
What was she even thinking again?
Julian misinterpreted her reaction, thinking she didn’t like being touched. He had acted out of habit, forgetting himself for a moment.
“Sorry about that. It’s just a habit,” he apologized.
“Who did you mistake me for?” she asked, her tone sharp. The word “habit” suggested he had done this often before. Surely, he wouldn’t have such an intimate habit with another man. It must have been with a girlfriend.
At the thought of him doing this with a girlfriend, Aurora felt an inexplicable pang of unhappiness.
“Someone very important to me. I didn’t mean to offend you,” Julian answered, seemingly unaware of her sudden change in mood.
“Really? And where is your girlfriend now?” Aurora pressed. If he had a girlfriend, she thought, she would need to keep her distance. It would be better for both of them.
Though she constantly reminded herself not to fall for anyone, to wait for the father of her child to find her, her heart still raced whenever she was around this man.
“She’s gone,” Julian replied, his voice tinged with sadness. He had promised Mr. Elderstone not to reveal their past, so he kept his answer vague.
“Did you love her very much?”
“Yes, I loved her deeply,” Julian said without hesitation. There was no one in the world he could love more than her.
“If you loved her so much, why did she leave you?” Aurora asked. In the short time she had known him, she could tell he was warm and kind, the kind of man any woman would cherish. Why would anyone leave him?
“She… left because of family reasons.”
“Was it because your family is too wealthy? Did her family strongly oppose the relationship?” Aurora speculated. The only reason she could think of was the age-old issue of social disparity.
As the young master of Radiant Horizons, it couldn’t have been because he lacked money. After all, tales of Cinderella and her prince were all too common.
“Not exactly. If you want to hear the full story, I’ll tell you someday when the time is right,” Julian said, afraid that if she kept asking, he might lose control and tell her everything.
Silly Bunny. The woman I love has always been right in front of me.
“Alright,” Aurora said, sensing that she might have been prying too much. Everyone had their secrets, and she shouldn’t push.
“We’re here. Wait for me while I park the car.”
“Okay.”
Aurora watched the couples passing by on the street. Suddenly, she felt that her relationship with Julian was a little strange.
But when she reminded herself that she was doing all this for work, that odd feeling disappeared.
Julian parked the car and walked toward her. His tall figure caught her attention. He was merely walking, yet to her, it seemed as if he were modeling on a runway.
His upright posture, refined features, and impeccable sense of style-she couldn’t help but find him more and more attractive.
Aurora had never been the type to swoon over men, yet this man was an exception. Even she didn’t understand why.
“Shall we go in?” Julian asked, his voice as gentle and courteous as ever.
Aurora followed him into the restaurant. He instinctively took the menu and began ordering the dishes she usually liked. Knowing she had a craving for sweets, he even ordered several desserts for her.
“How do you know I like these?” Aurora asked, noticing that everything he ordered, from the main course to dessert and juice, matched her preferences perfectly.
“I…” Julian hesitated. He couldn’t possibly tell her that he had ordered these dishes countless times before and that taking care of her had become second nature to him. “I also like these. Remember how we used to share similar tastes? I figured you’d like them too.”
“It’s amazing how similar our tastes are,” Aurora said, as if she had discovered something extraordinary. Why hadn’t she noticed this coincidence before?
Julian silently breathed a sigh of relief. “Yes, it is quite strange how alike we are.”
“Most men don’t like sweets, yet you do?”
“Yes,” he replied, his gaze filled with affection. As long as it’s something you like, I’ll like it too.