Chapter 68 Dangerous Woman

Chapter 68 Dangerous Woman
By the time the limousine finally drove through the giant gates of Julian’s mansion, Adeline looked like she was seconds away from collapsing from exhaustion. The long wedding day had completely drained her, and even though she had spent most of the drive back complaining dramatically about her feet and how much she hated weddings, Julian could tell she was genuinely exhausted under all the sarcasm.

The mansion looked unusually quiet tonight compared to how busy it had been over the last week preparing for the wedding. Most of the staff had already retreated for the night, leaving only a few guards and workers around the entrance as the limousine slowly came to a stop.

The driver quickly stepped out to open the door for them, but the moment Adeline tried to step out of the limousine, she immediately regretted it. The second her bare feet touched the ground, she hissed softly in pain before grabbing onto the edge of the car dramatically.

“Oh, absolutely not,” she muttered tiredly. “My feet have officially given up on life.”

Julian stepped out after her while trying not to laugh. “You’re being dramatic again.”

“I am not,” Adeline complained immediately while glaring at him. “Do you know how long I’ve been standing today? Between the church, the reception, the dancing, and people constantly dragging me around to greet their relatives, I’m honestly surprised my legs still work.”

Julian shook his head while looking amused by her misery.

She tried taking another step toward the mansion entrance, but immediately winced again before stopping completely. Julian watched her struggle for a few seconds before sighing softly. Without warning, he suddenly bent down slightly and lifted her into his arms.

Adeline let out a small sound of surprise while automatically grabbing onto his shoulders for balance. “Julian!”

“To be honest,” he said calmly while adjusting her properly in his arms, “you look like you’re about to collapse.”

Honestly, he had expected her to protest immediately. Usually, Adeline hated being helped with anything because she always insisted on acting like she could survive the apocalypse alone if necessary. So when she surprisingly relaxed against him instead of demanding to be put down, Julian looked genuinely confused.

“You’re not going to yell at me for carrying you?” he asked while starting toward the entrance of the mansion.

Adeline looked up at him lazily before shrugging slightly. “I’m too tired to fight with you.” Then after another second, she added casually, “Besides, the groom usually carries the bride on their wedding night, so I don’t mind in the slightest.”

Julian stared down at her briefly after hearing that. Something about the way she said it so casually made his chest feel strangely warm for a moment.

“You’re surprisingly cooperative tonight,” he muttered.

“Don’t get used to it,” she warned immediately.

The mansion doors opened before they even reached them, one of the staff quickly stepping aside to allow them to enter. Adeline rested comfortably in Julian’s arms the entire time while they crossed the large entrance hall. Usually, she would have felt awkward being carried around in front of people, but tonight she genuinely did not care. Her entire body felt exhausted, and the warmth of Julian’s arms honestly felt comfortable.

As Julian headed toward the stairs, Adeline tilted her head slightly to glance around the mansion. “It’s weird knowing this place is technically my home now too.”

Julian smirked slightly. “Regretting your decision already?”

“Please,” she scoffed tiredly. “I’ve survived worse men than you. Pretty sure I can take being the new madam of the house.”

Julian chuckled softly under his breath before continuing upstairs. By the time they finally reached the bedroom, Adeline looked half asleep already. Julian carefully pushed the door open before carrying her inside. The room had already been prepared earlier in the day by the staff, though thankfully nobody had done anything overly ridiculous with rose petals or heart decorations. Adeline would probably have murdered somebody if they walked into something like that tonight.

Julian finally placed her gently down on the edge of the bed, and the moment her feet touched the floor again, she groaned softly before immediately kicking the rest of her shoes away.

“I genuinely hate weddings,” she muttered again.

“You’ve mentioned that at least ten times tonight.”

“And I’ll mention it another ten times.”

Julian laughed quietly while loosening his tie further. For a few moments, the room stayed peaceful and quiet while both of them slowly started relaxing properly for the first time all day.

Then suddenly, Adeline reached for the zipper at the side of her outfit and started pulling it down casually.

Julian blinked. His eyes immediately followed her movements as she slowly started removing the top she had worn for the wedding. When she noticed the confused look on his face, she paused briefly before raising an eyebrow at him.

“What?” she asked.

Julian looked at her for another second before finally speaking. “Nothing. I’m just trying to understand why you suddenly started stripping in front of me without warning.”

Adeline rolled her eyes immediately. “Julian, you’ve literally seen me naked before.”

“That’s true,” he admitted calmly.

She finally slipped the top off completely before tossing it aside carelessly. “I just want to take a bath first,” she explained while beginning to undo her pants too. “Relax, I have no intention of jumping you just yet.”

Julian immediately caught onto the last word. “Yet?” he repeated slowly.

Adeline paused halfway through removing her pants before finally looking back at him over her shoulder. There was a lazy smile on her face now, one that instantly made Julian suspicious.

“So that means you plan on jumping me later?” he asked.

Adeline finally pushed the pants down completely before stepping out of them, leaving herself standing there in only her panties. Then she turned toward him fully before smiling innocently and winking at him.

“Sleep with one eye open,” she told him lightly. “Who knows? I might decide to have a wedding night with you after all.”

Julian stared at her for a moment before laughing softly under his breath. “Should I be scared?” he asked.

“Probably.”

Instead of responding immediately, Julian reached for his jacket and slowly pulled it off before tossing it on a nearby chair.

Adeline narrowed her eyes slightly at him. “What are you doing?”

Julian looked at her like the answer was obvious. “What does it look like I’m doing?”

She stared at him suspiciously while he started undoing the buttons of his shirt calmly. “You’re not seriously planning on following me into the bathroom, are you?”

“I am absolutely planning on following you into the bathroom,” Julian replied casually. “I’m joining you in the shower.”

Adeline blinked slightly.

Julian continued unbuttoning his shirt while speaking calmly. “And before you start accusing me of terrible intentions, let me just say that you can rest assured I’ll behave myself properly.” He paused briefly before smirking slightly. “I’ll be a good boy and keep my hands to myself.”

That immediately made Adeline laugh softly. “You?” she asked while folding her arms loosely over her chest. “Keeping your hands to yourself? That sounds unrealistic.”

Julian shrugged innocently. “I’m capable of self-control sometimes,” he said as he laughed quietly while pulling his shirt off completely this time.

Still smiling faintly to herself, Adeline finally turned and started walking toward the bathroom. Julian’s eyes followed her automatically, and honestly, he did not even bother pretending otherwise anymore.

She reached the bathroom entrance before stopping suddenly. Then slowly, she turned back toward him.

“Julian.”

He looked up immediately. “Hm?”

Adeline rested one hand against the bathroom doorframe while staring directly at him. Then, with a teasing little smile on her face, she said casually, “I never asked you to keep your hands to yourself.”

Before Julian could even respond properly, she winked at him lightly before disappearing fully into the bathroom, and for about three full seconds, Julian simply stood there staring at the doorway she had vanished through.

Then finally, he let out a quiet laugh under his breath while running one hand through his hair tiredly. “Dangerous woman,” he muttered to himself before following after his wife.