Chapter 653 Luna's Birth Mother Returns 1
Julian looked at Samuel for a long moment, his voice calm and cool, "Of course she is my sister-in-law's daughter. What, do you want to see her birth certificate?"
Samuel let out a short, humorless laugh. "Cressida Lawson, isn't it? Before she became your sister-in-law, what was she to you?"
"Just a classmate from university."
Julian gave his answer and had no interest in engaging with Samuel any further. To him, Samuel was nothing more than a beaten dog.
He opened the rear door again for Taylor. Even if she still had doubts, Taylor would not voice them in front of Samuel. Without a word, she bent down and slipped into the car.
"Taylor." Samuel's voice rose, sharp with anger. "If you choose him today, you will regret it."
Inside the dim car, Taylor's face was unexpectedly soft. She tilted her head up to look at him and spoke quietly, "Samuel, even if I were not with Julian, I would never go back to you. We are over."
Samuel's expression turned to stone.
Julian's face was not much warmer. He shot Samuel one last glance, walked around the front of the car, and slid into the driver's seat.
The door shut, sealing them in a small, quiet world.
As Julian fastened his seatbelt, he glanced at Taylor in the rearview mirror. Luna, sensing something in the air, nestled against Taylor's arms, her wide eyes blinking up at her.
A man and a woman met each other's gaze in the mirror.
A flood of unspoken emotions passed between them.
Julian eased the car forward. About five hundred yards down the road, he spoke softly. "About what Samuel said just now... when we get back from your parents' place, I will tell you everything."
Taylor's feelings were tangled, but she remembered Luna was in the car. She gave a quiet nod.
Half an hour later, the black Rolls-Royce rolled into the Montague Mansion.
Evening had fallen, and snow blanketed the ground.
The mansion stood in the pale flurry like something out of a winter painting, but as the car stopped in the driveway, the warmth of life returned — a few servants hurried out to greet them.
"Ms. Montague is home."
"Ms. Montague brought her boyfriend home."
As they stepped out, one servant beamed. "Mr. and Mrs. Montague have been waiting all day! And this must be Luna — what a darling!"
Luna held Taylor's hand and greeted them politely.
The servants could not hide their smiles. "She is absolutely adorable!"
One of them scooped Luna up. "Come on, let's get you something from the kitchen before you meet Mr. and Mrs. Montague."
Luna went willingly.
Taylor shook her head slightly and turned to Julian. "Is she always this friendly with strangers?"
Julian's eyes darkened for a moment. "She knows this is your home. That is why she is so open here. Luna is not a little girl who trusts easily, Taylor. It is because of you."
Samuel's words still hung between them, a faint wall neither could ignore. But now was not the time.
Taylor smiled faintly. "Let's take the things inside."
Julian's gaze lingered on her. As he walked to the trunk, he brushed his fingers against hers. His hand was warm, steady — unexpectedly reassuring.
Taylor was not the sort to dampen the mood. Even if her thoughts were heavy, this was Julian's first formal dinner with her parents. She would not ruin it. She tightened her fingers around his in return.
The evening air was cold, but something warm stirred between them.
A servant stepped out from the doorway and caught sight of their joined hands. With a teasing grin, she said, "Ms. Montague, you and your boyfriend look so in love. Come in before you catch a chill."
Taylor smiled.
Julian retrieved the gifts from the trunk and walked beside her. The servant followed, watching the handsome, composed man at Taylor's side, thinking how well they matched. In her mind, only someone like Julian could be worthy of Taylor.
Julian's poise and Luna's charm quickly won over the Montague family. Even Avery, usually critical, found himself chatting easily with Julian and even took Luna to wash her hands before dinner — offering her one of his prized collectibles as a gift.
Henry raised a brow at Amelia. "Do you think this guy is planning to get married?"
Amelia thought for a moment. "But he has never been keen on blind dates."
Henry smirked knowingly. "I just hope he is not trying to skip the hard part and become a father overnight. That little girl was raised with care. He cannot just walk in and claim her."
Amelia rolled her eyes. She thought Henry was overthinking, though she did start considering who might be a good match for Avery. In her mind, Isadora was still the best choice.
The family dinner was warm and lively. By the time it ended, it was half past ten. Luna had fallen asleep in the car, her small head resting against Taylor's arm.
The ride back was quiet. Julian spoke after a while. "When we get home and Luna is asleep, we should talk."
He knew Taylor well enough to understand — if she had not cared, she would not have come back with him tonight. She had given her trust; he owed her the truth.
Taylor kept her eyes on Luna and simply murmured her agreement.
Snow drifted past the windows. Julian drove slowly, glancing at Taylor in the mirror from time to time, but she never looked back.
Silence wrapped around the night.
An hour later, they pulled into the driveway of Julian's villa. As the car stopped, he noticed a white sedan parked nearby. Beside it stood a tall, striking woman — her features unmistakably echoed in Luna's face.
It was Cressida, Luna's biological mother.
Years had passed, yet she looked exactly as he remembered. She stood in the falling snow, wearing a white cashmere coat over a skirt, her legs bare but for sheer stockings. Her hair, perfectly styled, fell over her shoulders.
Taylor saw her too.
Cressida was even more beautiful than Taylor had imagined. And showing up at Julian's home in the middle of the night could only invite questions.
Taylor glanced at Julian. The man who had promised to explain everything was staring at Cressida in silence.
His profile was unreadable, his eyes shadowed with something complicated.
Taylor gave a small, wry smile. "Her name is Cressida, isn't it?"
Julian did not answer right away. His gaze stayed fixed on the woman outside — the one who could still make him lose himself.