Chapter 123 Luna Moves In
Chapter 123 Luna Moves In
Julian clearly hadn’t expected to run into Cora there.
Before he could say anything, Luna burst out of the study in a flurry of movement.
Cora lifted her gaze.
Calling what Luna wore “clothes” was generous. Whatever could be removed had already been stripped away.
“It’s not what you think—”
The moment Julian saw Luna, panic flared. He instinctively turned to explain himself to Cora.
She cut him off, her voice calm to the point of cruelty.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt. I was just thirsty and came out for some water. Please… continue.”
She turned to leave.
That indifference snapped something inside him.
Julian strode forward, seized her wrist, and dragged her into the bedroom. The door slammed shut behind them.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Cora struggled, but the difference in strength was brutal. She couldn’t break free.
When she finally stopped fighting, her eyes landed on the lipstick smeared across his face.
The sight made her stomach turn.
She twisted her head away.
That single movement ignited him further.
Julian bent close, his voice low and sharp near her ear.
“Handing me to another woman makes you that happy?”
“Isn’t that what you wanted?” Cora shot back without flinching.
“What did you say?”
Each word was forced through clenched teeth.
She didn’t need to look at him to know how ugly his expression had become.
If he truly wanted nothing to do with Luna, would he have allowed her to leave her mark on his face?
Cora knew his physical control better than anyone.
“Julian, are you done playing yet?” she said evenly. “You let Luna move in to make me understand my place, didn’t you? Fine. I get it. I won’t cause you trouble. I can even keep up the act in front of the media. Loving husband, loving wife. I’ll help you maintain your image—”
Bang.
The sound was explosive.
Her words died in her throat.
Julian’s fist smashed into the wall beside her head.
Cora’s eyes widened in shock.
Why was he angry?
She should have been the furious one.
She was stepping aside. Making room for them. Giving him exactly what he seemed to want.
So why was he looking at her like this?
The defiance in her eyes drained something out of him instead.
Julian straightened slowly, exhaustion seeping through his rage.
“I don’t know what I have to do for you to—”
He stopped. His gaze dimmed.
“Forget it. I won’t force you. Do whatever you want.”
He released her and turned toward the bathroom.
Only then did Cora realize—
That’s my bathroom.
Luna had already moved in. Julian’s study had its own bathroom. Why was he using hers?
Inside, Julian caught sight of his reflection.
The lipstick.
Now he understood her look.
“Damn it.”
His fist slammed into the mirror.
Glass shattered everywhere.
Cora heard the noise and rushed in, pushing the door open.
Blood streaked down Julian’s hand.
“What are you doing?!” she cried. “Charlotte! Bring the medical kit—now!”
Charlotte had been listening anxiously upstairs. She rushed in the moment she heard Cora shout.
When she saw Julian’s injured hand, she gasped. “Sir—what happened?”
She had worked for the Rio family for years. Watched Julian grow up.
Seeing him like this broke her heart.
The tension between him and Cora these past days hadn’t escaped her notice, but servants had limits.
Julian, however, felt strangely steadied by Cora’s reaction.
She was panicking.
So she still cared.
Cora didn’t notice his expression at all. She turned urgently to Charlotte.
“It’s deep. We need a doctor. There could be glass still inside.”
Charlotte paled. “I’ll call one right away—”
“That’s unnecessary,” Julian said casually, pulling his hand back. “Just wrap it.”
“No.” Charlotte refused outright. “It could get infected.”
The doctor arrived moments later.
Cora stood to give space, but Julian pressed her back down with his uninjured hand.
“Sit. Don’t move.”
She hesitated, then obeyed.
As she stayed beside him, the violence in Julian’s eyes gradually faded.
He held her hand tightly, ignoring her subtle resistance.
With others present, Cora couldn’t pull away too obviously.
The doctor cleaned the wound efficiently, removing shards of glass and bandaging it carefully.
“No water on this hand for several days,” he instructed. “Change the dressing daily. Don’t put pressure on it while sleeping.”
Julian nodded.
His gaze drifted back to Cora, making her uneasy.
What is he thinking now?
He wouldn’t seriously expect her to help him bathe… would he?
He absolutely did.
Once everyone left, Julian spoke plainly.
“Go run the bath.”
Cora stared at him, stunned.
Run the bath?
Luna was right next door. Why wasn’t he going to her?
Seeing her frozen, Julian started toward the bathroom himself.
Cora snapped out of it and rushed forward, blocking him.
“Are you insane? Did you not hear the doctor? Fine. I’ll do it.”
She quickly prepared the bath.
As she turned to leave, his lazy voice drifted behind her.
“Do you think I can undress myself with one hand?”
Her eyes flew open.
Was he serious?
She walked back and began undoing his shirt, one button at a time.
Julian watched her fingers work.
Each button released tightened something in his chest.
It felt like she was undoing him piece by piece.
Her neck flushed pink.
His mood lifted instantly.
So I still matter to her.
Cora wasn’t faring any better.
She was forcing herself to stand there, every button revealing more of his sculpted torso.
Julian’s body was devastatingly attractive. Even she couldn’t deny it.
Her ears burned hotter with every movement.
“I didn’t touch her,” Julian said suddenly, voice rough. “I won’t.”
For a man like him, explaining this at all was humiliating.
After a long internal battle, those were the only words he managed.
Cora’s fingers paused.
He… didn’t touch Luna?
But they’d been together for seven days.
And those sounds from the study—
“I fell asleep in the study,” Julian added, eyes shifting away. “I thought the person in my arms was you.”
A beat.
“It wasn’t.”
The calm Cora had built cracked quietly.
A ripple spread through her chest, subtle but unmistakable.
Her heart had not, after all, gone numb.