Chapter 48: The Longest Night
Julian, true to form, showed no intention of using another room.
He finished showering, walked out in nothing but a towel, and then—without hesitation—slid beneath the sheets of their bed.
Cora froze halfway across the room.
“Why are you just standing there?” His tone was casual, amused. “Not planning to sleep?”
He lay back, the lamplight sketching his lean frame under the duvet, every line of him composed and infuriatingly tempting.
Her ears burned. During the day he wasn’t this…undressed.
“We came on short notice,” he said lightly. “Only the master bedroom’s ready. My house, my bed. I can sleep wherever I want.”
The corner of his mouth tilted; he was enjoying this.
Cora huffed, yanked the blanket aside, and climbed in. Fine. If he can be shameless, so can I. And really—just by looks alone, I’m the one losing out here.
Julian’s eyes lingered on her, amusement deepening.
He reached out, hit the wall switch, and the room sank into soft starlit shadow.
Silence stretched between them, the air too warm, too charged.
Cora turned away, facing the wall. If I can’t see him, he doesn’t exist.
Julian didn’t move. Not a touch, not a word.
The quiet, the rhythm of his breathing—it lulled her. Eventually, she drifted off.
He waited until her breathing evened before opening his eyes again.
The moonlight brushed across her bare, clean face—no smeared makeup this time, no trembling. Just peace.
He studied her for a moment, then reached out, pulling her gently into his arms.
Better.
Sleep took him before he realized he’d followed her there.
⸻
Morning light spilled across the bed.
Cora blinked awake—and found herself nose to chest with hard muscle.
Chest. His chest.
Her whole body jolted. Oh my god.
She was curled in him—tucked beneath his chin like they were lovers.
She remembered falling asleep on her side.
Did she crawl into him in her sleep?!
Cora lifted her head inch by inch. He was still asleep, lashes resting against his cheek, maddeningly calm.
Carefully—so carefully—she wriggled backward.
One inch. Another.
When she finally reached the edge of her pillow, she exhaled in relief. Thank God he didn’t wake up.
She’d spent all night clinging to him like a koala. If he knew, she’d die of humiliation.
Right. Just forget this ever happened.
She tiptoed out, clutching her clothes, and disappeared into the walk-in closet.
The door closed softly behind her. Julian’s eyes opened. He lay there for a beat, watching her sneak around like a thief, then let out a quiet laugh.
⸻
By the time she emerged dressed, the sound of running water filled the room—Julian’s turn to shower.
Austin arrived right on cue with a selection of shirts.
“Morning, Mrs. Watson,” he greeted respectfully.
“Morning,” Cora murmured.
Julian came out toweling his hair, crisp and impossibly composed.
“Mr. Watson, which shirt today?” Austin asked.
Julian’s gaze flicked to the soft blue one—the one she’d picked for him yesterday.
“That one.”
The shirt fit him perfectly; when he buttoned his watch in place, the man looked like every woman’s private disaster.
Cora stood there awkwardly, guilt curling through her. I literally used him as a pillow last night.
“You’re going shopping with Riley, right?” he said, slipping on his jacket. “Go early, come back early. Take a few of my cards.”
“Right… okay…”
Please leave, she thought silently. Just go. I can’t even look at you without remembering how I drooled on your chest.
Julian caught her expression, a flicker of humor tugging at his mouth before he turned away. “Austin, let’s go.”
When the front door closed, she finally exhaled.
“Madam,” the butler said from behind her, “Master Julian asked that your breakfast be prepared immediately.”
“Got it,” she replied stiffly.
The Watsons really did treat this unborn child like royalty.
And maybe that’s why Julian had tolerated her invading his space last night—so he wouldn’t accidentally hurt the baby.
Another small mercy earned by someone else’s heartbeat.
⸻
After breakfast, she called Riley, who was already waiting.
Cora hurried out—being late felt wrong when someone that glamorous was involved.
The driver Julian sent insisted on escorting her, but she dismissed him once she reached the meeting spot. “I’ll grab a cab later,” she said. “It’s fine.”
The moment Riley saw her, she gave a long whistle.
“I’ll be damned. I spent years thinking Julian Watson would die single. Turns out he skipped the dating stage entirely—wife and baby in one go!”
Cora could only laugh weakly. Explaining wasn’t worth it.
“Come on,” she said instead, linking arms. “First time shopping here, you’ll have to teach me the good spots.”
Riley arched a brow, then grinned. “All right, Mrs. Low-Key. But since you’re pregnant, we’ll walk slow.”
Julian had called that morning—Riley nearly dropped her phone. Julian Watson, asking for a favor?
He’d asked her to look after Cora. That alone told her everything she needed to know.
They spent the next couple of hours talking fashion instead of men. Riley knew every brand, every designer gossip; Cora mostly listened, occasionally laughing.
The more they talked, the easier it became—two women, coffee, sun.
After a while, Riley pointed ahead. “Let’s sit there for a bit.”
Cora nodded automatically—then froze.
Her eyes had landed on a familiar figure by the street.
The chairman’s wife.
What was she doing here?
At that same instant, a car with an out-of-town plate began reversing wildly.
The chairman’s wife was looking down at her phone—completely unaware.
Cora’s blood ran cold.
“Stay here,” she said sharply, shoving her shopping bags into Riley’s hands before sprinting forward.
“Hey—Cora!” Riley called after her.
Cora reached the woman just in time, shoving her out of harm’s way.
The car hit her.
The sound cracked through the air.
Cora went down hard.
Pain ripped through her abdomen, white-hot and blinding.
Her voice tore free before she could stop it.
“My baby…” she gasped, clutching her stomach. “My child…”