Chapter 4

Julian still brought her home.

The first thing she did upon entering was throw away the couple's slippers Julian and I shared, then picked up my pajamas, ready for a bath.

Chloe walked over, clinging to him like a lost bird, pulling at the hem of Julian's jacket on the sofa.

"Our bathroom is too big, I... I'm scared alone."

Julian swallowed, glancing subtly at me.

Seeing my expressionless face, he pulled his hand away and shot a look at the housekeeper, who was standing nearby.

"You ladies go with her for her bath."

Then he sat up straighter, adding almost instinctively, "Oh, and remember to change the bath salts to rose-scented ones."

The two housekeepers exchanged glances, looking troubled.

I knew they wanted to remind him that I was severely allergic to rose scent.

That's why there was no rose-scented bath gel in the house at all.

Chloe pouted, then grabbed his tie and angrily sat on his lap.

Seeing his face darken slightly, she quickly cooed an explanation:

"Just bath salts aren't enough, you know I have to have fresh rose petals for my bath!"

Watching them flirt so openly in front of me, even the housekeepers couldn't stand it. One of them cleared her throat loudly.

"Excuse me, but we don't have fresh roses. Our mistress, Skylar, dislikes the scent of roses."

Chloe froze for half a second, then threw herself onto Julian, starting to cry.

"Julian, your housekeeper is bullying me!"

Seeing them still standing there, Julian snapped, "What are you waiting for? If we don't have them, then send someone out to buy them! Go quickly!"

"But..."

The housekeeper hesitated, about to say more, but then I shook my head, and she stifled her anger, sending someone to buy them.

Chloe stopped crying, sat up, and chuckled, covering her mouth.

"Julian, why are your ears so red? Last night you worked me so hard I could barely get out of bed, how come... you still want more?"

Julian's breathing deepened. He quickly cleared his throat and moved her hand away from him.

"Go to the bathroom now, the roses will be delivered soon."

Chloe then glanced triumphantly at me, swaying her hips as she walked towards the bathroom.

Julian sighed in relief, immediately stood up, and pulled me closer.

"I was just putting on a show for her, to appease her. Don't overthink it, my love."

I pulled my hand away. "Don't call me 'my love.' It disgusts me. And, I'm just here to pack my things."

Hearing I was leaving, Julian's face instantly hardened, his lips pressed into a tight, thin line.

"Pack your things? Where are you going? If the reporters catch you moving out right after our wedding, how will you explain it to the board?"

I couldn't be bothered with him and turned to go upstairs.

Julian took a big step forward and grabbed my wrist, his voice low and laced with a warning.

"If you dare step out of this villa today, tomorrow I'll make sure those videos appear on the front pages of every major media outlet."

Looking at this face that suddenly felt utterly alien to me, my voice trembled.

"Julian, I never knew you could be so despicable!"

Suddenly, a piercing scream, "Ah!" came from the bathroom.